Caption: MAIN DAM MOMENT - On his second run on the Bishops Falls to Corner Brook mixed train, the photographer was prepared to shoot it crossing at its restricted speed of 15 MPH over Main Dam in the Island's interior. As seen from the rear of Coach 757 of Terra Transport Mixed Extra 926 West, the lower side of the 24 metre high, 244 metre long is nearly dry but on the left, water is almost up to the tracks and backed up for 130 kilometers along Grand Lake, the Province's largest. The Ambursen-type structure was built in 1924 to provide water for electricity for the new pulp and paper mill in Corner Brook. The resulting flooding required an 11 mile diversion from Howley to Intake, all paid for by the Newfoundland Pulp and Paper Company. Coach 757 was nearly empty that day, with the exception of the photographer, his cousin and their girlfriends (now wives). With both lead engines running cab-forward (not standard operating practice in Newfoundland), this very train and yours truly was unknowingly captured by railfan Mike Shufelt who was visiting from Maine. Some twenty years later, the two of us would meet and Mike would share his beautiful image of me waving from the vestibule of the coach that day! More of my rail photography can be seen in my just released TRAINS OF NEWFOUNDLAND from Flanker Press!
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