Welcome to Call of the Northland

Welcome to the completely redesigned northland-book.net, the online home of Call of the Northland: Riding the train that nearly toppled a government. The book was released in September 2014 and chronicles the fabled Toronto-Cochrane Northlander train, which was abolished in 2012.

The book combines history, politics and the author's own journey aboard the train into a compelling account of why the train was a lifeline to so many people in northeastern Ontario.

Can the train survive in an increasingly Toronto-centric Ontario?

The latest book from author and historian Thomas Blampied. On sale now!

March 23, 2015

Press release. Click here.

September 29, 2014

After over two years of work, Call of the Northland goes on sale today.

September 25, 2014

Call of the Northland goes on sale Monday! Read the press release here.

August 30, 2014

After two-and-a-half years of research, writing, rewriting, editing, rewriting (you get the picture), I have signed off on the proof copy of Call of the Northland and I am delighted to announce that it will go on sale to the public on September 29, 2014! The book looks gorgeous and will appeal to anyone interested in the ONTC, railways, Ontario, history, politics or travel (and hopefully other tastes too). The book will be available to purchase online or through selected local retailers across Ontario. If you would like to sell Call of the Northland in your store, it isn't too late to order (you don't even have to be in Ontario). To get in touch, contact me.

March 20, 2014

March 20, 2014 Call of the Northland is officially announced! The book will be released in September 2014. Read the press release here.

January 18, 2014

Exciting news about Call of the Northland! The Ontario Auditor General released her report in December and concluded that the actual cost of divestment is considerably higher than the government predicted. In fact, divestment could cost more than $820 million. In the past few months, the government has also backed away from divestment and is looking instead at transformation for the ONTC. In 2012, I set out to write a book about a journey aboard the Northlander and the intrigue surrounding the proposed divestment of the ONTC. Essentially, the ONTC divestment is over and my book will be released this fall. Stay tuned for updates as I prepare Call of the Northland for publication. You can also follow developments on my main website.