Caption: One lone white flag clings to the cab of CN GP40-2L(W) 9531 as it, M420 2519, and a 3200-series C424 grind uphill on the grade from the Humber River bridge (CN "Humber", visible in the background but clouded out), operating on a westbound extra freight from MacMillan Yard. The train is just about to cross the grade crossing at Martin Grove Road, denoted by the crossing bungalow on the left. At the time of this photo taken right on the border of Vaughan and Toronto, Steeles still crossed the Halton Sub at-grade, and Martin Grove made a disjointed jog at Steeles.

When CN built the new "Toronto bypass" portion of the Halton Sub in the early-mid 60's, it cut through rural Vaughan and Brampton farmland along the northern reaches of Toronto. Most of the main roads were grade-separated from the start, but a few local roads crossed at-grade including Steeles and Torbram Rd.

But development was moving northward and by the 1980's North York's suburban sprawl was knocking on CN's door. Steeles Avenue had been connected between Martin Grove and Islington and upgraded to become a major east-west thoroughfare along the north edge of the city. Around 1986-87 this area was rebuilt and grade-separated to the current configuration: Martin Grove was re-alinged east to join the southern portion, and meet Steeles at a proper intersection. The CN Halton Sub would run right underneath the intersection of both streets through a box culvert underpass.

Keith Hansen photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.