Evening Telegram, February 4, 1897
Train Notes
Three cars of freight were taken out by morning train – one car load for the pulp manufactory at Northern Bight. Mr. Albert Hare took passage for the manufactory. The Rev. Mr. Godden left for his mission at Random, and Mr. Daniel Ryan for his home at King’s Cove.
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August 12, 1898
House Burnt Down – On Monday last at Northern Bight, T.B., a station house was destroyed by fire. All the property and a considerable amount of money was annihilated. Two young men residing in the house lost all their clothing.
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Evening Herald, April 7, 1899
She Stole the Jewelry.
On Tuesday night one Fanny Jones, of Old Shop, Dildo, was a passenger on the northern train, en route to Northern Bight. She had her eye on Antonio Joseph all the way, knowing from experience that he carried valuable goods, and by changing her position in the car was, when the train reached her destination, in quiet possession of his jewelry case, valued at some $400. It was not until Northern Bight was far behind that Antonio missed his pack, and then the air was rich with Arabic and bad English oaths. At Clarenville the Maronite could not stand the strain, so walked the ties back to Northern Bight, and managed to overtake the girl. She had by this time broken open the box, and was in full possession of its contents, while a brilliant ring with flashing stone adorned her finger, and one the best watches with long gold chain attached was hung around her neck. The lass, seeing she was captured, dashed off for safety; Antonio also did a little sprinting, but she escaped. Supt. Sullivan, who arrived last night, will in all likelihood proceed north again to hunt up the thief.
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The Evening Herald, February 5, 1902
Ambulance Northern Bight
When the express arrived last night the ambulance was waiting for a man named John Walsh, of Placentia, who during the past severe weather had his toes frozen while working at Northern Bight. The man was reported as unable to move, but officers Caines and McGinn, who were with the ambulance, found him quite able to get about and were disgusted at having a call at that hour when not needed. He was driven to the hospital.
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Evening Herald, March 16, 1904, Page 4
Train Notes
The plow special preceding the train coming this way from Bay of Islands got caught in a drift at Northern Bight last night and this has caused some delay, so that she will not likely arrive here before to-night.
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Evening Herald, September 9, 1904, Page 3
Events and Echoes
When the ‘Bruce’ express was passing thro the country yesterday between Clarenville and Northern Bight two splendid stags stood on the track but scampered away at its approach. They stood after running a few hundred yards and watched the train with evident curiosity.
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The Evening Herald, September 5, 1906
Railway Notes
The Reid Nfld. Coy. Have built at Crabbs and Stephenville Crossing new stations and freight sheds, and at Little River and St. George’s two new stations; at Long Hr., Tickle Hr., Northern Bight, Upper Shoal Hr. and Robinson’s Brook new shelters are being erected, and also at Waterford Bridge. A new station at Spaniard’s Bay and a freight shed at Brigus. The company have put up at Tickle Hr. section foreman’s and sectionmen’s houses. At Rantem and Clarenville they have erected houses for the section men, and also at Thorburn Lake, Port Blandford and Terra Nova River. At Gambo they are building section forman’s and section men’s houses, a new section men’s house at Gaff Topsail; two section men’s houses have been built at Badger Brook, at Robinson’s and Codroy houses for section foreman and section men are also being constructed.
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Evening Herald, March 16, 1907, Page 5
Events and Echoes
The rotary snow plow worked all yesterday fighting its way thru the snow and reached Northern Bight. 18 miles distant, at 5:30 p.m. She then left Clarenville, 15 miles further on, and was due to arrive there at 11 o’clock last light. The Bruce express was held up at Whitbournc last night.
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Evening Telegram, February 12, 1916
“Within the Law”
At Northern Bight – the express which left here on Thursday evening made very poor progress owing to the inclemeney of the weather and was hung up at Northern Bight station Thursday night and all day yesterday. The Klark Urban Co., who were on board, gave an extempore production of “Within the Law,” which was much enjoyed by the villagers.
