flag-stop at eton
Flag-stop at Eton! One of Canadian National's final regular-service passenger trains to operate between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst on the former Algoma Central Railway has stopped to pick up a lone passenger from the hamlet of Eton, nine years ago today, on March 21st, 2015. This unique service was a lifeline for the remote communities it served. Unlike the tourist train to Agawa Canyon, CN's regular passenger train provided direct access to the many camps and cottages along the line, allowing people to receive essential goods and travel to and from remote areas, many of which were only accessible by rail. Tragically, service ended ten days after this photo was taken due to a $2M subsidy cut. To this day, grassroots organizations such as the Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains are fighting to reinstate service on the line.