According to Stuckey and Bain (1996), the Great Northern opened its line from the US border to Gretna and Portage La Prairie, Manitoba on March 11, 1907. It was subsequently purchased in 1909 by the Manitoba Great Northern Railway Company – a wholly owned subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway. In 1926 the 76.14 miles of track from Portage La Prairie to Gretna was abandoned, with the exception of a 25 mile section from Carman to Plum Coulee, which was sold to the Canadian Pacific Railway. (p. 16)
Stuckey, L. A., & Bain, D. M. (1996). The Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways in Canada. Calgary, Alberta: British Railway Modellers of North America.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Great Northern Railway engine 224 & passenger train, Gretna, Manitoba.
Notes
Great Northern Railway engine 224 was a class B-21 4-4-0 ["American" type], built by Rogers in 1887. It had 18 x 24 inch cylinders and 63 inch drivers.
According to Stuckey and Bain (1996), “The Brandon, Saskatchewan & Hudson’s Bay Railway was built and operated as a totally owned subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway. Construction commenced in late 1905 and by the end of 1905, less than a mile of track had been laid north of the boundary at St. John. In 1906, the remaining 68.6 miles to Brandon were laid and service commenced that year. During the Depression of the 1930s, traffic declined significantly and the entire branch was abandoned in 1936. Over much of the branch’s length, the ties and rails were laid on the prairie without ballast and today little remains of the line apart from traces where there were cuts and bridges.” (p. 18)
Stuckey, L. A., & Bain, D. M. (1996). The Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways in Canada. Calgary, Alberta: British Railway Modellers of North America.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
View of the Great Northern Railway's station at Boissevain, Manitoba.
According to Stuckey and Bain (1996), “The Brandon, Saskatchewan & Hudson’s Bay Railway was built and operated as a totally owned subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway. Construction commenced in late 1905 and by the end of 1905, less than a mile of track had been laid north of the boundary at St. John. In 1906, the remaining 68.6 miles to Brandon were laid and service commenced that year. During the Depression of the 1930s, traffic declined significantly and the entire branch was abandoned in 1936. Over much of the branch’s length, the ties and rails were laid on the prairie without ballast and today little remains of the line apart from traces where there were cuts and bridges.” (p. 18)
Stuckey, L. A., & Bain, D. M. (1996). The Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways in Canada. Calgary, Alberta: British Railway Modellers of North America.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Great Northern wedge snowplow on ore gondola, Minot, ND.
Notes
From the collection of George H. Harris, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Stuckey and Bain (1996, p. 21) note that "Built in the company shops, simply by adding a plow to an ore jenny which was filled with rocks, these vehicles were quite effective at removing snow from single tracks."