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Evening Telegram, April 12, 1916
At the House
Mr. Lloyd …. He then presented a petition from Northern Bight on the same subject [lack of station accommodation]. At present there is a shack there, 13 ft by 10, to accommodate the needs of 1300 people and there was no station agent there. In past sessions the Leader of the Government had undertaken to see the contractors with a view to having conditions remedied, but his labours so far had resulted in nothing. The petitioners are now pressing their claims upon the contractors and the Government and the Leader of the Opposition hoped that something will be done.
Mr. Stone supported what had been said by the Leader of the Opposition and gave a review of the dilapidated railroad station or shack at Northern Bight.
The Colonial Secretary understood that something had been done to put the station in decent repair as Engineer last year to take the matter up with the Contractors. He then promised to get a report from the Engineer about the matter.
Mr. Morris and Mr. Devereawx endorsed the remarks of the Opposition members and complained about the unseemly shacks which were used for stations in Placentia District.
Mr. Lloyd replied to the Colonial Secretary’s statement that he was under the impression that the station was in decent repair and wished to disabuse the mind of the Colonial Secretary that there ever had been any thing like a station at Northern Bight.
Mr. Cooker stated that the complaint referred to had been brought before the house the past three sessions and hoped that definite action would be taken this time.
Mr Winsor, Mr. Higgins and Mr. Abbott then presented petitions re roads …
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Evening Telegram, May 5, 1919
Railyway Casualties During the Year
July 26 – Leo Cleary, 2 miles E Northern Bight. Hand crushed while coupling cars.
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Evening Advocate, May 30 1919
Wanted a Telephone
(To the Editor)
Dear Sir,—PIease allow space in your paper tor a few “Random” remarks concerning a question which we have had under consideration for some time, and which we are now asking the Government to take notice of and if possible to solve. It would be an easy matter to deal with, if we could more the powers that be to carry out our wishes.
The question I refer to is this: “Is it not possible to connect S. W. Arm of Random with Reid’s Northern Bight Station by telephone.” in order to give us a better service?
Now to make the issue clear and to point out the necessity of being linked up with the railway let us take a peep into past history.
When the railway was being built through the country about 28 years ago, the S. W. Arm of Random was left out of consideration altogether, and instead of bringing the line out near the waters of the Arm a way station was built about four miles in a wilderness, then the railway circled away to the westward and came out further on at Clarenvllle. This was a bad piece of business tor us, and a gross neglect on the part of the surveyors or the Government of that day.
Here we are in the S. W. Arm of Random, with about 20 settlements containing a population of 1800 people, and our only means of travelling or for receiving the necessaries of life is via Northern Bight Station, and what is worse, we have no means of finding out the movement of the trains either east or west, or whether freight ordered is landed at the station or not. It was only two years ago an agent was placed in charge of the station, so things have improved just a little. Previous to this, people have been known to have waited at the station for three or dour days for an east-bound train, and then left again not knowing whether the train was far or near. Again the writer knows the case of a man, who was expecting a package of freight and took a ten mile journey no less than three times before he received it. Numerous cases of this kind have occurred. We have been in the habit of asking for Information about the movement of trains from the agent at Clarenville through the courtesy of the Government operator at Clarenville, but in nine cases out of ten Reid’s agent there is not reliable, why not, we cannot understand. One would think that as a servant of the company first and a servant of the public second, he should be obliged to give the fullest information possible and give time as correct as possible, instead of putting us off with schedule time, which everybody knows. How often have our people been hoaxed in hurrying to catch, say, an east-bound train, which was reported by Clarenville to be on time, and after arriving at the station found her to be about 20 hours late. This is one case out of many. Truly we are at “Random” in more senses than one.
Now it is evident we want to mend matters such as these, and the easiest solution to the problem is for the Government to give us a telephone to extend from Northern Bight Station to Hillview. the nearest telegraph office, a distance of four miles. Then from our own station we should expect reliable information both as to the movement of the train, and freight shipped or received. It would save a great deal of trouble, anxiety and expense, and bring us more abreast of the times. Wake up! Random and stand up for the right to live and claim certain advantages which have been give to others but denied to us. We are not asking too much in this case. Many other places have been linked up to the railway by telephone. Why not we?
Thanking you, Mr. Editor, in anticipation for space.
