Thurso and Nation Valley Railway

April 7, 1932 From P.B. Bourget to Damien Lafleur

 Lay off gang at Headquarters until further advised - come to office on Monday.

April 11, 1932 From P.B. Bourget to Damien Lafleur

 INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOADING TIES AND POSTS, ALSO FOR LIFTING 11 1/2 MILES OF SPUR LINE

 Six days prior to loading, Sam Smith to report on condition of Main and Spur lines, then go up spur with Joe Blais and Hector Blais, Joe Degagne, Frank Aubin and Albert Degagne. Go over grade at 8 specially and all of track so #3 can get over the worse places.
Load all ties and all posts on Spur Line. Leave on cars until further notice.
For loading locomotive #3. In charge and Conductor - Damien Lafleur. Locomotive Engineer - P. Smith, Fireman - A. Degagne. Loader - P. Danis. Tongsmen - Joe Blais, R. Boucher, R.C. McDonald, Hector Blais, Osias Richer.
After ties and posts are loaded start lifting of Spur at north end of wye.

Organization Locomotive #3. One gang of two or more men to start behind train and remove all but two bolts, keeping pace with track lifting.
One gang of two or more men to move behind the train and lift alternate spikes from every tie that is inside and out and all spikes from every third or fourth tie.
One gang of two or more men in front of train to remove bolts as last car goes over joint.
One gang of three or more men in front of train to get spikes out without delay after car has passed over joint.
Spikes and bolts will be loaded separately on special car. Angle bars and fish plates will be loaded separately on same special car.

1 car of rails equals about 1/4 mile of track.
Classify material as good or cull. Pile switch stands, frogs and tie rods separately but keep each switch intact.
Rail will be sorted at Dump and unloaded as good or culled on separate dumps.
All rail curved with bender will be laid out separately. All cull material will be piled separately for sale as scrap later.

Piece rates - (in pencil)
Loading and peeling ties 1 1/4 cents each
Unloading and piling at Main Line track 9/10 of 1 cent each
Unloading only at Main Line track 1/4 cent each
Loading posts & peeling 3/4

 Wages - (in pencil)

Engineer 18.00
Fireman 15.00
Watchman 16.00
Ordinary Labour 1.25 to 1.50

 April 23, 1932 From P.B. Bourget to Damien Lafleur

Where we lift Spur please arrange to load for delivery to Thurso
 
 

1950 feet of 56# rail
Fish plates, spikes, bolts
1 complete turnout

June 3, 1932 From P.B. Bourget to Damien Lafleur>

 VISIT OF LORD TWEEDSMUIR

 The party is expected to arrive at 10:30 A.M.
1. Mr. Simpson will wait for them on the highway in front of his residence with car and guide the party to the rear of the Power House.
2. Car 27 will be stationed at the Power House just West of the car loading entrance and bags, etc., will be transferred from autos at that point while the party visits the Mill.
3. As soon as baggage are transferred car 27 will be switched by the Plymouth to track "D" and marshalled to the rear of log train.
4. Train will leave Thurso at 11:00 or 11:15 for Headquarters. Light tonnage and no stops for water. Lunch at Headquarters.
5. In addition to usual routine Mr. Lamb will:-
(1) Saw a few choice logs and
(2) have a few cars being unloaded into the pond.
(3) One band being sharpened etc
While party is in the mill.
6. Leave Headquarters for Iroquois - Mr. Lafleur to make arrangements for quick change to Heisler at mile 32.
Mr. Scheult to have boat ready on Iroquois Lake. Engine should be warmed up prior to arrival and possibly a few benches arranged.
Time of return not yet determined.
Train should not carry too much tonnage in order to avoid delays.
On arrival at Thurso Plymouth will immediately pick up 27 behind train and shunt to Power House with party aboard. All switches to be secured so that Plymouth operation won't be delayed.
Click here for a picture of Lord Tweedsmuir on this occasion.
Click here to return to TNVR History.
Click here to return to TNVR Locomotives, Plymouth

December 1, 1933 From P.B. Bourget to Damien Lafleur

 Will you kindly take a trip up say as far as mile 5 once a week for a while, at times to be chosen by yourself, to see if you can catch any people travelling the track with horses. These will be reported here where further action will be taken.

 December 1, 1933 From P.B. Bourget to Lambert Cavan

 It has been reported to us by one of your neighbours that you have been using our tracks for hauling purposes with a team. While we have partially tolerated this practice in the past we find that it causes considerable harm to our ties and roadbed and it is strictly forbidden to do any hauling on the track this year. We have given orders to our employees and patrol to report offenders who will be promptly brought up before the Magistrate at St. André Avelin, for trespass. The writer, personally would not like to see you in this fix and would ask you to kindly respect our wishes in this matter.

April 24, 1934 From P.B. Bourget to Damien Lafleur

 When cordwood is finished today or tomorrow you can start Touchette with as many men as we have tools, in putting in ties on the 9 cent piece rate. If the ties are too scattered for them to make a day's wages at that rate and providing they would rather wait, we shall delay the tie replacements until such time as we can deliver more ties where needed. I would be glad to have a report from you some time tomorrow on the condition of Lanthier's swamp. Once we get through there and after the water has completely left the rails and we know it is safe to cross then we would have no difficulty in going up to Headquarters. Put in new switch ties using flatted Cedar from the yard, on the south leg of the wye, that is, on the wye switch nearest the office in Thurso Yard. See that they are the proper length.

 April 25, 1934 From P.B. Bourget to Damien Lafleur

 Kindly advise what arrangements are made for counting the ties placed in the track by the various gangs. Who does the counting and what method is used in counting?

 April 28, 1934 From P.B. Bourget to Damien Lafleur

 I would suggest that you either drop in and see me once a day when here or telephone from the Power House.
When you make first trip to Headquarters bring a boxcar for the stuff they want to send down.