Take the Last Train to Cochrane ...

A Northern Ontario Author-Historian will be embedded in the "Last Train to Cochrane" as it runs Sept. 27-28 for the final time.

He will be archiving the final story as the train goes into oblivion, after riding from North Bay to Cochrane and back, for the very last time.

Riders can climb on the history train from their communities between the North Bay and Cochrane and then, get off at their hometowns on their way back.

All Northern Ontarians need do is buy a ticket from the ONR and -- they will have a place on it. Everyone is welcome says the historian.

He will be joined by local politicians, history buffs, musicians, poets, artists, union members and families, who will be on-board, enjoying "live history" and telling their stories of the north, the railroad and the myopic view that governments often have about trains.

They will also talk about the good times and how important the railroad has been for the last 100 years.

The interviews, photographs, video clips, and other archival materials collected by the historian from train riders, will be released on "Ournorthernontario.ca" website which will be launched in early 2013.

Also, the story of the "Last Train to Cochrane", a book of the history of Northern Ontario and railroads that have vaporized in the last century and half, will be published in 2013.

The last train to Cochrane, the Northlander train (ONR), that serves communities from Cochrane to Toronto, is the first divestment of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission telecommunications division.

The province has cancelled it. In the words of Northern Development Minister Rick Bartolucci: "they've dismantled a 100-year old company that built Northern Ontario."

Author-Historian Wayne LeBelle of Field, is author of: Sturgeon Falls, West Nipissing, Valley East, Dokis Reserve, Iroquois Falls, North Bay Police History and Field history books.

The Ontario Historical Society honored him in 2012 with an award for his "perseverance, devotion, commitment and contribution of countless volunteer hours have helped raised awareness to preserve and protect chapters in the regional history of Northeastern Ontario."

He, and his team will be roaming all train cars of the Last Train to Cochrane to gather the stories and pictures.

All communities between North Bay and Cochrane should put out large signs and crowds as the train goes by LeBelle said, "As a Northerner, I believe a send-off party needs to be held for our train."

Such wakes and other gatherings are often done after funerals. In this case, our "train wake," will include fun and sadness because we will never see, or ride the ONR trains again," LeBelle.

"I am aware that mayors, citizens, local economic development groups and unions have been working hard to change the governments mind about getting rid of the ONR train. I support them as a brother, but this event is about history. I will be focusing on that two days the past of the railroad(s) of Northern Ontario."

"I will be giving $1,000 divided equally between for the best railroad theme picture of the train, old or new; story, song, painting/sketch and poem in early 2013. The winners will be posted at "Ournorternontario.ca web side that will be in operational in early 2013," he concluded.