Gunflint and Lake Superior Railroad

The Gunflint and Lake Superior Railroad (G&LS) is a defunct Minnesota logging railroad that operated in the Thunder Bay District of northwestern Ontario and in Cook County of northeastern Minnesota.

Former corduroy log trestle alongside Bridal Falls on Gunflint Lake, photographed in August, 1997.
Gunflint and Lake Superior Railroad
Overview
HeadquartersOfficially Duluth, Minnesota but operationally Port Arthur, Ontario
Reporting markG&LS
LocaleOntario Minnesota
Dates of operation19021909
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length6 mi (10 km)

The G&LS was built in 1902 by the Pigeon River Lumber Company to harvest primarily white pine and norway pine from the eastern side of Gunflint Lake. The logs were then transported to the company's sawmill in Port Arthur to be processed.

The line originated at the Canadian Northern Railway-Duluth Extension (PAD&W Railway) at Little Gunflint Lake, crossed the Canada–United States border, travelled along the east side of Gunflint Lake south to Crab Lake, and then east to Whisker Lake. This line was used until 1909 when it was abandoned and a forest fire destroyed a 1000-foot trestle on the PAD&W at North Lake and severed the line. The rails were removed circa 1915-1916.[1]

Locomotives

Number Builder Type Date Works number Notes
1 Baldwin Locomotive Works 4-4-0 April 1873 3242 Formerly Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway #28. Purchased by the G&LS in December 1903
2 Lima Locomotive Works 2-truck, 3-cylinder Class B Shay December 1901 683 Purchased from the Alexander-Edgar Lumber Company (Iron River, Wisconsin) in May 1905.

References


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