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Canadian National's Spadina Yards and surrounding area in downtown Toronto was always a hubbub of activity dating back to the steam era. This 1970 view of the Spadina roundhouse and engine servicing facilities shows a great variety of power that was typical for CN back in the day, as well as some other goodies:

In the foreground are CN's only two GP35's, 4001 and 4000 (the long hood of which is visible on the lower left) coupled to an MLW RS18. Parked on the next track over is a 1900-series GMD1 (equipped with steam generator and B-B trucks) facing an Ontario Northland 1500-series FP7 and CN FPA4 (likely both together for service on the old "Northland" passenger train that pooled ONR & CN equipment). CN "Railiner" RDC cars are visible on the next track, with one in the background coupled to a pair of GP9's (4130 and 4147, the 4100-series units were equipped with steam lines for use in passenger service).  Behind them are four more 1900-series GMD1's, and some MLW S13 switchers used for switching the coachyard (one appears to be coupled to a slug - possibly a visiting hump set from MacMillan Yard?).

Visible on the main Toronto Terminal Railway tracks leading to and from Union Station in the background are CP container flatcars (6-axle trucked flats converted from old heavyweight passenger cars) loaded with early 20' containers, the TTR's John Street interlocking tower, and CN 40' boxcars lining the platforms and team tracks used by various customers to load and receive deliveries downtown (like newsprint - as evident by the yellow-doored boxcars mixed in. The Toronto Daily Star, Toronto Telegram, and Globe & Mail were known customers).

The early 70's era Toronto skyline is also visible, including the ever-present CPR Royal York Hotel, the "new" Toronto-Dominion Bank Tower built in the mid-late 60's, the CN Telecommunications building at 151 Front St. (later becoming CNCP Telecommunications, and then Unitel). And, the top of Union Station and the old CN Express building (converted into the Skywalk in the 80's) are visible just above CN's Spadina Roundhouse at the upper right (which was demolished in the mid 1980's for construction of the Skydome).
Copyright Notice: This image ©Bill Thomson all rights reserved.



Caption: Canadian National's Spadina Yards and surrounding area in downtown Toronto was always a hubbub of activity dating back to the steam era. This 1970 view of the Spadina roundhouse and engine servicing facilities shows a great variety of power that was typical for CN back in the day, as well as some other goodies:

In the foreground are CN's only two GP35's, 4001 and 4000 (the long hood of which is visible on the lower left) coupled to an MLW RS18. Parked on the next track over is a 1900-series GMD1 (equipped with steam generator and B-B trucks) facing an Ontario Northland 1500-series FP7 and CN FPA4 (likely both together for service on the old "Northland" passenger train that pooled ONR & CN equipment). CN "Railiner" RDC cars are visible on the next track, with one in the background coupled to a pair of GP9's (4130 and 4147, the 4100-series units were equipped with steam lines for use in passenger service). Behind them are four more 1900-series GMD1's, and some MLW S13 switchers used for switching the coachyard (one appears to be coupled to a slug - possibly a visiting hump set from MacMillan Yard?). Steam generator cars populate many of the stub tracks around the roundhouse turntable

Visible by the main Toronto Terminals Railway tracks leading to and from Union Station in the background are CP container flatcars (6-axle trucked flats converted from old heavyweight passenger cars) loaded with early 20' containers, the TTR's John Street interlocking tower, and CN 40' boxcars lining the platforms and team tracks used by various customers to load and receive deliveries downtown (like newsprint - as evident by the yellow-doored boxcars mixed in. The Toronto Daily Star, Toronto Telegram, and Globe & Mail were known customers).

The early 70's era Toronto skyline is also visible, including the ever-present CPR Royal York Hotel, the "new" Toronto-Dominion Bank Towers built in the mid-late 60's, the CN Telecommunications building at 151 Front St. (later becoming CNCP Telecommunications, and then Unitel). And, the top of Union Station and the old CN Express building (converted into the Skywalk in the 80's) are visible just above CN's Spadina Roundhouse at the upper right (which was demolished in the mid 1980's for construction of the Skydome).

Photographer:
Bill Thomson [715] (more) (contact)
Date: 1970 (search)
Railway: Canadian National (search)
Reporting Marks: CN 4001 (search)
Train Symbol: Not Provided
Subdivision/SNS: CN Spadina Roundhouse (search)
City/Town: Toronto (search)
Province: Ontario (search)
Share Link: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=27934
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Photo ID: 26776

Map courtesy of Open Street Map

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One Comment
  1. Another wonderful photograph and narrative, Mr. Thomson!

    If you had captured this image nearly ten years prior, you would have bumped into Mr. Del Rosamond. A Time Machine candidate?

    Here’s Del’s shot…

    http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=17034

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