RED LAKE REGIONAL HERITAGE CENTRE
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By Tractor

TRACTOR TRAINS

Shipping companies gradually switched from horses to tractors for winter freighting. The Patricia Transportation Company used Fordson tractors but replaced them in 1931. The Fordson tractors could only pull 2 sleighs. These tractors were dangerous and often would tip or roll backwards when pulling freight up hills. In 1930, the Northern Transportation Company (later Starratt Airways and Transportation), bought tractors. Both companies
purchased Cletac tractors, which were gasoline-powered
crawlers. These tractors were much safer but used a lot of
gasoline. By the mid-1930s, both companies replaced their tractors with new models more equipped to handle the winter weather.

The tractors pulled several sleighs tied together. Today, this is often referred to as a tractor train as these tractors would pull up to 6 sleighs. In the 1930s and 1940s, these joined sleighs were often referred to as a “swing” just like the barges. The crew consisted of 2 drivers and 2 cable slingers, who would hook and unhook the sleighs as well as cook meals. For each crew of 4 men, one was appointed the swing boss.
​
Picture

 Tractor Train Driving in Deep Slush, 1937

Picture

Tipped tractor train, date unknown

Picture

Fordson tractor pulling snow
packing equipment, 1927

Picture

Tractor train loaded with supplies, 1930s

The men who drove these tractors often referred to
themselves as “cat skinners”, after caterpillar tractors. The
tractors went approximately 6 km (4 miles) per hour. The
drivers did not stop unless they were unloading or
something broke down. The drivers were exposed to the
open air as it was too dangerous to have cabins. The driver needed to be able to jump from the tractor if it started to go through the ice. After driving for an 8-hour shift, the driver would be very cold. The drivers bundled up, but the temperature could get below –40°C (–40°F) and by the end of the shift, they were almost frozen. At the end of the ‘train’ was a caboose, where the crew could eat and sleep when they were not working. This was not a restful place to sleep
as the ride was not very smooth and the crew could be
launched from their bunks.

The round trip from Hudson to Red Lake could take as little 40 hours or up to 10 days. The men would hide food along the route in case they ran out. The tractors would drive through all weather and conditions. The weight of the snow and the heavy tractor load could cause water to come up through cracks in the ice. If the trail was slushy, the tractor did not have good traction. If the tractor started to slip, then some of the sleighs would be unhitched, lightening the load. The tractor would go back and forth pulling sections of the load through the slippery areas before the entire load would be hooked back together.

​​Many stores would stock up on goods in the summer as it
was too expensive to order anything in winter. The mines,
however, could afford to pay the transportation companies upfront fees. While the costs were not as high as horse freighting, they were much higher than summer rates. In 1946, the winter rates were $40 per tonne, which was double the cost of the summer rate.
Picture

Howey Bay, tractor train
pulling two cabooses, 1936

Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre
51A Highway 105 P.O. Box 64
Red Lake, ON, Canada
P0V 2M0
807-727-3006
[email protected]
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The Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre is a charitable organization, funded by the Municipality of Red Lake, the Ontario Ministry of Culture, and through fundraising activities. Reg # 87315 2714 RR001.

  • Home
  • Heritage Online
    • Puzzles
    • Podcast
    • Online Programming >
      • Bannock
      • Dream Catchers
      • Eco Printing
      • Flower Pounding
      • Fur Trade
      • Mushrooms
      • Pysanky
      • Suncatchers
      • Wild Teas
  • Exhibitions and Events
    • Events
    • Upcoming Exhibits >
      • 100 Years of Red Lake
    • Current Exhibits >
      • NNT
    • Past Exhibits >
      • Hospital History
      • SouthPaw Photography
      • EZHI NAMANG: HOW WE SEE IT
      • Triple K Art
      • Red Lake on the Move
      • Fish Stories
      • Red Lake Art Show >
        • Red Lake Art Show 2016
        • Red Lake Art Show 2017
        • Red Lake Art Show 2018
        • 2023 Art Show
        • 2024 Red Lake Art Show
      • Woodland Caribou Provincial Park
      • Fire People >
        • Fire 14-1
        • Fire 14-2
    • Red Lake Speaker Series
  • History
    • On This Spot
    • Red Lake History
    • Aviation History
    • Immigration
    • Residential Schools
    • Heritage Centre History
    • Red Lake District Souvenir Record
  • Gift Shop
    • Accessories >
      • Jewellery
      • Key Holders
      • Purses, Wallets & Bags
    • Local Artists >
      • Rhonda Beckman
      • Valerie Blab
      • Kaila Erb
      • Lauren Furman
      • Patrick Hunter
      • Aaron LeBlanc
      • Amy Newport
      • Hidehiro Otake
      • Mark Nadjiwan
      • Sara Ramer-Dean
      • Rebecca Saikkonen
      • Wendy Yutzy
    • Books & DVDs
    • Cards
    • Clothing >
      • Scarves & Hats
      • T-Shirts
      • Long Sleeves
      • Socks
    • Home & Kitchen >
      • Glassware
      • Home Décor
      • Kitchen
      • Mugs
    • Glass Ornaments
    • Magnets
    • Miscellaneous
    • Norval Morrisseau Designs
  • Support
    • Volunteering
    • Memberships
    • Donor Wall
  • About Us
    • Strategic Plan
    • Annual Report
    • Services
    • Our Mission
    • Collections Policy
    • Newsletter
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Staff & Board
  • Mailing List
  • Mining Map
  • Donate Now
  • Woodland-Art
  • Mural Project Survey Teachers