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Caption: This image is of a CP power move that came up from Parkdale and heading west on the Galt sub, as seen from the old Weston Road bridge. Power visible is CP 8768, 8146, 7043, 7060 and 7024. The three 7000-series MLW S-2 switchers were all retired by 1986. On the north (upper) side can be seen two leads to the Maple Leaf Mills plant as well as a one to a warehouse. Most all of this industrial area has been demolished beginning 1992 or so and has been replaced by condo towers. This view is but a few hundred yards west of the old classic West Toronto Diamond; a hangout for many of us in the days gone by. Now? Fergit it.
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CN had access from the other side of the mill. The warehouse is part of MLM. I don’t think CN could switch it. “Bush” track was CP.
BTW MLM could “switch” CN cars across Junction Rd. using a cable winch that lay on the street when used! I watched this move.
This is either a Transfer Power job or an Assist also doing transfer of power. They are heading in to nearby West Toronto roundhouse.
CN had access from the other side of the mill. The warehouse is part of MLM. I don’t think CN could switch it. “Bush” track was CP.
BTW MLM could “switch” CN cars across Junction Rd. using a cable winch that lay on the street when used! I watched this move.
Classic Toronto Junction centred on the MLM …ALCO power and steel boxes
Arnold, this was my “camp out” spot in the 1950’s ! Great spot to watch all the West Toronto Jct steam action, trains on the CNR Brampton Sub, long freights backing east out of Lambton Yard to go north on the MacTier, and double headed freights for Leaside and up the hill to Agincourt. Easy to get to on the TTC, and if needed a washroom break, just walked “downhill” to either the CPR or CNR West Toronto Station Spent many a Sat afternoon on that bridge ! Many a good memory, thanks for posting, John
Lots of details to look at in this one.
Thanks, Eric.
And John.yes, I can certainly see it being your hangout spot. It was tremendous even for a young diesel guy like myself. But it was a long drive from St. Catharines where I lived. Almost anything went over the diamond at one time or another.
I went to West Toronto proper once – Got four or so trains in an hour… (it was cold, dark, and didn’t have much time). The shots I have are priceless to me because every train was good
The elevator was still there too.. (this was around 2004). Should have gone more!
This is great Mr Mooney. Love the history. I last neck of the woods. Now I live up the street from Lambton. Lots of motive power parked there! @R.L.Kennedy. the cable winch move? Can you elaborate? Pretty interesting. Another Mooney shot!
MLM had their sidings connect to CNR track on north side of Junction Road. Cars were sometimes left there due to full sidings. They had a winch with a long cable that could be carried across the street and laid down between the rails. When hooked up to CNR freight car the winch would lift the cable up in the air as it pulled a car across the street! MLM employee did flag vehicle traffic. I watched this (and stopped my car).
Is that Lambton in the background?
Yes and no. It is actually West Toronto yard but that was part of Lambton Yard.
Looks like the “push” engine to me. They shuttled power around the various yards in the terminal, in addition to assisting trains too heavy for the hill east of Leaside. Officially, Lambton Yard was west of Runnymede & West Toronto Yard was east of it.
So the silos are just to the right where LA Fitness and Organic Garage are now?
Yes, LA Fitness is where the warehouse was. I think LA was built over the actual warehouse but unsure as I have never been inside LA.
Another set of silos are just to the right out of camera
More silos were located farther to the east.
Where did the CN spur come off Weston sub that ran along St Clair to Symes Rd? I recall someone posting an SW1200RS, a transfer van and a string of tanks.
North West side St.Clair and Keele. It was the old TSR/TBL main line.
As for this photo;
CNR lead came across Junction Rd. on east side of Cawthra Ave. (no sidewalk IIRC) going north and somewhere it curved over to CN yard tracks south of St.Clair Ave. W.
There was also a lead (just south of St.Clair) that curved west and crossed Keele St. c.20-30 feet south. It served the Ontario Stockyards (1 sdg) and that lead continued west along south side of St.Clair until it swung right N/W and connected with CPR Lead into Canada Packers. (it goes through Ken Shaw auto dealer). These two long-gone curves can still be discerned looking at maps.google.com so too the lead CNR lead along Cawthra.
@R.L.Kennedy. I was just documenting the spur along St Clair to Symes Rd and noticed that you can see where the track was in the pavement. I’m confused as to how this spur was connected to CP. DId it run North through Ken Shaw to somehow connect to the Mactier sub? But the CN Weston sub was on West side. And i’m guessing there was a switchback into Canada Packars? Thanks.
@R.L.Kennedy, also there appears to be the diverting tracks of a switch in the street Cawthra and Junction Rd.
Yes, the CN spur curved through what is now Ken Shaw property (you can readily see the property outline) and it connected to a CPR spur that came through Ryding Avenue Park running straight across St.Clair Ave.W. There were NO movements between CN & CP there.
None of this connected in any way to the MacTier Sub. It started right at West Toronto Depot (Galt Sub.) crossed the diamonds of CN and CP to reach far east side of the combined RR properties at which point a connecting track off the North Toronto Sub. curved north.
BTW Ken Shaw bought all the RR property from CP following abandonment after Swifts folded up. (Not including track in Ryding Avenue Park which is owned by the City of Toronto all that land being donated in perpetuity. He then sold off all the excess he did not need
You can actually see where the tracks were on Ryding Ave and up to leading from Lambton. I also note you can roughly see where tracks were on St Clair. Someone had a shot of CN and a string of tank cars up here to or from Canada Packers. unfortuantely I can’t find it
That old Weston Rd bridge was a great spot while it lasted.
Especially when CP 8921 was on the Lambton transfer!