Engine 5433 a national treasure symbolizes Chapleau's railway heritage as one of only 48 preserved CPR steam engines

Brass replica of 5433. Courtesy Ian Macdonald

Engine 5433 located in Chapleau since 1964,  one of only 48 of the preserved 3257 Canadian Pacific Railway steam engines, perhaps more than anything else, symbolizes the community's railway heritage.

When I learned that Engine 5433 was one of only 48 CPR engines that have been preserved, and it is in Chapleau, its historical significance struck me, and during this Heritage Week in parts of Canada, including Ontario, I  have been "Googling" and contacting others who know much more about the history of the CPR than I do.

Well, let me digress for a moment with an anecdote about my display of CPR knowledge when I was taking Grade 13 history at Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke.  Mr. Young, our rather excellent teacher was showing us the route of the CPR across Canada on one of those old red classroom wall maps.

I knew that he was showing us the route of the Canadian National Railway across northern Ontario but hesitated to tell him so. Gathering my courage, I raised my hand, and he said, "Yes, Morris." In those days teachers tended to call boys by their surnames.

Standing, I told him politely he was showing us the wrong route, followed by a dead silence in the classroom.

"How do you know Morris?", he asked, to which I replied, "Because I am from Chapleau, sir, and it is on the main CPR line." Mr. Young then invited me to come forward and outline the route. Gathering my courage again,  I did so and added that I knew the names of all the places between Chapleau and Fort William.  Mr. Young said, say them and I did: "Chapleau, Boucher, Esher, Pardee, Musk, Nicholson....and so on." He never held it against me but I sure had to know the history of the CPR as I was usually asked about it. Paybacks can be, well you know..!

How did I know them? Because my grandfather Harry Morris a CPR conductor gave me a timetable, and I learned them and when my mother   Muriel (Hunt) Morris and I were at their Elgin Street home for dinner waiting for him to come in off the road, I would tell them, 'ad nauseam', that  "Grandpa is now at Musk, now Pardee" etc.

Back to Engine 5433 and Chapleau. It arrived in 1964 because of the efforts of Arthur and Nettie Grout who were largely responsible for the creation of the entire Centennial Park. They contacted N.R. Crump, then the CPR president, who even came to Chapleau for the occasion.

Arthur Grout with N.R. Crump

How did they get it to the park after it arrived in Chapleau? I have the story from writings of Wilf Simpson and Dr. Bill Pellow.

Here is a summary. Engine 5433 is a testament to Chapleau's railroading past. The Iron Horse #5433, was proudly placed in the park in 1964, through the initiative and generosity of Arthur and Nettie Grout. This unit actually worked these tracks for many years west of Chapleau. It weighs 275 tons, measures 95 feet long, and hauled 1900 tons in its prime.

To place the engine on location meant building a special spur, or track, straight across from the roundhouse. A building had to be demolished to make way for the spur, which ran right up to the main line on the engine side, and continued on the other side of the main line. With a gang of trackmen, and everything timed to the minute, the spur was laid across the main line. The steam engine was then pushed across by a diesel. Within 30 minutes, the Iron Horse was in place, and the main line cleared again for service.

Also of historical interest is that J.M. "Bud" Park was the engineer on Engine 5433 for its trip from the roundhouse to the park while Earle Freeborn was the engineer on the yard engine diesel.

At the ceremony Samuel Chappise, a full blooded Cree who had come to Chapleau with his parents mostly by canoe from James Bay presented Mr. Crump with a rifle. Wilf Simpson related a story that Mr. Chappise had told him that for the first few weeks after they arrived along the CPR line near Nicholson, every time he heard a train whistle, he would race to the shelter of the forest.

Sam Chappise presentation to Mr Crump

In 1967, Mr. Chappise was invited to sound the 'O Canada' whistle opening the 1967 Centennial Caravan when it passed through Chapleau.

As I so often do, I turned to Ian Macdonald for his expertise on Engine 5433. Ian has a brass replica of this engine in his Winnipeg home. 

"Locomotives were the primary symbol of the railway. Occasionally we would digress ( as we did with the Canadian ) and use an image of an observation car or caboose but nothing really had the visual impact of a locomotive to define the railway. It was ( and is ) truly potent.  It is, therefore, the most logical symbol to use when you're trying to make a statement." Ian wrote in an email.

