Big Chute Marine Railway

We started out intending to hike at McCrae Lake near Georgian Bay. According to our research this was a relatively easy trail with some scenic views and waterfalls, with one caution that it was very popular and had limited parking, with strict enforcement of road side parking. Given it is the end of the season and we certainly had never heard of this trail, we thought it unlikely to be a problem. How wrong we were. The entire parking area was full, with drivers that had ventured in having to reverse their way out up a steep hill. And those who parked on the roads nearby did indeed have tickets on their windshields. So we decided to leave that for another day and headed off on a different adventure, that proved to be an unexpected pleasure.

There is a sign along Highway 400 heading north into cottage country for the Big Chute Marine Railway, which is definitely worth a detour. It is part of the Trent Severn Waterway system, and is the only marine railway still in operation in North America. It was first built in 1917, although the current equipment was installed in the 1970s.

The marine railway bypasses these rapids

Boats going from one side to the other are loaded onto a rail car from the water, stabilized with straps, and then quickly moved along a rail track up an 18 metre incline, across a road, and deposited on the other side, all in a matter of minutes. It is much faster than it would be if locks were used, which was the original plan. This railway system was meant to be an interim measure, but is still operating 100 years later!