When I was 14 or 15, I met my friends, or shall I say mentors, Bob and Peter Winterton who both model the CPR North of Lake Superior in Ontario. Their history lessons, modeling expertise and general knowledge inspired me to model the junction of branch lines of the CPR and CNR in Manitouwadge, ON, Canada North East of Thunder Bay, ON about 32 km's North of the Trans Canada Highway North of Superior. Both of which raced to be the first to service the Noranda Geco and Willroy Mines North of Manitouwadge. At the tender age of 15 this was an ambitious undertaking as my previous layout was a 4' x 8' set on plywood about 6 Inches above the basement floor. In fact, upon meeting the Winterton's I dismantled it through the sheer embarrassment when Peter came over (who is my age) after visiting Bob's 'Superior Northern' http://cprailmmsub.blogspot.ca/2011/11/great-canadian-layouts-bob-wintertons.html (scroll to the Nov 12, 2011 entry) and witnessing his modeling expertise. However, in hindsight, I quickly gained knowledge through the teachings of Bob and Peter and for that I am forever grateful.
So back to modeling Manitouwadge, ON up to Hillsport, ON it was a huge undertaking in respect with the little knowledge, pictures and so forth of the CP and CN lines. Interestingly, CN had running rights over the CP from Geco to Interchange at Manitouwadge and a pulpwood spur.The trip to Manitouwadge would be about 18 hours from my location in Mississauga, ON and I didn't drive. So lots of research was to be...and I love the research as much as I love modeling.
I was able to obtain a CN car control manual with all the tracks numbered with their respective industries. Also a CN timetable book listing the mixed local that originated out of Hornepayne. I also obtained an interesting article sent from Bob's friend Gerhardt Wetzel by A.W Gansel on the mid 70's mixed local with details of the train, the switching and general work throughout the day. http://www.exporail.org/can_rail/Canadian%20Rail_no298_1976.pdf
There were also pictures of the two CN GP9's switching the mine at Geco, as well as a shot of the mill gondola's spotted at the Willroy mine. I was also able to obtain, at my local library, an ariel shot of the Noranda Geco mine. 
That and a topography map of Manitouwadge and Hillsport with minimal track detail. How ever the topography was handy for scenic work. But other than there was little to go on. Mind you we didn't have the internet then.
Fast forward 20 some odd Years, and my re-entry into the hobby I learned both the CN and CP tracks were ripped up once the mines were closed. Manitouwadge still exists as a retirement 'adventure' community and in fact has the cheapest housing in all of Canada. With the internet I was able to gain some extra knowledge through kind folks and more pictures and I would like to share it with you as it is an interesting area to model with the mines, pulpwood spurs, interchange with CP and CN and I have since learned there was and still is a lovely station at Hillsport. Also, I saw a post about the CPR Canadian being re-routed up both the Manitouwadge sub's to the CN Caramat sub backwards after a derailment on the CPR's Heron Bay sub.
One of the most fascinating things I learned was of the building of the CNR branch line, the Manitouwadge Sub, and in asking Bob whether steam engines ever ran on the CN and/or CP lines, seeing as the lines were built at the end of the steam era. The answer we did not know. But indeed there was steam on the CNR. In fact, a CNR Consolidated was deployed to run the work train laying the ties and rails. And the interesting part of the story, the Consolidated derailed and sunk into the bog! And apparently it was never retrieved!! Once the line was inspected by the CNR big wigs, the CNR employees working on the line disguised the engine, as the boiler was still sticking out of the bog, covering it with one of those green golf type mats!? Apparently it worked.
Full article here: http://classicbooksforboys.com/pdf%20documents/Northern.130-136.pdf
With the internet, I was able to obtain pictures of the station at Hillsport. It is no longer there. 
(Photographer unknown).
However, I was never able to find a picture of the one at Manitouwadge which of course no longer stands. I was delighted to find that the Google maps car made it up to Manitouwadge and low and behold it made it down Station Road to where the Yard once was. And what do we see?
A CN boxcar used as a storage shed spotted just West to where the station once stood. I was thinking the building that's there now utilized as some sort of warehouse/storage facility/public works building perhaps could have been the station but it looks far too new for one that built in the mid-50's.
Manitouwadge is an interesting area to model. The Scenery, the history, although with little train operations (reportedly CN and CP alternated days switching the mines) although I have since learned there was a train that ran from Caramat down to the Pulp Mills on the North shore of Superior and back, whether it was CN down to Manitouwadge interchange with the CP or ran straight through I don't know.
Of course any information would be appreciated. One day I may go back to model this area whether I model a time before the rails were ripped up in 1996 or a freelance current day operation like the mines were still there.
Ontario South Central Railway, Toronto, Canada.
