After the 2006 American Invasion, we had made some plans to see a little of Canada and drive over toward Sault Ste Marie to re-enter the USA. This all started with Paul Norton, a member of the Ottawa Valley Garden Railway Society, telling the story of his Father being the Conductor from Ottoawa west to Brent. He told such a great story, I had to see the country. Some of the Canadians said it’s a pretty place if you like rocks, trees and water. Well, Jan and I do like rocks, trees, railroads and water, so it seemed like a natural. We convinced some of the other “invaders” to go along and forced Father Fred to be our tour guide. Brent is located in the Alconquin Provincial Park and was once a Divison Point. Now it is just a camp ground, few cabins, old right of way and beautiful rocks, trees, old railroad right of way and water on Cedar Lake. Man is it ever beautiful. From the “Hard Road” it was about 30 miles of dusty, slow driving gravel/dirt roads. Perfect to see the scenery at 15 to 20 miles per hour.
Here’s the proof, we made it there. Well at least my bride did.
This was the road bed in front of the store and former location of the station at Brent.
Fred was a good tour guide remebering a lot of the local history and railroad geography of the area.
These signs on this pole were once alongside the siding to let the engineer know how far he had to go to be clear of the main by the length of his train. The signs read 10 cars, 20 cars, 30 cars and so on.
This is what the roadbed looked like in one direction.
And this is what it looked like the other way
Oh, and this is the beautiful water of Cedar Lake.
