Comments on: This was the first opportunity I’d take to fly over heavily restricted private property, and I almost got away with it. Except I found out I had actually driven onto CP property to fly it, and didn’t even realize it! The maintenance worker was rather grumpy while informing me, but nonetheless allowed me to leave without the whole cop ordeal, which is good. While I did tell them I was flying a drone, I neglected to tell them I flying directly over their yard. Lol. Nonetheless, I gotta be more careful. This was one of the shots I took, and probably the ugliest one I got, in terms of what is shown. These were the hump tracks at CP’s Toronto yard, and under the wrath of Hunter Harrison, the hump yard here and at many other CP yards were shut down. The hump yard closed, I believe, in early 2013, and was ripped in its entirety the next year. While Hunter is largely to blame for massacring the yard, it’s an important reminder that cuts are a major factor in the private sector world today, and CP is not the only railroad closing yards, ripping up lines and laying off employees. Outsourcing and economic recessions surely have not helped either. The fate of this yard, besides the fact it is closed, is unknown. The north holding tracks could very well be shoved over towards the engine shops, and the rest of the land could be sold off for several millions of dollars. More optimistically, perhaps there is a brighter future ahead. Maybe one day, under a president less focused on stocks and more on railroading, this yard may exist again. However, the current ideology of class 1 railroads involve slow speeds, two to three mile long trains, and reclassifying of freight cars several times from origin to destination. Nonetheless, this makes it very hard to attract customers, and many have waved the rail industry goodbye because of this. That’s probably enough ranting on my part. On the plus side, this vast area would make for a great rally race, and if the ground is solid enough, maybe a full on drag race. Just don’t hit a pole or crash into the stacked rails. Take notice Hunter, you could make a lot of money off of this. Of course, the only way this would likely happen is illegally. Unlike some U.S (Oakvand foreign continent cities, illegal racing and sideshows are pretty rare here, even in Toronto’s sketchy parts like this one. Lets keep it that way.

By: robin lowrie

robin lowrie — Tue, 22 May 2018 19:30:51 +0000

The “bowl tracks” in Alyth seem to be gone. if they are still there, the grass has overgrown them!

By: RonaldB

RonaldB — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 04:49:45 +0000

further…Gordon67..I did also mention Markham by the main line & G Yard, so both of you are correct. I had some temporary delusion that the one by Pulldown was also Markham.. Like we can say about so many politicians..I could say of my railway knowledge ..”what did I know & when did I stop knowing it”?

By: RonaldB

RonaldB — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 04:46:36 +0000

actually thinking about it, ngineerd4u is correct. It is Finch Ave I was referring to..I’ve stood there enough times across from the Pulldown tower..& I should have known. Call it a “senior moment” after 6 yrs of retirement..
Anyway..sad to see the gutted carcass of the once massive yard..

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 23:51:05 +0000

@gordon. That was the bridge i was talking about. I can see the Markham Rd bridge to the right. Sorry if I phrased it incorrectly

By: gordon67

gordon67 — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 23:37:38 +0000

@ngineered4u – no, RonB had it correct. The bridge near the top right is the Markham Road bridge over the Belleville mains and G Yard. Your bridge is left of center near the top.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 15:30:29 +0000

@baldeagle. I am sure CP will be fine, but like all railroads it may look different. Hunters dream of conquest and a rival to CN being the only true railroad in North America that rails meet Atlantic & Pacific may be dead, but with that egomaniac one never knows.
CN’s largest shareholder is Microsoft’s Bill Gates and second largest is the Bill and Milinda Gates Foundation. No one person or company can own more that 15% of CN and its headquarters must remain in Montreal. I think we are in good hands.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 15:23:45 +0000

@RonB that bridge is actually the Finch ave bridge.The auto compound is to the north east of the shot and you can see autoracks to the left. The Mazda dealership is that blue building on the corner of Finch and Markham Rd. Its hard to see in this shot but the control tower for this end of the yard is right near Finch Ave bridge.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 12:38:37 +0000

Bill Ackman still owns north of 6% of CP…

even if he sells, the future is up to the CP board.

By: baldeagle

baldeagle — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 11:47:03 +0000

just a note. the major share holder in CP has sold off a good chunk of investment in the company. Is there a future for CP ???

By: RonaldB

RonaldB — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 03:45:02 +0000

dhately, correct Doug, this is looking from approx above the GYO toward Markham Rd and the Havelock Sub would be the most left track. You can also see the main track and Markham Rd bridge over that & “G” yard..toward upper right of the photo