ACR http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:08:47 GMT http://bandzoogle.com Fishing is Good! http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=46730 I've been busy with my new guiding service....the walleye fishing has been excellent! I will be returning into the recording studio with Rusty MCcarty some time this month and we should have the new train stories cd almost completed by the middle of August. I will be posting a couple of the new "Train songs" soon. Don Charbonneau I will be returning into the recording studio with Rusty MCcarty some time this month and we should have the new train stories cd almost completed by the middle of August. I will be posting a couple of the new "Train songs" soon.
Don Charbonneau]]> Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:08:47 GMT 8B4F6D6C565C549988E584F6C0A60B33 Train Songs http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=42990 Just started recording the "Train Stories" CD and still looking for more stories. Here are the lyrics to "Engine 49". I'll start posting the songs as the final mix is completed. Engine 49 I grew up in a sawmill town Just a whistle stop on the CPR Freight trains highballing in the night Rattling around this boy’s dreams My grandfather Nan was a watchman He worked for the lumber mill Near the railway line He’d take me on his rounds And tell me stories About his trains, horses And engine 49 Old 49 coming down that line Old 49 coming down that line Old 49 always on time Instrumental Old 49 coming down that line Old 49 coming down that line Old 49 always on time That was a long long time ago I still see that old engine in my mind She’s left behind Memories from another time You’ll find her now In some town down this Railway line Old 49 coming down that line Old 49 coming down that line Old 49 always on time.
Engine 49

I grew up in a sawmill town
Just a whistle stop on the CPR
Freight trains highballing in the night
Rattling around this boy’s dreams
My grandfather Nan was a watchman
He worked for the lumber mill
Near the railway line
He’d take me on his rounds
And tell me stories
About his trains, horses
And engine 49

Old 49 coming down that line
Old 49 coming down that line
Old 49 always on time

Instrumental

Old 49 coming down that line
Old 49 coming down that line
Old 49 always on time

That was a long long time ago
I still see that old engine in my mind
She’s left behind
Memories from another time
You’ll find her now
In some town down this
Railway line

Old 49 coming down that line
Old 49 coming down that line
Old 49 always on time.
]]> Thu, 21 May 2009 10:43:40 GMT 779C99445679CE05AF98E58C2542571E Poem for Peter Domich by a Train traveler. http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=40981 Railroad conductor Peter Domich loved his days working for the Algoma Central Railway and left an impression on a number of passengers including a couple of writers. Here is a poem written by a passenger / writer who was impressed by this railroad man. This was written by a writer who canoed the Sand River to Superior on a yearly basis. Peter couldn't remember the author's name but will try to find it when he get's back home to the Sault. Pete He was on board the Algoma Central the day we left Hearst, But I’m not sure my meeting him there was my first because he looked like the man who some five years before had taken my ticket out of Frater’s North door. As I watched him meticulously fill out his reports, account for the passengers, give out his retorts, I wonder if he was really Santa in disguise with his mustache and broad smile and a twinkle in his eyes. He lives in Hawk Junction, three hours from the Sault where he starts morning runs with his Algoma crew, A man of raw wisdom, Glad tidings and wit A spirit of the legacy That the frontier has writ. The trip norh, in his absence Last nearly all day. We weren’t eager to return After so short a stay Our bodies, our minds, Not accustomed to the hours Of riding past Sand River ‘midst the cattail and flowers. Not eager were we, To be again on the rail, We’d thought about posting Ourselves through the mail But quick we were pleased When this man they called Pete Was walking the aisle And sitting down in a seat. We rode three hundred miles Through the wilderness heaven, And he must have walked At least three hundred seven As he chatted and humored And called riders by name And made numerous trips to the baggage car game. We saw where he’d lived with his father by the track we listened to the tales of his boyhood, but his knack for telling a joke and playing tricks with a deck kept the hours flying by and the pain from my neck. At the Sault we departed With a “ thanks” no goodbye, Perhaps words unspoken Leaves more room in the sky For dreams of returning To the Algoma Line And another day with Pete ‘m
Pete

He was on board the Algoma Central
the day we left Hearst,
But I’m not sure my meeting
him there was my first
because he looked like the man
who some five years before
had taken my ticket
out of Frater’s North door.

As I watched him meticulously
fill out his reports,
account for the passengers,
give out his retorts,
I wonder if he
was really Santa in disguise
with his mustache and broad smile
and a twinkle in his eyes.

