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Turmoil and Triumph: The Controversial Railway to Hudson Bay
This is a story of courage and adventure. It reveals how workers struggled through long days, enduring extreme weather, pests, and the often poor food and housing, as they built a railway through the difficult terrain of Canada’s northern wilderness to Churchill, Manitoba.
Author Ian Bickle provides rare insight into the survey parties who explored this region of ice, snow, swamp and muskeg. He gives a historical account of the organizations, such as the RNWMP (later RCMP), that helped bring order and discipline to the rugged life on the line, and Frontier College teachers, who assisted the workers in their labors and their education.
The men who surveyed the Bay route, the workers who built it and the people who keep it alive have raised the level of human achievement in Canada. Their story is an important and colorful part of Canadian history.
Author Ian Bickle provides rare insight into the survey parties who explored this region of ice, snow, swamp and muskeg. He gives a historical account of the organizations, such as the RNWMP (later RCMP), that helped bring order and discipline to the rugged life on the line, and Frontier College teachers, who assisted the workers in their labors and their education.
The men who surveyed the Bay route, the workers who built it and the people who keep it alive have raised the level of human achievement in Canada. Their story is an important and colorful part of Canadian history.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 4, 2019
Although published in 1999 this book could just as easily have been written yesterday which basically attests to how the questions relating to this railway, and with it the port of Churchil, are still with us.
As a Manitoban I feel we have been shortchanged when it comes to the development of opporturnities relating to both entities. With climate warming one would think there would be more interest in using these facilities for a longer period than when they were just developed. Maybe there are and I just don't know about it.
In addition to narative relating to the building of the line, there are several interesting pictures. A rugged life indeed for those involved in surveying, building and maintaining the line. The book also describes other activities such as policing the north.
As a Manitoban I feel we have been shortchanged when it comes to the development of opporturnities relating to both entities. With climate warming one would think there would be more interest in using these facilities for a longer period than when they were just developed. Maybe there are and I just don't know about it.
In addition to narative relating to the building of the line, there are several interesting pictures. A rugged life indeed for those involved in surveying, building and maintaining the line. The book also describes other activities such as policing the north.
December 19, 2018
A must read for every Manitoban as it is a big part of our northern history. Ian Bickle has done a wonderful job of describing the hardships and risks for the men and their animals during the surveying,logistics planning and constructing of the 500 mile railway line to Churchill,Manitoba. The extreme weather conditions and terrain of muskeg and permafrost with hoards of flies and mosquitoes is hard to imagine.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews