Caption: One from the slide collection: Canadian Pacific 6584, an MLW S3, operates on the Toronto Harbour Commissions' streetrunning trackage along Queen's Quay near York Street, hauling a sizeable cut of 40' boxcars. Judging from what appears to be ripped grain doors, they are likely grain empties being handled from one of the harbourfront elevators, such as Victory Mills in the background. According to Old Time Trains, Toronto-based unit 6584 was unique as it outfitted with dual controls for easier rearward operation when switching Victory Mills' tight trackage on the East Wharf Job out of Parkdale Yard, which is likely its assignment here. The two sets of track to the left of the train were for TTC streetcars coming off Bay and heading to Harbour Loop, which were removed around mid-late 1965.
Long a source of traffic for the railways, as the downtown Toronto waterfront gentrified and lost much of its heavy industry, the railways too retracted. Most of the grain elevators on the waterfront shut down or were demolished, and the main streetrunning section here (known as the Central Harbour Terminals - Hanlan's Point District in employee timetables) was removed in the mid-80's, still leaving some trackage at the east end to service customers such as Redpath Sugar. The last of CP's ancient MLW switchers maintained out of John St. Roundhouse were retired around that time too, followed by John St. itself being closed by CP (although, happily, donated to the city for preservation).
Duplicate Al Chione slide (although I'm not entirely sure if it was duplicated from another photographer's slide by him), Dan Dell'Unto collection.
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Wow… a wonderful piece of history here!
Dan, very nice picture of Toronto waterfront history, and so much has changed in 54 years. One thing that is still here today, but in a different configuration are TTC street cars ! My guess about this slide it is a copy of a copy, knowing a little bit about Al Chione. However, what ever it is, it is well worth having in your collection, and thanks for posting, John