Comments on: Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson 2857, operating on a fantrip from Toronto to Port McNicoll and back, hauls its 7 car consist across the Hog Bay trestle during a photo runby. It was a somewhat dreary March day, but the runby here was a good idea as the Bay was still frozen so one could safely get some photos. Also included on this day was a visit to the Port McNicoll roundhouse for photos of the still active 2-8-0′s assigned there, the last regularly assigned steam engines on the CPR. The later (and last) trip in June had better weather for photography but not to photo the trestle (I could not attend that trip).Built in 1908 to span Hog Bay off Georgian Bay, this 2142′ long, 40′ high wooden trestle allowed the CPR to reach Port McNicoll, where elevators at the port for grain handling, and CPR’s fleet of lakeboats produced traffic (summer “Boat Trains” were run up the MacTier to the port until the late 50′s). CPR abandoned much of their Port McNicoll Sub including this trestle in 1971, in favour of accessing Port McNicoll over CN’s Midland Sub via trackage rights (which crossed underneath the trestle at the south end). It was eventually demolished in 1978.Other photos from the same day:2857 at Union Station: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=232693632 at Port McNicoll: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=218263722 at Port McNicoll: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=22492.

By: NiagaraMike11

NiagaraMike11 — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 11:18:58 +0000

Around 2600 ft as I recall, I grew up in that area and watched them salvage all the wood when it was dismantled !

By: awmooney

awmooney — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 13:44:38 +0000

What a shot!!!! I remember this bridge, but did not recall the extreme length of it.

By: Eric May

Eric May — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 00:17:26 +0000

Looks like it has had some recent work along the top. I was fortunate to see the trestle back in 1975. It literally looked like a wall of wood.

By: craigandru

craigandru — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 03:08:33 +0000

Fantastic shot, I’ve often imagined this scene when I drive along Hwy 12. One of the many train related things I wish I could have seen. Thanks for sharing!

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 00:55:46 +0000

Yes, amazing to see ‘most’ of the bridge.. I don’t think today’s railfan knows how large and unique this bridge really was…

Curved AND wooden?? a nightmare for a structural engineer today!

By: Jacob Patterson

Jacob Patterson — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 20:48:35 +0000

Stunning!