He lives in Hawk Junction,
three hours from the Sault
where he starts morning runs
with his Algoma crew,
A man of raw wisdom,
Glad tidings and wit
A spirit of the legacy
That the frontier has writ.

The trip norh, in his absence
Last nearly all day.
We weren’t eager to return
After so short a stay
Our bodies, our minds,
Not accustomed to the hours
Of riding past Sand River
‘midst the cattail and flowers.

Not eager were we,
To be again on the rail,
We’d thought about posting
Ourselves through the mail
But quick we were pleased
When this man they called Pete
Was walking the aisle
And sitting down in a seat.
We rode three hundred miles
Through the wilderness heaven,
And he must have walked
At least three hundred seven
As he chatted and humored
And called riders by name
And made numerous trips
to the baggage car game.

We saw where he’d lived
with his father by the track
we listened to the tales
of his boyhood, but his knack
for telling a joke
and playing tricks with a deck
kept the hours flying by
and the pain from my neck.

At the Sault we departed
With a “ thanks” no goodbye,
Perhaps words unspoken
Leaves more room in the sky
For dreams of returning
To the Algoma Line
And another day with Pete
‘m
]]> Sat, 02 May 2009 20:21:39 GMT 68D83ED4127E7ED77347A27F7AA13961 Train Babies http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=40933 When I was born my family lived in a logging camp in Regan and then Eaton up the ACR. When the women were near ready to give birth they would take the train down to Sault Ste. Marie and return with their baby. Sometimes they waited too late. I wonder how many children were brought home from the hospital this way? submitted by: Bobbi Shaughness
When the women were near ready to give birth they would take the train down to Sault Ste. Marie and return with their baby. Sometimes they waited too late.

I wonder how many children were brought home from the hospital this way?

submitted by: Bobbi Shaughness

]]> Sat, 02 May 2009 18:24:54 GMT 39F7B030F797DE3A0DA7B11CF59F93B4 Close Call in the caboose at mile 99 http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=40400 From Randy K. Mileage 99 I grew up in Marathon, attended University in southern Ontario from 79 to 84. Most of the time we students from many Lake Superior communities took the VIA passenger train south and north to get to or from school. There were some good parties on the train, I remember having drinks in the baggage car with a one-armed man who looked after the baggage car. Sometimes the Conductor would put all of the partying students( Nipigon, Red Rock, Schreiber, Terrace Bay, White River) in one coach car and lock the doors. At Christmas time there would usually be 20 or 25 students on the train. As you may or may not be aware, a westbound Montreal train and a westbound Toronto train would be put together in Sudbury. This usually left enough time for a couple or three beers to be consumed at the Lido, which was across the street from the train station. During one trip from Toronto to Marathon I overheard the following conversation in the bar car north of Sudbury: The story was from a retired Conductor( had a free rail pass), from Montreal who was westbound. He recounted a story of being a Conductor during WWII on a westbound trip. During the trip west of Foleyet the Conductor struck up a conversation with two travelling soldiers. One expressed an interest of riding in a caboose, something that he'd always wished for as a boy. At that time, a caboose used to be attached to the rear of passenger trains. The Conductor said that at the next stop( White River), he'd let the two soldiers ride in the caboose. At White River the Conductor and the two soldiers boarded the caboose along with the brakeman. The four men took seats in the upper part of the caboose( not sure of the proper name), with the Conductor and brakeman facing the engine, and the two soldiers facing the rear. As they reached Mileage 99( Jackfish), the brakeman noticed a chain hanging down over the passenger cars( chain was for the water spout or coal I think), he yelled, jumped up and he and the Conductor grabbed the two soldiers and threw them down. The chain tore the top off of the caboose. Jackfish was a spot that had a wharf on Lake Superior for offloading coal for locomotives. I'm not sure when Jackfish was shutdown. I knew exactly where Mileage 99 was since I had visited there with my Dad when I was young, we'd go looking through the old fallen-down houses, some people found old photo negatives from the '30's. When I went to Jackfish in the 70's, the water tower( concrete structure) was still standing. Some people turned these homes into summer camps( or cottages, depending upon where you're from in Northern Ontario). Randy

Mileage 99

I grew up in Marathon, attended University in southern Ontario from 79 to 84. Most of the time we students from many Lake Superior communities took the VIA passenger train south and north to get to or from school. There were some good parties on the train, I remember having drinks in the baggage car with a one-armed man who looked after the baggage car. Sometimes the Conductor would put all of the partying students( Nipigon, Red Rock, Schreiber, Terrace Bay, White River) in one coach car and lock the doors. At Christmas time there would usually be 20 or 25 students on the train.

