Trains
In the area around North Bay, the lore and legend of the railway runs deep. It was with the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1882 that the city had its origin. Over time additional railways arrived and in 1902 the Province of Ontairo established the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway with their headquarters in North Bay.
For many years, the focus of railway activity was located on the shore of Lake Nipissing, immediately to the west of the downtown core. This was clearly good for business as within a short time 3 hotels were among the many businesses operating immediately adjacent to the CPR Station.
Prior to the expansion and improvement of highways connecting the area to southern and eastern Ontario, rail remained the primary way people came to the North. This can be seen in the marketing materials issued by the railway companies themselves encouraging people to travel to participate in the numerous outdoor activities available in the area. Their often very specific suggestions highlighted the best areas for fishing and hunting, and what species of wildlife visitors could expect to find, provided suggested accomodations and recommended guides.
Complimenting the material from commercial operators, the Province of Ontario also engaged in active promotion of the area through regular publications such as "Ontario - Canada's premier province - The Lake-land playground" and "Ontario Out of Doors".
With all the promotion of the area by the railways and the province, visitor numbers increased. But while historical attention today is often on the movement of people through the area by rail, the core business remained the freight traffic.
