Hudson Bay Line

The Hudson Bay Line

The Hudson Bay Line runs from Hudson Bay Junction, Saskatchewan to Churchill, Manitoba. It covers miles of northern landscape and, a trip on it used to be an adventure to be sure--some say it still is! The song was written by John Leeder, a writer and performer in Calgary. While working on a survey crew in northern Manitoba, John met several old-timers who told many tales of the Line. He created the song from these stories.

More information: Canadian Folk Music Bulletin, 1982, 16(2), 14-15, also Canadian Folk Music, 2005, 39(2), 36. Click HERE to see more background on this song.

(Barry: vocal, banjo; Tim: vocal, guitar; Patty: bass)

Well, the first time I rode on the Hudson Bay Line
I went to buy a ticket and I was doing fine
I asked the station agent how soon my trip would end
He said, "You'll get to Churchill, boy, but only God knows when."

Chorus: On the Hudson Bay Line
On the Hudson Bay Line
Hell of a time
On the Hudson Bay Line

Well have you got a schedule, let's have a look at it
Yes I've got a schedule and it ain't worth two bits
Just take along a lot of grub, enough to see you through
You might get there in three four days or maybe a week or two.

Well the cars were old a draughty 'round the windows and the doors
We sat on wooden benches and we slept on wooden floors
A big pot-bellied stove, it was rusted all to hell
For heatin' and for cookin' and for spittin' on as well.

We stopped at creeks and clearings, we stopped at lakes and fords
We stopped beside the muskeg where mosquitoes came in hoards
We stopped at bays and rivers, at rocks and waterfalls
We even stopped at places where there's nothin' there at all.

"Now boys, we've hit a washout," the conductor he did say
"And if she don't get mended I'm afraid we're here to stay.
I need a bunch of volunteers, that's you and you and you."
I broke my back a-linin' track until the train got through.

Well now they've got a diesel train that's really mighty nice
Now they've got a cat train that goes across the ice
Then they've got that airline, it's all the latest fad
But they are never gonna have the good times that we had.

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About the Hudson Bay Line

The Hudson Bay Line is a wonderful example of the manner in which railroads and politics are intertwined. Even before Manitoba became part of Confederation, people were arguing for a northern shipping route, which would save 1,000 miles getting goods to Europe. The pros and cons were debated with considerable vehemence up until 1929, when the line was finally completed-and it's still possible to find people weighing in on the issue. Bob Edwards, in a 1918 edition of the Calgary Eye Opener, captured one side of this debate:

From an Ottawa dispatch we learn that no work will be done this year on the Hudson Bay railway. We had no idea they were still puttering away on this line. Sir John A. MacDonald started the road in the first place and it is expected that Gabriel the Trumpeter will be invited to drive the last spike on Judgment Day.

On the other side, farmers lobbied for the route, despite the short shipping season and difficulties of construction over the predominantly muskeg and permafrost landscape.

Hugh Sutherland is considered to have been the major proponent of the short Bay route to Europe. According to Leonard Earl's history, every time Sutherland had everything in place to start, something or other (e.g., a Reil Rebellion or a government change) would crop up to torpedo the project. Southern portions of the line were begun in 1900 and ten years later Le Pas was connected to the main line. In 1912, with considerable political finagling, construction of the northern link began. Port Nelson was the intended northern terminus. By 1918 grading and bridges were completed to Nelson and track was laid to Gillam, 332 miles in total. Financial pressures of the First War and considerable public opinion accusing the government of throwing away 20 million dollars "at icebergs, seals and polar bears" brought the work to a halt.

It wasn't until 1927 that Churchill was chosen as the northern terminus of the Line and, in surprisingly quick time, the 510 miles between Le Pas and Churchill was completed, opening on March 29, 1929.

The line was part of the Canadian National system at first. In 1997 OmniTRAX purchased the trackage and took over operation and marketing of the Port of Churchill. The line is now called "The Hudson Bay Railway."

John Leeder's song tells of the pre-OmniTRAX era of the line. But even with the advent of the new technology, John's words in the 5th verse remain true: "'Now boys we've hit a washout,' the conductor he did say." In the autumn of 2003 a washout between Pukatawagan and Le Pas shut down the line for several days.

There are excursions up the Hudson Bay Line to Churchill. Jenny Grahn presents an account of one of these which she took in 2001. The site contains lots of photos to give you sense of today's Hudson Bay Line.

This brief resource is a "work in progress." If you have any suggestions for corrections or additions please let us know .

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