Goose Island Switch at Big Bay Lumber

Text and photos by Tom Burke


While driving across Goose Island one day, I came across a CP Rail truck and work crew at Big Bay Lumber clearing a street switch of snow and ice. The switch that is being cleared out in this picture is actually to the runaround siding on North Branch just south of Division Street, not the unused switch into the Big Bay Lumber yard to the left (east) in the foreground. The two full bulkhead flatcars for Big Bay are just past the switch points where they are normally left in the middle of the street for forklifts to unload. The CP Rail crew is using a high-pressure hose to free the switch of ice and snow. I like the Sears Tower in the background on this one too. The date of the photo is January 25, 2000, so rail service on Goose Island lasted into the new millenium!

All photos, Copyright © 2000 Tom Burke. All Rights Reserved.

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