As you may or may not be aware, a westbound Montreal train and a westbound Toronto train would be put together in Sudbury. This usually left enough time for a couple or three beers to be consumed at the Lido, which was across the street from the train station. During one trip from Toronto to Marathon I overheard the following conversation in the bar car north of Sudbury:

The story was from a retired Conductor( had a free rail pass), from Montreal who was westbound. He recounted a story of being a Conductor during WWII on a westbound trip. During the trip west of Foleyet the Conductor struck up a conversation with two travelling soldiers. One expressed an interest of riding in a caboose, something that he'd always wished for as a boy. At that time, a caboose used to be attached to the rear of passenger trains. The Conductor said that at the next stop( White River), he'd let the two soldiers ride in the caboose. At White River the Conductor and the two soldiers boarded the caboose along with the brakeman. The four men took seats in the upper part of the caboose( not sure of the proper name), with the Conductor and brakeman facing the engine, and the two soldiers facing the rear. As they reached Mileage 99( Jackfish), the brakeman noticed a chain hanging down over the passenger cars( chain was for the water spout or coal I think), he yelled, jumped up and he and the Conductor grabbed the two soldiers and threw them down. The chain tore the top off of the caboose.

Jackfish was a spot that had a wharf on Lake Superior for offloading coal for locomotives. I'm not sure when Jackfish was shutdown. I knew exactly where Mileage 99 was since I had visited there with my Dad when I was young, we'd go looking through the old fallen-down houses, some people found old photo negatives from the '30's. When I went to Jackfish in the 70's, the water tower( concrete structure) was still standing. Some people turned these homes into summer camps( or cottages, depending upon where you're from in Northern Ontario).

Randy

]]> Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:56:44 GMT B450045DB156AFD02284B93114ECCB66 More on Marathon Train Wreck / Whiskey barrels and three piece suits! http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=40385 Marathon Train Wreck Winter 77/78 On the same train wreck, I think in winter of 77/78, which was just about a mile west of Heron Bay, were wooden barrels of uncut booze, small B& W TV's. As well, there were men's 3-piece pin-striped suits, brown, blue, black, and one other colour. A few fellas picked up suits, put them on, went into the bar at Heron Bay and started shooting pool. A lot of the boys graduating that year from Grade 12 were wearing their "Track Wreck Suits." I know a school mate who got caught by CPR/OPP police trying to roll away a barrel of booze in the snow- he spent a night in jail, then they kicked him loose. by Randy Knox
On the same train wreck, I think in winter of 77/78, which was just about a mile west of Heron Bay, were wooden barrels of uncut booze, small B& W TV's. As well, there were men's 3-piece pin-striped suits, brown, blue, black, and one other colour. A few fellas picked up suits, put them on, went into the bar at Heron Bay and started shooting pool. A lot of the boys graduating that year from Grade 12 were wearing their "Track Wreck Suits." I know a school mate who got caught by CPR/OPP police trying to roll away a barrel of booze in the snow- he spent a night in jail, then they kicked him loose.

by Randy Knox
]]> Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:00:00 GMT 34108578B53E5903EA09B149CFB021DB New CAPT Member http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=40355 I'm now officially a card carrying member of CAPT...Coalition Algoma Passenger Trains. This organiztion is totally devoted to train travel and the preservation of small railways...I'm proud to be a member. Don Charbonneau
Don Charbonneau]]> Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:39:22 GMT 97725AE611167D9BAE513CEAB4D79AD8 Interview with ACR Conductor Peter Domich http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=40145 I will be posting a series of video interviews I've just completed with former ACR conductor Peter Domich. Peter worked for the Algoma Central Railroad for a period of forty years spanning  from 1955 to 1995. He lived in Hawk Junction when he worked for the railroad. Upon retirement, Peter moved to Sault Ste.Marie  but still has a log cabin in the village of Hawk Junction. I interviewed Peter at his cabin in "Hawk" and at my home here in Wawa. Peter is a natural story teller and his love for the railroad shines through on the stories he has tell. It was an honour and a privilege to have this gentleman share his railroad stories with me. It will take me a few days to upload these stories-in-video but plan to have them all up within the next week.
Peter is a natural story teller and his love for the railroad shines through on the stories he has tell. It was an honour and a privilege to have this gentleman share his railroad stories with me.
It will take me a few days to upload these stories-in-video but plan to have them all up within the next week.]]> Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:53:08 GMT 75B62830AF75AF69A4D6C1A31A1ED5B0 Engine 49 http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=38283 I grew up in a small railroad town in Northern Ontario and have many fond memories of trains. Our house was just across the street from the railroad station. My step grandfather " petit Nan" was a night watchman for the lumber mill which used the railroad to ship their lumber. The lumber and planer mill were located near the main CPR line in Cache Bay Ontario. I used to accompany him on his rounds and remember him setting his watch by his favourite steam engine "Old Engine 49" ...was always on time. This memory has found it's way into song! Don Charbonneau   I used to accompany him on his rounds and remember him setting his watch by his favourite steam engine "Old Engine 49" ...was always on time.

This memory has found it's way into song!

Don Charbonneau
 





]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:20:00 GMT BE74651E078DB6AAE53AE6B94EAA492F Book links to interesting stories on train travel http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=38281 Iive been reading some stories on train travel here in Northern Ontario and would like to create a link to the authors. Do you have a book you would like to tell us about?...Please comment on this blog or send an email using the form on this page. Title: The Chapleau Game Preserve /History,murder and other tales&nbsp; by William.E.Mcleod You can buy this book directly from the author&nbsp; <a href="mailto:wemcleod@sympatico.ca">wemcleod@sympatico.ca&nbsp; I got my copy at the Michipicoten Library&nbsp;here in Wawa.&nbsp; &nbsp; Title: De Big Shot Train by Robert Cuerrier This book is availble at the Sault Ste Marie Public Library and you can purchase directly from the author by contacting him at <a href="mailto:mbhfarm2@yahoo.ca">mbhfarm2@yahoo.ca&nbsp; Here's one my wife found at the Michipicoten Library. It has quite a photo history&nbsp;with&nbsp;washouts and train wrecks! I did a search on the net and found that the author has several train related books. I'm not sure if they are still in print...best place to check is your local library. Title: &quot;The Algoma Central Railway Story&quot; / by author:&nbsp;Dale Wilson. &nbsp; Iive been reading some stories on train travel here in Northern Ontario and would like to create a link to the authors.
Do you have a book you would like to tell us about?...Please comment on this blog or send an email using the form on this page.

Title: The Chapleau Game Preserve /History,murder and other tales  by William.E.Mcleod

You can buy this book directly from the author  wemcleod@sympatico.ca 
I got my copy at the Michipicoten Library here in Wawa. 
 

Title: De Big Shot Train by Robert Cuerrier

This book is availble at the Sault Ste Marie Public Library and you can purchase directly from the author by contacting him at mbhfarm2@yahoo.ca 

Here's one my wife found at the Michipicoten Library. It has quite a photo history with washouts and train wrecks! I did a search on the net and found that the author has several train related books. I'm not sure if they are still in print...best place to check is your local library.

Title: "The Algoma Central Railway Story" / by author: Dale Wilson.


 

]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:55:00 GMT 038A88D7B4E69F5CB412C74977175B56 Marathon Train Wreck ~The fabric rolled out like giant toilet paper rolls! http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=37699 Hi Don, did you ever hear about the train wreck in marathon where all the boldts of fabric rolled out all over like giant toilet paper rolls - it was grey flannel and plaid skirting - it was soiled so they let the town women run off with it - and that year the highschool graduating class &nbsp;either had on plaid skirts or grey flannel suiting material to wear. I actually have a piece of it - got it at a rummage sale and one of the old time lady sewers confirmed that was what it was.........the day the fabric boldts rolled on out of the cars and down the tracks............. there was another time when a cattle car here&nbsp;turned over -&nbsp;but you dont want to know about that one - they got like wild cowboys running around shooting the poor things........ Laura Comeau Marathon did you ever hear about the train wreck in marathon where all the boldts of fabric rolled out
all over like giant toilet paper rolls - it was grey flannel and plaid skirting - it was soiled
so they let the town women run off with it - and that year the highschool graduating class
 either had on plaid skirts or grey flannel suiting material to wear.
I actually have a piece of it - got it at a rummage sale and one of the old time lady sewers
confirmed that was what it was.........the day the fabric boldts rolled on out of the cars and down the
tracks.............
there was another time when a cattle car here turned over - but you dont want to know
about that one - they got like wild cowboys running around shooting the poor things........

