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Evolution of Rail in North BayThe period from 1926 to 1957 was a time of adjustment for the rail industry in North Bay. The Depression years, the Second World War and the transition from steam to diesel marked change that would affect the community greatly.
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Transition from Steam to Diesel1952
Ontario, Canada
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Empire Hotel1929
North Bay, Ontario, Canada
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With the stockmarket crash of 1929 the Canadian economy went down quickly. High unemployment faced the country with some communities faring better than others. North Bay was one of those communities.In 1929 several large construction projects were underway including the Empire Hotel and Capitol Centre.
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Capitol Centre Construction of the Capitol Centre in 1929 provided employment in the community.1929
North Bay, Ontario, Canada
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C.P.R. Rail yard1930
North Bay, Ontario, Canada
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The railways also added greatly to the local economy through construction. C.N. spent $60,000 on a new warehouse on Sherbrooke Street and C.P.R. was to spend $68,000 on new rails through the city's yards.8
C.P.R. railyards, North Bay Ontario1945
North Bay, Ontario, Canada
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North Bay in the 1930's The C.P.R. yards are in the foreground.1930
North Bay, Ontario, Canada
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One social issue that faced North Bay beginning in 1930 was the large number of hobos arriving in the community.Since North Bay was a hub for railways going in all four directions, men from all across the country would come through North Bay while riding the rails illegally.
Many would stay in North Bay and camped in "hobo jungle"; a rough piece of land along the lakeshore adjacent to the east end of the C.P.R. yards.
Box car break-ins, thefts and stealing rides on trains were increasing dramatically in the city. In order to solve this problem the decision was made to house the transients in the old jail.
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Temiscaming and Northern Ontario Timetable effective July 19, 1931.1931
Ontario, Canada
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Temiscaming and Northern Ontario workers1910
North Bay, Ontario, Canada
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North Bay's economy was not affected as hard as the majority of the country. This was mainly because the majority of workers were employed by a rail company that kept operating throughout the Depression. However the rail industry was not completely unaffected and lay-offs did occur.In September 1931 the C.P.R. announced layoffs of employees. A total of 148 men in North Bay were affected; all of whom were in the car shops.
In March 1932 a total of 450 men belonging to the Federated Shop Trades had to take a 10% wage cut. This included car repairmen, cleaners, boilermakers and machinists.
Again in October 1932, the C.P.R. laid-off 125 men in the locomotive and car shops while shops across the country were closed.
In 1933 the T.& N.O. shop employees averted layoffs of 40-50 men by choosing a reduced work schedule.
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Crowds to see Dionne Quints1935
Ontario, Canada
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