mikep758
Ends of the earth
In June of 2001 I embarked on what can best be described as an epic trip north with my older brother and good friends Shaun McGinnis and Marc Grinter. We rented a 4WD SUV at the airport in Portland, Maine (with the additional insurance) and started on our way. For those who aren’t familiar with the north shore of the St. Lawrence River you have the option of the “short” route requiring a 35 mile ride on a ferry across the river at Matane or take the “long” way northwest crossing the river in Quebec City, then follow the river east. Even the “long” way requires a short ferry ride across the Saguenay River at Tadoussac. To reach the north end of the Quebec Cartier Mining Railway, Wabush Lake Railway and Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway, it is a rather grueling 600km +/- drive once you turn off the main road at Baie Comeau, much of which is a gravel surface. We spent a few days in beautiful downtown Labrador City, Labrador and tried to make the most of the less than ideal weather conditions. A visit to the Skully Mine outside of town, followed by some negotiations with the security people, gained us access to shoot the Wabush Lake Railway train loading. Shortly the train would begin the 36 mile trip to Ross Bay Junction with the four RS18’s for power. At Ross Bay Junction, QNS&L power took over hauling the train 216 miles south to the Junction with the Arnaud Railway where another batch of RS18’s would take over to bring the train the remaining 21 miles to Pointe Noire, on the Saint Lawrence River. Unfortunately almost all of the QNS&L is inaccessible by car. Today, the RS18’s are gone and the Skully Mine is closed.
Labrador City, Labrador
June 6, 2001
Ends of the earth
In June of 2001 I embarked on what can best be described as an epic trip north with my older brother and good friends Shaun McGinnis and Marc Grinter. We rented a 4WD SUV at the airport in Portland, Maine (with the additional insurance) and started on our way. For those who aren’t familiar with the north shore of the St. Lawrence River you have the option of the “short” route requiring a 35 mile ride on a ferry across the river at Matane or take the “long” way northwest crossing the river in Quebec City, then follow the river east. Even the “long” way requires a short ferry ride across the Saguenay River at Tadoussac. To reach the north end of the Quebec Cartier Mining Railway, Wabush Lake Railway and Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway, it is a rather grueling 600km +/- drive once you turn off the main road at Baie Comeau, much of which is a gravel surface. We spent a few days in beautiful downtown Labrador City, Labrador and tried to make the most of the less than ideal weather conditions. A visit to the Skully Mine outside of town, followed by some negotiations with the security people, gained us access to shoot the Wabush Lake Railway train loading. Shortly the train would begin the 36 mile trip to Ross Bay Junction with the four RS18’s for power. At Ross Bay Junction, QNS&L power took over hauling the train 216 miles south to the Junction with the Arnaud Railway where another batch of RS18’s would take over to bring the train the remaining 21 miles to Pointe Noire, on the Saint Lawrence River. Unfortunately almost all of the QNS&L is inaccessible by car. Today, the RS18’s are gone and the Skully Mine is closed.
Labrador City, Labrador
June 6, 2001