Unlike today, with Hornepayne’s temperature standing at a relatively mild minus 1 C (feels like minus 6 with wind gusts reaching 31 km/h), Joe Watson (in his long coat), from Simcoe, Ontario and Don Westbrook, from Hamilton, Ontario would have fully appreciated the protection of their thick, navy blue woolen pants.
What would the six young men, most from south western Ontario, have thought of Hornepayne, located north of S.S. Marie, Wawa and White River on a quiet road between (now) two Trans-Canada highways (number 11 and 17).
[Five sailors L to R - Unknown, Chuck Rose, Buryl McIntyre (back), Joe Watson (front), Don Westbrook; Doug Harrison (behind the camera), circa Feb., 1944]
Would they have remarked that Hornepayne “feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere,” “is stuck out in the boonies,” “is over 570 miles from Toronto” or “feels colder than a witch’s brew?”
(According to the CN station’s sign, Hornepayne is 572.4 miles west of Toronto, 722.4 miles west of Montreal and 635.4 miles east of Winnipeg.)
I’m sure those thoughts or others like them crossed their minds before finishing their break, stepping back onto the train west and thinking about all the miles yet to travel before settling down in barracks on Vancouver Island.
Good luck, boys. And Dad, don’t forget to write home.
Below is a recent photo taken near Hornepayne.
[“ I took this photo at 6:30 a.m. at the camp at First Government.” Lisa Verrino, Sept. 14, 2011]
Is Hornepayne worth a visit? Does the CN station still stand? Let me know.
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Please click here for more about Dad’s Navy Days.
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2 comments:
I just saw your posting under Lisa's photo. Yes, the old station is still standing. It is just a ways down from the newer one. The via runs through Hornepayne almost everyday and stops right in front of it. If I come across any pics I will send u a link. i just moved from there in Oct. after living there for almost 22 yrs and working for CN 12...
Hi Claudine,
Thank you for commenting on the post re Hornepayne. Three weeks ago I travelled through Hornepayne for the first time by train (on 'The Canadian') while heading toward Vancouver, and now have several photos of the old station. It looks the worse for wear but I was able to stand in the same spot as my father (there in 1944) to get pictures that are quite meaningful to me. I'm sorry the side roof over the original train platform is gone, but such is life.
Where did you move to after 22 years in Hornepayne, and do you still work for CN? After my train trip to BC, and back to London, I have a new appreciation for how hard CN employees work.
Keep well,
GH
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