Steam Train on the Nephton!

Dec 2023

50 years ago this month the only steam train to travel the Nephton rails was in town. During filming for the 1974 CBC Miniseries The National Dream scenes were shot north of Havelock Ontario on Canadian Pacific’s Nephton Subdivison. This spur line was built in 1954 through rock and swamp to serve two mines and never saw passenger service. These scenes would be used to represent Northern Ontario. A Rogers built 440 number 136 was dressed up as different period locomotives for filming and was brought from Toronto to Havelock with some vintage rolling stock for the shoot in December 1973. During one of the work days the diesel unit accompanying the train broke down and was hauled back to Havelock by the 136 steam locomotive.

Separate from this a rented GO train was used for excursions in 1997 to Nephton for Havelock’s one off Rock ‘n Rail festival, and was the only time members of the public have had a chance to travel this any part of this 20 mile line.