Comments on: “Down by the Depot”: Passengers, spectators and employees wait on the platform as CP Rail train #12, the Sudbury-Toronto leg of “The Canadian”, pulls into West Toronto Station after coming down the MacTier Sub and crossing over the diamonds via the connecting track to the Galt Sub. CP FP7 4071 handles the train solo (a common practice back then for the less-patronized leg of The Canadian), with two rounded-side lightweight steel baggage cars and the usual Budd stainless steel cars trailing. The Penford Paints sign is visible on the other side of the CN Weston Sub on the right. The signals in the background were for CP’s North Toronto Sub that crossed east-west at the diamonds.This routing of the Canadian in and out of Toronto shifted to taking CN when VIA took over CP’s passenger services in September 1978. The closed and unused CP West Toronto Station, built in 1911, was demolished by CP without a permit one morning in 1982 under much controversy, as a local movement was under way to save it. CP 4071 later became MUCTC/AMT 1301 for Montreal commuter service, eventually ended up on the Durbin and Greenbrier RR repainted as Western Maryland 243.David M. More photo, Dan Dell’Unto collection slide.

By: MrDan

MrDan — Sat, 24 May 2025 10:32:35 +0000

Sneaky CP thought nobody would notice…the uproar after demolition was one of the reasons they later donated John St. Roundhouse downtown to the city for a possible museum.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Thu, 22 May 2025 12:37:34 +0000

A really classic image. CP sure did not make any friends when they went onto the property and had half that station demolished before most people were awake that Sunday morning.