TCTrail

The subdivision begins at Laman [LA(chute) & Man(iwaki) subdivisions], the junction with the Lachute subdivision. Before 1966, the junction with the Lachute subdivision was located about 1200 metres southwest, on the property of what is now the Casino du Lac-Leamy (2006). Therefore, the modern location of Laman actually starts the subdivision at mile post 1.4. The Ottawa & Gatineau Valley railway first built rail from Laman to Wakefield in 1889 (to Farrellton in 1892, to Venosta in 1893, to Wright in 1894 and to Gracefield in 1896). The Venosta station building survives (2005). By 1986, the CPR abandoned the railbed north of Wakefield. This portion of the subdivision, from Wakefield to Gatineau (formerly Hull) is now host to the Wakefield steam train. See the video presentation below. The steam train runs an excursion operation with a 1907 2-8-0 imported from Sweden. The rolling stock is also from Sweden. The seven coaches were built between 1942 and 1944. The club car was built in 1931. North of Low, the railbed is now part of the Trans Canada Trail hiking network. In segments, I have snowshoed the trail from Low through Gracefield. The trail also hosts snowmobiles. Immediately north of the steam train station (165 rue Deveault), the rail crosses boulevard St-Joseph (route 105). Before Chelsea, the rail crosses back over route 105. Rail maintenance equipment (Pyke 9173) rests in the siding at Chelsea (mp 6.5). The Wakefield steam train is southbound as it passes the switch at the south end of the siding at Chelsea. Crossing at mile post 6.8 Mile post 15 is south of the level crossing. Farm Point
Behind the bridge, the mine (and its spur, closed since 1969) can still be seen. The steam train has passed the former CPR station at Wakefield and slows before the water tower and Canada's last operating manual turntable (mp 19.7). In 1912, this turntable served the Kingston & Pembroke railway in Kingston. This bridge over the Picanoc once marked the crossing of the rails between Perras and Eagle stations.