Gaff Topsails, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Gaff Topsail is an abandoned railway settlement located in the interior of Newfoundland, Canada
, between the communities of Millertown Junction to the east and Kitty's Brook to the west. The population was entirely composed of railway workers and their families that worked on the Newfoundland Railway
.
The Topsail
s takes its name from the surrounding landscape
which includes Main Topsail, Missin Topsail, Gaff Topsail and Fore Topsail which taken as a whole is geologically classified as a drumlin
. The Topsails rise 61 metres — 122 metres above the general surface of the central plateau
of Newfoundland. It is a barren land, rocky and wind swept and in winter is renowned for its tremendous snow
drifts. The area is known for its spectacular scenery and in winter the huge snow drifts that played havoc with the railway.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, between the communities of Millertown Junction to the east and Kitty's Brook to the west. The population was entirely composed of railway workers and their families that worked on the Newfoundland Railway
Newfoundland Railway
The Newfoundland Railway was a railway which operated on the island of Newfoundland from 1898 to 1988. With a total track length of , it was the longest narrow gauge railway system in North America.-Early construction:...
.
The Topsail
Topsail
A topsail is a sail set above another sail; on square-rigged vessels further sails may be set above topsails.- Square rig :On a square rigged vessel, a topsail is a square sail rigged above the course sail and below the topgallant sail where carried...
s takes its name from the surrounding landscape
Landscape
Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including the physical elements of landforms such as mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of...
which includes Main Topsail, Missin Topsail, Gaff Topsail and Fore Topsail which taken as a whole is geologically classified as a drumlin
Drumlin
A drumlin, from the Irish word droimnín , first recorded in 1833, is an elongated whale-shaped hill formed by glacial ice acting on underlying unconsolidated till or ground moraine.-Drumlin formation:...
. The Topsails rise 61 metres — 122 metres above the general surface of the central plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
of Newfoundland. It is a barren land, rocky and wind swept and in winter is renowned for its tremendous snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
drifts. The area is known for its spectacular scenery and in winter the huge snow drifts that played havoc with the railway.
See also
- List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Newfoundland RailwayNewfoundland RailwayThe Newfoundland Railway was a railway which operated on the island of Newfoundland from 1898 to 1988. With a total track length of , it was the longest narrow gauge railway system in North America.-Early construction:...
- Patrick Kavanagh's novel Gaff Topsails