Yours sincerely,
X
Random, May 12, 1919
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Evening Telegram, March 8, 1923
Died of Heart Failure
SECTION FOREMAN STRICKEN AT NORTHERN BIGHT.
A message to the Reid Newfoundland Company, received Tuesday night, stated that John Costello, a section foreman, had passed away at 6 p.m. on the 6th inst. [March 1926] Dr. Chisholm, who was summoned in attendance when the man was stricken, pronounced death due to heart failure. The deceased was from Avondale where his wife and family reside. Rev. Father Kavanagh was wired to convey the sad intelligence to the unfortunate man’s family, for whom general sympathy is felt. The body will be brought to Avondale for interment.
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Evening Telegram, October 3, 1923
Train Notes
Tuesday’s West bound express is held at Northern Bight on account of the railway run-off. There is no report of the incoming express leaving Port aux Basques on account wire trouble. There was no passenger list available up to press hour. The local Carbonear train was due to arrive at 1 o’clock
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Evening Advocate, October 3, 1923, page 6
Engineer Is Killed When Freight Engine Leave Rails
Embankment Washed Away by Heavy Rains Causes First Derailment in Many Months.
Charles Cahill, 45, married, railway engineer with the Nfld. Government Railway, was instantly killed at 10:30 a.m. yesterday when his engine, attached to a west-bound freight train, left the rails eight miles west of Northern Bight and turned over, bringing four cars with it.
The following statement relative to the accident was issued by the general manger:
West-bound freight train, in charge of Conductor Howlett, which left Northern Bight at 9:55 Tuesday morning, got locomotive and four box cars derailed about eight miles west of Northern Bight station. Locomotive turned over on its side and Engineer Cahill got caught under boiler and was instantly killed. Fireman and other trainmen uninjured. Cause of derallment due to extra heavy rains washing away the embankment.
“Several other places along Railway suffered from washouts, particularly on Placentia Branch. Bonavista Branch and Vicinity of Clarenville. Repairs are being effected as quickly as possible.
H.J. Russell. General Manager. It is assumed that engineer Cahill was instantly killed, as not even a cry was heard from him after the engine turned over. The tender and the two freight cars next the engine, also turned over into the ditch by the side of the track.
Following the accident the train hands got in touch with Dr. Chisholm at Hillview, and General Manager Russell was acquainted of the fatality. He in turn, informed Rev. Dr. Kitchen of St. Patrick’s who broke the sad news to the deceased man’s widow and three children.
Mr. Cahill had been on the road for many years and was on of the most capable and popular engineers in the railway employ. Last evening a casket was sent out and the remains arrived in the city by the local train at one o’clock today.
The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon from his late residence, Topsail Road, near the Cross Roads.
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Evening Telegram, January 11, 1924
Express Delayed
SNOW PLOY DERAILED NEAR NORTHERN BIGHT
The incoming express is delayed three miles west of Northern Bight since 6 o’clock this morning, owing to the snow plow attached leaving the rails. A heavy fall of snow made its appearance on this section of the road a few days ago, and with the intense frost since then the snow became very hard with the results at followed. Another snow plow has been dispatched to the scene from Clarenville. The belated train is not expected to reach the city before 9 o’clock tonight.
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Evening Advocate, January 12, 1924
Plough Derailed
Wednesday’s express bringing the Kyle’s mail and passengers was considerably delayed due to a derailment in the vicinity of Northern Bight. On this section snow had collected to a depth of three feet and left the track whilst endeavouring to force a passage. Another plough and engine were ordered to the scene and the way cleared. The express made good time during the balance of the trip.
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Western Star, January 20, 1945
New Buildings and Rolling Stock for Nfld. Railway
(Statement released by the Public Relations Officer, 11th January 1945) …
Northern Bight and Clarenville
The present freight shed at Northern Bight and Clarenville will be extended to take care of increased business as the present facilities are not capable of taking care of traffic. …
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Transcribed by Wanda Garrett, Katie Aylward and Lisa Garrett. Page created January 2016; Updated October 2022
These transcriptions may contain human errors. As always, confirm these as you would any other source material.