 "I remember when I first saw 5433 in (the park)  my first reaction was ' perfect'. Why perfect??? Dates generally become 'historic dates' when it can be reasonably said that the world was never the same after.  5433 to me, is important because it is symbolic of the end of the steam era in Chapleau in the same sense that the first GM diesel that went through Chapleau in December 1949 represented a new era which had an enormous impact on the community.

"In this sense, 5433 as an individual locomotive was not the important thing. It was everything required to operate it, maintain it and the infrastructure associated with supporting steam power."

For instance, Ian wrote, "try to envision the number of enginemen in Chapleau during steam power, their families, homes, and an economy generated to support them. Then think of everyone associated in some activity associated with maintenance and operation and interpolate this number into individual families etc. This was important in defining the specific culture of our community and who we were. Who we were is an important aspect of 'community'  and provides reference to who we are.

He explained that "The Mikado was the most dominant locomotive type on the Schreiber Division as the steam era ended and one which most people were familiar with. The era was important for me because the Mikado was designed and manufactured in Canada in direct response to the specific demands of Canadian operating conditions. I like that.

The GM diesel that went through Chapleau in 1949 was built in GM's plant at LaGrange Illiois and was typical of locomotives used everywhere else in North America. There was nothing particularly Canadian about it which didn't change when GM allowed them to be built under licence in Canada. Some people enjoy being reminded of that."

Until I started researching Engine 5433, I never fully realized the tourist attraction it is, and the potential it and all things railway in Chapleau has for the future. I discovered many references to it on web sites along with photos taken by people who had visited Chapleau. It may well be the most photographed site in Chapleau. 

While home for the CHS reunion in 2012, I was of course made aware that proposals have been made to enhance Chapleau's CPR heritage as a tourist attraction and ensure the care and maintenance of Engine 5433. Chapleau is home to a national treasure in having Engine 5433 there -- only one of 48 CPR steam engines that have been preserved. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Thanks to Ian Macdonald, Dr Bill Pellow and Gerry Bowland director of the Crump Centre, Calgary

Wildlife biologist Vince Crichton provides tips on dealing with wolves in Chapleau urging common sense be used

Vince with friends at CHS reunion 2012

After the Ontario Provincial Police news release on the sighting of a wolf near a Chapleau school made the rounds on the internet, former citizens, including certified wildlife biologist Dr. Vince Crichton shared their memories on wolves within the community. 

Most did not recall any wolves wandering about the streets in the main part of Chapleau, but closer to the outskirts, there were occasions when a wolf had been seen. However, see Vivian (Edwards) Rayson's take on "wolves" in packs on Main Street.




Dr. Crichton, Vince, to all of us who know him well, who was born and raised in Chapleau, also offered some tips on dealing with the situation.




Vince noted: "I have not and I never heard of my dad having talked about it  – bears for sure.  But, this should  not surprise anyone when you look at the habitat around the outside – wolf habitat and there was at one time moose!!!– however there is another possible cause – what with the moose population down substantially thus reduced food supply they may be searching further."




Vince's father, Vince Crichton was also a wildlife biologist, and fish and wildlife supervisor with the Department of Lands and Forest/Ministry of Natural Resources at Chapleau for many years.




Dr. Crichton provided the following tips:




1. do not leave garbage outside but put out in a.m. before pickup – once they see this as a food source they will be back...

2. do not leave dog food outside – even in summer – bears love this stuff also

3. do not leave “fluffy" (your dog)  outside unattended – I have seen and hear of examples all the time of dogs being killed that were left outside

4. for those feeding them – give your head  a shake – you are part of the problem – one now, then 2 and more – those who know where this is being done should report same to OMNR or OPP – I have dealt with such issues here in Manitoba for 40 years and appreciate the problem – more problems however occur in remote communities

5.  should one of these what I will call “habituated animals” happen to be rabid then a bite to a human or a dog then we have serious concerns and expenses – I have had to deal with such scenarios here in Manitoba– one just a few years back near Thompson, Manitoba where the wolf attacked a vehicle and there are photos of it

6. by feeding, this creates a nuisance animal which then may have to be destroyed all because of human stupidity - do  not do things to entice animals to become a nuisance resulting in them having to be destroyed




He added: "Bottom line is Chapleau is in  the bush so don’t panic – use common sense and do not leave material out that will attract them.

