Caption:

The demise of the Canadian Pacific Railway West Toronto station is controversial

The city wanted the station as the centre piece for a new development

The CP and GO wanted it gone – the claim being the station is located on the future connecting track right of way for the new GO Milton line

So, in the early morning November 25,1982, the CP contractor demolished the station. The City had CP charged with demolition without a permit – a slap on the wrist.

December 1979 Kodak Tri X negative by S.Danko.

As a child, riding the CPR 'The Canadian', I vividly recall how stately this enormous station was: a huge monument to the glory days of rail travel.

Noteworthy: Fourteen months prior to this photo, October 1978, the final passenger train stopped here ( the 'new' VIA Canadian ) after that, the station's deterioration was swift.

In the photo, the contractor's trailer is seen parked under the passenger walk through canopy and the concrete platform beyond the building's eaves (to the west track) is removed with the concrete debris piled high at the north end of the station totally blocking the view of the station's north wall.

It is amazing the station remained in place for another 23 months after this photograph.