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      Among the bridge highlights on July 30,1960 was the presentation of the steam locomotive '4008' to the town of Rainy River by C.N.R. VP J.R. McMillian. Among those on the platform with the vice president of western region Mr. McMillian (at front) are Hon. James Maloney,Min.of Mines(left), Mrs. McMillian, Hon. ...

      The Canadian National Railway bridge was almost complete in this photo that was taken in 1901.

      Railroaders would have to dig into their memory to recall the above scene. The name on the train in the photo reads 'North Pacific Manitoba'. The roundhouse or turntable was used at the C.N.R. shops to service the locomotives that were in for repair. The Turntable would turn the trains ...

      These men are driving pilings at the C.N.R. bridge across the Rainy River in the 1900's. These pilings are part of the platform which permits the turning of the center span of the bridge to allow higher than usual river craft to pass.

      Proof of Rainy River's importance as a major lumbering center in the early 1900's is evident from this photo. Thousands of board feet of lumber are piled and ready for shipment to far off markets.

      A miner's lamp ensures the burning of a protected flame in the presence of an explosive gas by regulating the necessary supply of atmospheric air and by allowing the products of combustion to pass through without igniting the gaseous atmosphere. If the atmosphere is so heavily charged that noxious gas ...

      Warning lanterns were used by the trackmen to signal oncoming trains, and track conditions. A red lantern was a signal for danger. This meant that approaching trains should avoid some obstacle or accident on the track. A green light, unlike our traffic lights, did not mean go ahead, but instead ...

      The focal point of the Heritage Square in Rainy River Ontario is the '4008', a 2-10-2 Sante Fe type steam locomotive built by Dunkirk in Montreal, 1916. This locomotive was used to haul 65 cars of freight between Rainy River and Atikokan during the 50's. This locomotive was donated by ...

      The conductor's job was to punch tickets of passengers with his personalized punch. A conductor could recognize a punch in the ticket and know if it was valid. At his retirement, the conductor would be presented with his punch as a reward and memento of his years of service. The ...

      The '4008' was a 'Santa Fe' type locomotive. In it's lifetime, it pulled 65 cars and carried 5000 tons of grain from Thunder Bay to Atikokan (143 miles). It was often called the 'pig' as it used 20-25 tons of coal during each trip. The last trip for the '4008' ...

      A look at the inside of the baggage car at the Rainy River Heritage Square Museum. Inside this exhibit are various tools used by employees of the railway. Enginemen's torch, tallow pot, Carman's lantern, Operators hoop are just a few of the memorabilia that can be seen at the museum.

      A photo of the Baggage Car exhibit outside at the Rainy River Heritage Square Museum located in Rainy River Ont. Inside the baggage car are various historical artifacts pertaining to the history of the Canadian National Railway in the surrounding Rainy River/Fort Frances area.

      Another view of the baggage car at the Rainy River Heritage Square Museum in Rainy River Ontario.

      Early wooden cabooses were numbered and then assigned to conductors. It became his home away from home, and was often decorated to suit his personal tastes. The caboose would have been equipped with a pot-bellied stove, ice box, and three beds which would have been used by the conductors and ...

      A closer view of the caboose at the Rainy River Heritage Square Museum. Each caboose was numbered and assigned to a conductor. In the early years, the caboose was equipped with a pot bellied stove, ice box and sleeping quarters for the trainmen on the train. With the 'Run Through', ...

      The flagman's principal job was the protection of the train. His position was at the rear car of the train where he could see any approaching train and with the flagging equipment, use signals in compliance with the rules of the railway.

      The Canadian National Railway coal docks in Rainy River, Ontario, opened in 1901 and closed in 1960.

      The famous '4008' Locomotive was built in 1916 by Dunkirk of Montreal. It was a Sante Fe type locomotive, which carried 200 pounds of steam pressure and weighed 144 tonnes(288,000 lbs). The '4008' was 81 feet long x 14'11' high and 10'95/8' wide.

      A view of the Sante Fe, type 4008. This was the largest engine used by the C.N.R. because the trip to Rainy River and Atikokan was hillier than the average prairie landscape and required more power. The final run for the '4008' was on December 2, 1958, with engineer John ...

      Standing in front of the '4008' locomotive is engineer John Sirman (left) and Fireman Don Marchuk (right) of Rainy River, Ontario. These men took the steamer '4008' on its final journey, December 2, 1958.Brother Sirman was the last engineer to drive the C.N.R. second heaviest steam driven locomotive, stoked for ...