Comments on: An aerial view of Toronto in 1953, showing some of the downtown railway lands and facilities that have long-since vanished. I was invited by a co-worker to join him for a flight from the Island Airport (he was trying to put in flying hours) but I could only get one shot before he headed for the rural areas. Steam is still going strong, evident by at least four wisps of white smoke from steam locomotives in the area.Visible at the bottom are Canadian Pacific Railway’s John Street facilities, including the roundhouse, coachyard, stores building, passenger car servicing facilities and coaling tower. Union Station with its train shed, main buildings, and CNR & CPR express sheds at either side, is present near the middle in front of the towering CPR Royal York Hotel. The smokestacks at the bottom right are for the Central Heating Plant, that used to provide steam heat to various downtown buildings including the Royal York, Union Station and John St. Roundhouse. At the bottom left are some buildings part of CNR’s Spadina roundhouse facilities (out of frame). Above that are various yards, including CNR’s old freight sheds north of Front Street, and CPR’s Dominion Express freight sheds at Simcoe and Wellington (note all the boxcars spotted at sidings).City-wise, the office tower boom of later decades had yet to begin, with the tallest building at the time being the Canadian Commerce Bank Building (the tallest building in the British Commonwealth, and also taller than the nearby Royal York Hotel). The Canada Life building is visible at the left-middle along University Avenue, Maple Leaf Gardens is prominent further away from downtown, and in the distance in the upper right, one can see the Prince Edward Viaduct carrying Bloor Street over the Don Valley.More in downtown Toronto:Bathurst Street in 1958: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=15641Bathurst Street in 1979: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=22282

By: dhaisell

dhaisell — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 22:55:26 +0000

Never noticed how prominent the Ford Hotel and Maple Leaf Gardens were on the skyline before.

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 21 May 2018 01:52:31 +0000

I’d like to point out this is the highest viewed photo as of 2018

Driver8666 — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 14:32:33 +0000

The local flora and fauna sure as heck doesn’t look like this anymore, but still this was made 25 years before I was even thought of.

Jacob Patterson — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 03:57:40 +0000

Excellent shot Bill.

Eric May — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 02:09:27 +0000

Well, this will keep me busy for a while. I can see two of the buildings I used to work in. Looks to be a good layer of soot on the Royal York.

Cdntrainphotog — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 00:32:26 +0000

Great shot of the city. Thanks for being brave enough to go up and thanks for posting it over 60 years later.

awmooney — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 00:28:55 +0000

“The Big Smoke’ !!! Sure looks a lot different from your perspective than from the tourist brochures of the day. Love this shot.

Stephen C. Host — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 23:14:47 +0000

Great Vantage point Bill! Must have been quite the adventure.