Comments on: Road, rail, and trail users all share space at John Galt Park in downtown Guelph, named after the City’s founder, and located mere feet away from where the city was founded on April 23, 1827. Goderich Exeter Railway 582 has finished its work in the north end of Guelph and is returning south alongside the River Run Centre and CNR 6167, whose tender has just been prepped for application of the CNR ‘Maple Leaf’ herald.These grounds on the shore of the Speed River have played host to railway history for over 135 years. With the building of the Guelph Junction Railway in 1887 (leased to the CPR), Guelph’s first building and John Galt’s home, known as “The Priory,” was converted for use as a railway station. A purpose it would serve until 1911 when a brick station was built further north at Eramosa Road. The Priory would be removed during the 1920s and the railyard expanded. After the 1988 abandonment of the CPR Goderich Subdivision north of Guelph, use of the yard diminished and much of it was removed during the early 1990s leaving the mainline, passing track, and the CPR freight shed. The unique stone facade of the shed, originally built in 1882 as the Speed Skating Rink, and suffering a large fire in May 1991, remains today nestled amongst the trees behind 6167. The mainline was removed during the late 90s, replaced with the Downtown Trail/Trans Canada Trail, and the passing track assumed the role of the main.

By: MasonRV

MasonRV — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 18:51:12 +0000

Thanks for the nice read in the caption. Great shot and good eye for history.

By: Jacob Patterson

Jacob Patterson — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 21:32:51 +0000

Thanks guys. Note, not taken from the bridge, and not a drone…

By: Klaucker

Klaucker — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:13:38 +0000

Great shot Jacob with an even more interesting back story

By: PRR5406

PRR5406 — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 15:45:04 +0000

Terrific photo of one of my all time favorite CNR steam locos. I wish she’d be pulled and run once again, but thank heavens her stack is capped and the asbestos removed. Asnow and rain protective roof is the only thing lacking.