Caption:
It was rather timely to happen by the CN (and the CP) Parkdale stations in Toronto when I did. It was a matter of days after my stop when CN erected a small hut for the employees and closed the CN station with the intent of demolishing it as soon as possible. However, a 'save the station' group was organized and this resulted in the station, with a lot of effort, being moved from its location at Dufferin & Queen down to a new location at King & Roncesvalles where the old Sunnyside station once stood until CN razed it around 1960. The move was completed the first weekend of February 1977. There it stood awaiting restorations in hopes of turning it into a museum. Unfortunately the hopes and dreams were shortlived. Vandals got ahold of it, and burned it to the ground not long after. More lost Toronto history.
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WOW, I had no idea that there was a full sized station at Parkdale? Is this station right where the Newmarket and Weston Subs met? By 1981 when I hired on at CN this station was but a memory, but there was still an operator in a small shack there to give us train orders for the Newmarket sub. Great photo A.W
An operator at Parkdale…in those days…yep
see:
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=22738
I’m trying to figure out what car is sitting in front of the station. I don’t think that’s the Mooneymobile of the day is it?
Vandalism isn’t a new problem in Toronto. I kinda recall the story of the burning station at Sunnyside.
Probably the agents car.
I can’t tell if its a Ford or a AMC?
Dunno. Could be a Maverick.?? Negative not sharp enough to see detail.
Engineer-lad: On the day the station was being moved, the CN guys had already been relocated to the little metal hut that served as their ‘office’ and it was of course business as usual. As the station was being moved, accidentally the corner of the building whacked the little hut, and the guys inside really got a shock!!! Nobody hurt, but everyone nervous. The move was at night, and there were a lot of incidents such as this, various overhead wires too low, and actually the station was misjudged in its’ height as well.
Thanks for the history lesson A.W. LOL I am not surprised by all the incidents at all, although I find it strange that they would do it all at night? Glad no one was hurt in that li’l tin can
@Snake2….excellent perspective on that picture.
Maybe the car is an AMC Matador.
It isn’t a Ford Maverick – I don’t think Mavericks came in 4 door sedans.
This station was located east and south of Queen Street West and Dufferin/Gladstone.
CPR Galt Sub is behind the camera and Parkdale station was slightly to the right (south) of the CNR station.
It was moved to site of old CNR Sunnyside stn. lay there boarded up for some time. It got broken into and a homeless person(s) set fire to it. Possibly not intentionally, likely just to keep warm. Sad!
Thanks, Ray. Yes, I do have a negative here somewhere with both stations in it. I marked my photos back then but neglected to note exactly where the buildings were situated.
If you want a different look at Parkdale check out this short video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAzNkDLRCao
That video was not only good stompin’, it was hilarious. Thanks, Ray !!!!!
It’s a four door Ford Maverick!
Hah!!! Thanks, Stuart !!!