I live and work in the far north of Saskatchewan, a sub polar climate, but the air is pure and fresh all the time. Unless there is a forest fire. Guess nothing is perfect. Having spent a long career split between Mining Engineering and Geology, all in the mining industry I now find myself teaching both these subjects to mostly native students. It is very rewarding and challenging. We have several production Uranium mines in the Athabasca Basin and gold mines in the La Ronge belt. 

The closest railroad track to me is found in Prince Albert which is now the Carlton Trail Railway Company ( ex Canadian National ) and the owners of a beautiful large brick roundhouse in magnificent condition right in the heart of Prince Albert and still very much part of the railroad. Equidistant is the Hudson Bay Railway serving Flin Flon, Manitoba and the large mining operations there. That rail line goes all the way far North to Churchill on the shores of Hudsons Bay. 

I grew up in Southern Ontario, in Burlington, a very busy railroad junction with multiple main lines of both CN and CP and well remember steam. The streamlined 4-8-4 Northerns of the CN and GTW were my favourites and the sight of them barreling through town was unforgettable. The TH&B was a local favourite with their ex NYC Hudsons J1d class I believe. Also spent a lot of time poking around the Canada Southern from St Thomas to Niagara Falls and sadly watched workers ripping up the track through Waterford. It is truly amazing as to what we have all lost and what was all too brief a period of time. The Pere Marquette, the Wabash, NYC, ...later CSX, NS, Conrail all had tracks close by and not one remains, a story familiar to all of us I suppose. In the summer months I enjoy chasing trains all over the prairies further down south...at least we still have that!