Old Time Trains

National Archives of Canada PA-181479
A Canadian Pacific passenger train is seen being readied for an eastward departure in the Union Station around 1905. This is the train shed on the north side of the station, completed in 1873. The view is to the west. A glass-enclosed walkway crosses above the tracks enabling passengers to reach their trains. The sign above the walkway reads ALL TRAINS FOR THE EAST LEAVE FROM THIS SHED. The sign at the foot of the staircase indicates that Tracks 1 and 2 are respectively on right and left. Electric globe lights hang above the platform.

The train consists of a baggage mail and express car and two coaches. All are wooden, open-vestibule, truss-rod cars built prior to 1900. The Baker heater, for heating the car, is visible through the open door of the express car. Five employees of the Dominion Express Company are loading baggage into the express car. Three passengers are seen at open windows of the coaches. A second train is positioned on the west end of Track 2.

According to a 1920 Employee Timetable, train movements from the station were controlled by both bell and semaphore signals. For example, a train standing on Track 4 could only be started if the engineer heard four strokes of the gong and saw a clear semaphore signal.

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Old Time Trains © 2009

National Archives of Canada PA-181479

A Canadian Pacific passenger train is seen being readied for an eastward departure in the Union Station around 1905. This is the train shed on the north side of the station, completed in 1873. The view is to the west. A glass-enclosed walkway crosses above the tracks enabling passengers to reach their trains. The sign above the walkway reads ALL TRAINS FOR THE EAST LEAVE FROM THIS SHED. The sign at the foot of the staircase indicates that Tracks 1 and 2 are respectively on right and left. Electric globe lights hang above the platform.

The train consists of a baggage mail and express car and two coaches. All are wooden, open-vestibule, truss-rod cars built prior to 1900. The Baker heater, for heating the car, is visible through the open door of the express car. Five employees of the Dominion Express Company are loading baggage into the express car. Three passengers are seen at open windows of the coaches. A second train is positioned on the west end of Track 2.

According to a 1920 Employee Timetable, train movements from the station were controlled by both bell and semaphore signals. For example, a train standing on Track 4 could only be started if the engineer heard four strokes of the gong and saw a clear semaphore signal.