Great Northern Railway | Turtle Mountain–Souris Plains Heritage Association

Great Northern Railway

(1905 – 1936) The Great Northern Railway covered the almost 70 miles between Brandon, Manitoba and St. John North Dakota.

Stories

Great Northern Railway

(1905 - 1936) The Great Northern Railway covered the almost 70 miles between Brandon, Manitoba, and St. John, North Dakota.

Kentner's Great Northern Railway Museum

[[inline:right:kentner-gnr-museum]] Bill Kentner has researched the Great Northern rail line extensively out of personal interest. He has put together a small museum dedicated to the [Great Northern Railway](article=great-northern-railway) and model train train display at his farm northeast of [Boissevain](item=boissevain). He welcomes phone-ahead tours by donation: (204) 534-2395. # . . . . . [Museums Directory](http://vantagepoints.ca/pages/local-services-index/museums)

Other Features Nearby

Alcester

(1908 – 1936) Alcester was a stop on the Great Northern Railway line.

Assiniboine Tents

(1738) La Verendrye was the first European to cross the plains and in 1738 he came across a collection of 101 Assiniboine tents along Cherry Creek.

Bannerman

(1905 – 1936) Bannerman served as the Canada Customs depot for travellers coming from North Dakota on the Great Northern Railway.

Beckoning Hills Museum

Look at life through the eyes of a prairie pioneer at the Beckoning Hills Museum.

Boiler Trail

(1880 – 1885) The Boiler Trail provided a detour around the muddiest section of the Boundary Commission Trail.

Boissevain

(1885 – Present) Cherry Creek was the name of this town before the CPR came through and renamed it after a Dutch financier.

Boissevain Bakery

Breads, Cakes, Muffins, Cinnamon Buns, Cookies, Coffee and many other treats. Phone: 204-534-6130

Boissevain Campground

Located next door to the swimming pool, ball diamonds and fair grounds. Phone: 1-204-534-2406 Email: blittlejohn@mts.net

Boissevain Consumer's Co-op Card-lock

Hwy 10, just north of Boissevain

Boissevain Farmer's Market

“Romance by the Railroad Park,” South Railway St – Local farmers and craftspeople gather here every Friday from June 1st to September 30th. Lunch is served by a different community group every week. 11am - 1pm

Boissevain Golf Course Clubhouse

Just south of Boissevain off Hwy 10. Phone: 204-534-2365

Boundary Commission Trail

(Pre 1600 - 1885) The Boundary Commission Trail was the first “highway” to the west, carrying First Nations to and fro, Métis on buffalo hunts and finally Europeans looking for rich farmland.

Boundary Consumer Gas Bar and Convenience Store

578 Mill Rd. Home to Hotstuff Pizza and a full convenience store. Phone: 204-534-7243

Boundary Consumer's Co-op

336 South Railway St, Boissevain. Phone: 204-534-2441

Buck's Hill: Dakota-Assiniboine Battle

(1820s and 1830s) The Dakota and Assiniboine met in this region for a battle.

Busy B Drive In

Good fast food and ice cream on the north edge of Boissevain. Phone: 204-534-2226

Caranton School #1

(1888-1945) Caranton was previously known as Nimitaw. The Caranton School District bought the old Nimitaw School building and moved it. And moved again twice in it's lifetime.

Chicken Chef

Located in the Home Hotel, 488 South Railway, Boissevain. Phone: 204-534-6272

Chokecherry Junction Museum

An award-winning model railway collection. Located in Boissevain beside Tommy Turtle.

CNR Hartney-Carmen-Winnipeg Branch to Argue

(1898 – 1961) The CNR was built as far as Argue in 1898. Argue was known as “Trackend” while the future course of the line was debated. Delegations from Deloraine, Waskada, Melita and Hartney lobbied for the route to go to their respective towns.

CNR-Wakopa Subdivision to Adelpha

The 51.8 miles of the Canadian National Railway from Greenway to Adelpha was completed in 1905.

CPR-Estevan Branch to Hartney

The Estevan Branch of the Canadian Pacific Railway reached Hartney from Brandon in 1890.

CPR Lauder Branch

(1912 – 1962) The Lauder Subdivision, also known as the “Blue Flea” Line. The Tracks were removed in 1975-6.

CPR-Pembina Branch to Boissevain

The CPR reached Boissevain in 1885.

CPR-Pembina Branch to Deloraine

The CPR reached Deloraine in 1886.

Desford

(1908 – 1936) Desford was the name of a station along the Great Northern Railway.

Fairburn

(1908 – 1936) Fairburn was a stop on the Great Northern Railway line from St. John North Dakota to Brandon, Manitoba.

Fairburn “Park”

A small plot of land is set aside where the rail bed of the Great Northern Railway crosses the present-day No. 3 Highway. This was the location of the Fairburn train station.

Fairburn School

(June 1st,1888- June,1967) School grounds are now a road side park.

Gord's Service Station

300 South Railway St, Boissevain. Locally owned and operated. Phone: 204-534-6568

Irvin Goodon Wildlife Museum

A collection of 300 full-mount animals from North America and New Zealand set in interactive, natural scenes.

Jubilee School

(September 11, 1957-1962)

Lorna Smith Nature Reserve

This protected prairie hilltop above the Boissevain reservoir is often covered with prairie flowers. It is a peaceful spot to observer the surrounding wildlife.

Mandan Trail

The Mandan Trail was a primary artery of travel and trade between the Assiniboine River Forts and the Missouri River where the Mandan First Nations lived.

Moncur Gallery – People of the Plains

The Moncur Gallery contains over 1000 artifacts, most of which local historian Mr. Bill Moncur picked up out of his field.

Old Wakopa

(1877 – 1886) The first town in the southwest. Bernard B. LaRiviere established a home and store which serviced the first settlers coming west along the Boundary Commission Trail.

Sanger

Sanger was a station of the CPR. The “Blue Flea” Line headed north from here.

Sawmill Tea and Coffee Company

The Sawmill serves a simple lunch, coffeehouse beverages and treats. Used book store, handmade items, pool table. Open late. PHONE: 204-534-2232 EMAIL: sawmill@prairiepartners.ca VISIT: http://www.prairiepartners.ca/sawmill/default.html

Silver Saddle Grill

Located in Minto, 15 minutes north of Boissevain. Local hang-out, lunch, dinner and coffee. Phone: 204-776-2224

St. Claude Cemetery

(1882-1887) Depressions mark several of the 47 graves recorded at the site.

St Claude Mission

(1882-1887) This mission was founded by Father John Malo. Later the parish grew as Metis families moved in from the Red River Settlement. The mission was moved to St John's when the railway came through.

St. John, ND

The Great Northern Railway connected St. John, North Dakota with Brandon, Manitoba.

The Loft Bed and Breakfast

Phone: 1-204-534-8004 Email: theloftbb@yahoo.ca

Tipi Rings and Crossing

Early cultures used this place as a stopping place and ceremonial center. It was a convenient place to cross the Long River.

Veva's Diner

A newer, bigger building built in 2011. 513 Mill Rd, Boissevain. Phone: 204-534-2989

Wakopa

(1886 – 1960s) Old Wakopa moved to this location to be at the crux of two rail lines: the Canadian National and Great Northern.

West Lake School #1

(1885-1961) In 1918 West Lake School moved to second and present location.

West Lake School #2

(1885-1961) In 1918 West Lake School moved from previous location to 1/2 mile north to present location.

Yellow Quill Trail

(Pre 1790 - 1886) The Yellow Quill Trail began as a trade route used by First Nations but served as a convenient avenue of travel for pioneering Europeans as well.