Laura Comeau Marathon

]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:35:00 GMT 0AD7BCE888DCE0AC099CE1B9BEA1529F Grandaughter's First Train Ride http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=36862 This story came from Nila Randell in Searchmont : Hi Don, I've lived in Searchmont all my life. In 2001, when my grand daughter was visiting from SSM said she had never been on a train I realized that I had never rode the train to the Sault. We bought our tickets and chose a rainy fall evening to go to the abandoned train station in Searchmont to wait. While standing at the station a friend named Jeff yelled across to us, ...&quot;Make sure you get right out in the open and wave to let the engineer know you want him to stop or he will travel right on by&quot;... So, upon hearing the train my granddaughter of 6 and I waved the train down successfully. The conductor was dressed just like a 'real conductor' and positioned a step stool for us to climb on the train. The lights were dim and we found a seat. Other passengers smiled and greeted us quietly. Everything had a burgundy hue and when the train started to move I said to my granddaughter, &quot;I feel like I'm on the Orient Express.&quot; Having not travelled very far in her six years, she responded, &quot;I feel like I'm in Sudbury.&quot; As we travelled she proceeded to use every feature offered for the passengers; she put her gum in the garbage container that hangs on the wall, she enjoyed her little turkey sandwich on the flip down table and got warm so had to hang up her jacket on the special 'train coat hook'. She noticed people standing in the next car with a moose from a successful hunt up north and said if I wanted to go for a smoke she'd come with me&quot;. What surprised me most was she never once thought about a bathroom. We arrived in downtown Sault Ste. Marie at the Station Mall after dark. It was cold and rainy and it was sad to have to depart from the cosy car. Nila Randell and Maddi Simpson - still in Searchmont
Hi Don,


I've lived in Searchmont all my life. In 2001, when my grand daughter was visiting from SSM said she had never been on a train I realized that I had never rode the train to the Sault. We bought our tickets and chose a rainy fall evening to go to the abandoned train station in Searchmont to wait. While standing at the station a friend named Jeff yelled across to us, ..."Make sure you get right out in the open and wave to let the engineer know you want him to stop or he will travel right on by"... So, upon hearing the train my granddaughter of 6 and I waved the train down successfully. The conductor was dressed just like a 'real conductor' and positioned a step stool for us to climb on the train. The lights were dim and we found a seat. Other passengers smiled and greeted us quietly. Everything had a burgundy hue and when the train started to move I said to my granddaughter, "I feel like I'm on the Orient Express." Having not travelled very far in her six years, she responded, "I feel like I'm in Sudbury." As we travelled she proceeded to use every feature offered for the passengers; she put her gum in the garbage container that hangs on the wall, she enjoyed her little turkey sandwich on the flip down table and got warm so had to hang up her jacket on the special 'train coat hook'. She noticed people standing in the next car with a moose from a successful hunt up north and said if I wanted to go for a smoke she'd come with me". What surprised me most was she never once thought about a bathroom. We arrived in downtown Sault Ste. Marie at the Station Mall after dark. It was cold and rainy and it was sad to have to depart from the cosy car.

Nila Randell and Maddi Simpson - still in Searchmont



]]> Sat, 21 Mar 2009 06:05:00 GMT CD6BAE3F0AAA98CEF6A435F5ED00B4FA CAPTS http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=36641 This is a link&nbsp;to CAPTS&nbsp;(Coalition for Algoma Passenger Train)&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.captrains.ca/linking.html">http://www.captrains.ca/linking.html This organization is dedicated to train travel and transport in the Algoma region. They are always putting on some great train related events!...check them out. This is a link to CAPTS (Coalition for Algoma Passenger Train)  http://www.captrains.ca/linking.html

This organization is dedicated to train travel and transport in the Algoma region. They are always putting on some great train related events!...check them out.

]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:20:00 GMT A35A6E3A66FB970965B974E97CF1EE17 From Hawk to Hearst on the ACR. http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=36622 Here is a story sent to me by Deb L. from Wawa...she writes: Hey Don, &nbsp;Way back in the 70&quot;s&nbsp;I used to ride the rails to Hearst from Hawk. Mostly coming and going on the weekend and the guys who worked up the line were on the way in or out from work...the train always stopped at the Oba store for a booze fill up and it often had to start going before whoever was in the store would come out and then it was a mad dash to (literally) jump aboard. Everyone made it but you always wondered how! Then someone would start a song and a guitar or fiddle would come outta nowhere and we would really get down to some good music. One of the old guys from up the line would only ever have a case of wine and a case of peanuts for his weeks' food!! I never took the train for many years and one time when I did... it was so sad to see the Oba hotel almost on the ground! You could see right through what was left standing. I swear, I could hear the echo of the whistle and &quot;ol fontan&quot; yelling jist wait der! We played many games of crib in the baggage car for 1 buck over a good cuppa from the stove. (author Deb L. Wawa) deb lessard
Hey Don,
 Way back in the 70"s I used to ride the rails to Hearst from Hawk. Mostly coming and going on the weekend and the guys who worked up the line were on the way in or out from work...the train always stopped at the Oba store for a booze fill up and it often had to start going before whoever was in the store would come out and then it was a mad dash to (literally) jump aboard. Everyone made it but you always wondered how!
Then someone would start a song and a guitar or fiddle would come outta nowhere and we would really get down to some good music.
One of the old guys from up the line would only ever have a case of wine and a case of peanuts for his weeks' food!!
I never took the train for many years and one time when I did... it was so sad to see the Oba hotel almost on the ground! You could see right through what was left standing. I swear, I could hear the echo of the whistle and "ol fontan" yelling jist wait der!
We played many games of crib in the baggage car for 1 buck over a good cuppa from the stove.

(author Deb L. Wawa)

deb lessard]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:05:00 GMT FBDDB89AEF5079EFE3B82AE9070FBC29 Horse, trains and snowmobile seats. http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=36599 I received a couple of interesting stories the last couple of days. One was about a horse that met the passenger train in Oba on a regular basis. This horse was allowed to roam free and showed up at the railway station to meet the train. He was rewarded with treats by some of the passengers. Apparently this horse also liked snowmobile seats...he chewed a seat off one of the MNR sleds parked in front of his owner's residence one winter morning. This horse was owned by the Smedts' family in Oba. Mrs Smedts would tie an orange ribbon around it's neck and tail ...she didn't want her horse mistaken for a moose. This story was sent to me by Mrs. Bonnie Smedts from Wawa. I'm hoping to post a picture of this horse shortly! I received a couple of interesting stories the last couple of days. One was about a horse that met the passenger train in Oba on a regular basis. This horse was allowed to roam free and showed up at the railway station to meet the train. He was rewarded with treats by some of the passengers.
Apparently this horse also liked snowmobile seats...he chewed a seat off one of the MNR sleds parked in front of his owner's residence one winter morning.

This horse was owned by the Smedts' family in Oba. Mrs Smedts would tie an orange ribbon around it's neck and tail ...she didn't want her horse mistaken for a moose.
This story was sent to me by Mrs. Bonnie Smedts from Wawa. I'm hoping to post a picture of this horse shortly!]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:52:55 GMT 7D7F73A83E89ED8D4EE67A52048DD56C Old ACR Railway Kitchen Studio http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=35986 The studio I'm using this winter is a 40' foot ATCO Trailer that was used as a kitchen ~ dining room on the Algoma Central Railway. I had to remove a lot of stuff (still more to go) to make room for my gear. I tore down some cupboards this fall and found a couple of&nbsp;work orders&nbsp;dating back to 1972. This kitchen was fully equipped and had a dining room. (...&quot;if these walls could talk&quot;...) I've got a couple of songs nearing completion and this album should be finished in a couple of months. I'm still looking for your stories and now plan on having these printed in a booklet that will accompany the CD. This kitchen was fully equipped and had a dining room. (..."if these walls could talk"...)
I've got a couple of songs nearing completion and this album should be finished in a couple of months. I'm still looking for your stories and now plan on having these printed in a booklet that will accompany the CD.]]> Sun, 08 Mar 2009 13:29:01 GMT 57957A5E98435411C55D20D9CDCF29AA Somewhere on the A.C.R http://doncharbonneau.com/trainstories.cfm?feature=630144&postid=35849 I've just started this blog and looking forward to hearing your train stories. The song you're listening to is titled &quot;Somewhere on the A.C.R.&quot; &nbsp;I wrote this song last year for the &quot;Drawn Together in Algoma Art Show&quot; celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Group of Seven boxcar excursions in Algoma. Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:10:00 GMT 0EBB066C31D161B9FA71FED490E22D54