On July 2, 1969, the Caribou —a train so slow it earned the ironic nickname “Newfie Bullet”—made its final journey, closing a chapter on Newfoundland’s rugged railway legacy.

Thanks to Adventures with Todd who does a fantastic video on the subject so do watch the video above.

The Iron Horse That Crawled

Nicknamed for its glacial pace (20-35 km/h), the Caribou was Newfoundland’s lifeline, connecting remote communities across 547 miles of unforgiving terrain . “It wasn’t fast, but it survived avalanches, moose crossings, and bankruptcies,” says historian Gerald Hannon . Passengers affectionately called it “the Bullet,” a tongue-in-cheek nod to its sluggish reputation.

The Last Ride

The final eastbound trip from Port aux Basques to St. John’s carried 80 passengers and crew, including Jim Furlong, who recalled: “We fought snowdrifts so high, the train looked like a worm in ice” . By then, the writing was on the wall: post-WWII highways, though rough, offered faster travel, and the railway’s financial losses piled up.

Why the Newfie Bullet Stopped

Newfoundland’s shift to roadways sealed the train’s fate. Critics called the tracks “a streak of rust,” citing costs and inefficiency . By 1989, the entire line was abandoned, leaving only memories—and a few rusted rails in the wilderness.

Legacy of the “Slow Bullet”

Locals still romanticize the Caribou . Facebook posts from 2024 nostalgically debate its impact, with some arguing railways could revive tourism today . As Furlong reflects: “That train moved mountains for this province—just not in speed”.

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