 Give Wildlife  a break."



Bob centre, his mother Margaret on right and old friends at reunion

Robert 'Bob' Fife, CTV Ottawa Bureau Chief, who lived near the old power house on Mill Road wrote in an email: "I spotted  a wolf on Mill Road just on the outskirts of town when I was walking home one night.  I never walked so fast to get home."




Cindy Mahon, who lived at Nemegosenda Trailer Park also confirmed that she had seen a wolf in that area -- same area as Bob Fife saw one while walking home.

John Fuller who lived in Chapleau also reported that a family member has seen wolves on this road near the cemetery,




Michael Cecile, who lived at "The Point" where his father Lawless was Chief Ranger for years commented: "I've never seen one in town. I did however see one on the ice at the south end of Chartrand Lake which is about 400 m north of the 3rd Tee box on the Chapleau Golf Course."

Ian Macdonald, retired head of the department of architecture at the University of Manitoba and professor emeritus who lived on King Street wrote that" Bears were frequent visitors, occasional moose, raccoons etc. but no dances with wolves in our neighbourhood.

Henry Byce, whose home was on Aberdeen Street wrote that he had never heard of any "in town", but had seen one near Chapleau General Hospital in the Fall of 2012. "It was a husky sized black wolf in the middle of the road..."

I also never saw or heard of a wolf within the town and I lived on Grey Street for over 40 years, but one day as I was walking out to the Memegos property on the Nebskwashi River, I met a man who asked me if I had seen the auburn wolf who lived there. When I said I had not he replied, "Don't be afraid if you do. He won't hurt you." I never did see the auburn wolf or any other one.

Let's give the final comment on "wolves" in Chapleau to Vivian (Edwards) Rayson who confided that she did see them in town.

Vivian wrote: " I did see quite a few wolves in Chapleau. They usually hung around the pool room or around Desi's corner store. They were quite harmless and they did hang around in packs and they did howl. Just thought I would let you know..."

FOLLOWING UP.. 

Edythe (Rose) Christie on recent library column: "I so enjoyed the article on the library. I was a faithful member when I was young and loved going into that cosy place where Mrs. Beacock presided. She would recommend books for us young people -- Jim Austin was always browsing the shelves for adventure books and of course I was racing through L.M. Montgomery. She was such and inspiration for us in that isolated northern community and so many owe our love of reading to her. Greetings from Vancouver."

Claude Fortin on curling: "Dave Futhey sent me a copy of the Chapleau Express!!! nice surprise...Your article on curling was a great read..It was nice to have seen Pat (Bamford) again after all these years...He was a great coach..and even all these years later, I am still curling, two leagues here in Esquimalt Curling Club in Victoria, BC. ..heading out in an hour to pick up our team as we are in a bonspiel at Glen Meadows, near Victoria Airport..It's a private club, like Chapleau's original one used to be..You can take your drinks on the ice in this club...lol..."

Thanks to all the contributors on wolves in Chapleau. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

OPP at Chapleau urge citizens to use caution as wolves seen in community

Ontario Provincial Police at Chapleau have warned citizens to use caution as wolves have been seen in the community. The following is the news release issued by the OPP.

"February 5, 2013 the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Chapleau Detachment responded to a request for assistance at a local school.  An employee was leaving the school at 8:00pm and observed a wolf coming towards them on school property.  The employee returned inside and contacted OPP for an escort to their vehicle.  This was done without further incident.

"OPP patrolled the community throughout the evening and found that the wolves are feeding on garbage left out for pick-up.  It has also been reported that there are persons feeding the wolves.  The OPP remind the public that these are wild animals and should not be encouraged into our communities.  Ensure your garbage is secure and not placed at curbside until the morning of your pick-up.

"Please use caution when out during the evening and night time hours.  Do not leave small pets unattended outside.  Keep in mind these animals are in search of food and will return to areas that provided nourishment in the past.

The OPP will respond to emergency calls about wild animals if there is an immediate threat to the public."

COMMENT: In all the years I lived in Chapleau, I do not recall any instances where wolves were seen in the community. Any comments?  My email is mj.morris@live.ca