Old Time Trains

Toronto Terminals Railway

By R.L.Kennedy

The most noticeable asset of the Toronto Terminals Railway was Union Station, yet the name Toronto Terminals Railway itself was almost unheard-of to the public. One of the few places it was displayed was on the cap badge of the Red Caps, yet even that likely went un-noticed by most once they saw the familiar Red Cap.
What names the public did see at Union Station were those of its two owners, Canadian National and Canadian Pacific, and in later years, tenants GO Transit and VIA Rail.

The Toronto Terminals Railway was created (July 13,1906) with ownership 50/50 between the GTR (later CNR) and the CPR. The GTR wanted the tracks to be elevated over York, Bay and Yonge Streets, while the CPR did not. The squabbling went on between them and the City year after year over the extent of the work to be done and the cost sharing involved. Contracts for the 12 track station were finally let in 1914 but the bickering wasn’t over yet. Construction began June 17, 1925 on the Toronto Grade Separation project (a.k.a. Viaduct), it wasn’t until January 31, 1930 that it was completed. Known to CPR employees as the "High Level" it required a massive filling of land, not only to a height of 18 feet but extending some distance into Lake Ontario. Some 2.6 million cubic yards of earth fill were required. So massive was the work that a narrow gauge (2 foot) construction railway was built by the contractor. The Viaduct extended between John, York, Bay, Yonge, Jarvis, Parliament, Sherbourne and Cherry Streets a distance of over 2 miles with approaches reaching farther beyond at both ends. These approaches were used by the CNR on its approach from Montreal passing above Queen Street East and meeting the CPR line at the Don as they both entered Union Station. A CNR freight bypass known as the "High Line" passed to the south of the CPR John St. coach yard and roundhouse extending past John Street down to normal level just before Bathurst Street. This double track High Line is not part of the TTR. It still exists but has been relocated and now runs immediately south of Union Station. The TTR extended over this area and slightly beyond, its limits being at Don (Mile 107.1 CPR Oshawa Sub., presently known as Mile 209.4 Belleville Sub.; and Mile 2.0 CNR Bala Sub.) on the east and on the west near Cabin D on the CNR and at Tecumseh Street Mile 1.3 CPR Galt Sub. In later years extended to its present limit on the west side of Strachan Avenue at Mile 1.45 which came about with installation of CTC on the Galt Sub. which was required for the Milton GO train service and elimination of Tecumseh Street tower and the TTR Cabin D. Note that the CPR employee time table spells Tecumseh Street (and pronouncing it T come see) differently that its street map name which is Tecumseth Street. Switchtenders were also eliminated. As part of this expansion, CPR insisted upon separation of trackage near Spadina Avenue which required a flyunder.

Old Union Station 1873-1927 Photo Gallery Repeated expansions were still insufficient to handle the increase in traffic of the growing city. A new station was required and the disasterous fire of April 19, 1904 that destroyed 86 buildings along Bay and Front Streets provided an opportunity to build one just to the east although it would be many years before that finally realized.

The growing population of Toronto resulted in greatly increased railway traffic. The location of all of the railway lines entering Toronto along the waterfront created conjestion for rail as well as public use. The large number of level crossings presented considerable hazards to pedrestrians and road users. To overcome this the city sought grade separations of the crossings.

Royal Train with new 4-8-4 6120 carrying the Prince of Wales approaches Union Station from the east along the Esplanade. The official opening ceremony was very brief, about ten minutes! Public Archives of Canada

The present Union Station was finally opened on August 11, 1927 after having lain nearly finished since 1919! (The offices and post office annex were occupied by October 1920. Prior to this TTR's offices were located at 36-38 King Street East.) CP Express opened its adjacent building on Bay Street at the north east end of the depot on January 18, 1930 while CN Express opened theirs at the opposite end. (These buildings were later sold by TTR to their respective companies September 12, 1957.) Months after it opened, work continued and wasn’t entirely completed until September 1, 1931! (Demolition of the existing Union Station took place in late 1927.) The land was leased from the City of Toronto to the Grand Trunk Railway in 1905.

New Union Station Photo Gallery

The TTR owns Union Station and the tracks leading in and out of it, along with John Street, Scott Street and Cherry Street towers, (plus Cabin D eliminated some years ago.) All towermen are TTR employees as are all track and signal maintenance. Gatemen, baggage handlers and Red caps are also TTR. No yard tracks are included as all coach yard and engine terminal facilities are owned by either CNR or CPR. All ticket office staff, and railway police belonged to the railways except that in recent years a security staff was created for Union Station replacing railway police. Actual management was rotated every five years between CNR and CPR who appointed a Superintendent for the duration.

CPR offices took up several floors above the public area of Union Station while CNR offices had a separate entrance at the west end. CPR train dispatchers were also located here. A TTR restaurant was located at the west end of the great hall while Liggetts operated a cafeteria at the south end of the lower concourse that was the favourite place of railway employees. The Terminal Credit Union was located near here as well.

Display train of Super Continental equipment in new paint scheme at west end of Union Station.
Description of details in this scene.

The creation of GO Transit commuter trains effective May 1967 began a reversal of declining train movements which further increased in years to come with the addition of five new routes on both CNR and CPR. It eventually resulted in a small expansion of the train shed adding two more tracks as seen in this September 1979 photo by Ted Wickson.

VIA Rail replaced CNR and CPR in providing passenger service starting in 1976 and in the years following this, both railways moved their offices out a little at a time. Finally, on July 1, 2000 after years of negotiations, the City of Toronto purchased the Union Station, CPX Building and the Toronto Terminals Railway itself, for $55 million. This sum included settlement of a long-disputed lease of the city-owned land. The first major change was the demolition of the former Canadian Pacific Express facility and office building at 141 Bay Street. Following closure of the Express operation automobile parking took over use of the ground level while the track level tracks lay abandoned. The office building was rented out, the last tenant being Budget Car and Truck Rental.

Canadian Pacific Express 137 & 141 Bay Street. August 1, 2001 R.L.Kennedy

Demolition of the 18 door dock is well underway by Priestly Demolition.
August 1, 2001 R.L.Kennedy.

GO Union Station Bus Terminal
Construction began April 25, 2002 and it opened March 3, (17th official) 2003.

Looking southeast from Front Street West

Close up.GO 538 shoving westward.

Look east into GO
Bus Terminal

Looking west from Yonge Street

Views above and below June 20, 2005 R.L.Kennedy

East end platform Tracks 1 and 2

View towards Scott Street Tower

Former site of CP Express shed at track level. Looking east.
Pedestrian walkway over Bay Street is to left of wall.

Central Heating Plant also owned by the TTR was located at Bay and Fleet Streets (now Lakeshore Blvd.). It was a big facility with 7 large boilers that supplied steam heat to the Union Station, the Royal York Hotel, and all buildings on the south side of Front Street between Yonge and Simcoe Streets; Canada Customs, CP Express, CN Express, CN/CP Telecommunications; and the main Postal Terminal building on Bay Street at Lakeshore Blvd. as well as the CPR coach yard and roundhouse. Oddly enough it did not supply the CNR Spadina roundhouse and coach yard until late years. It was converted from coal to natural gas, although two boilers were capable of also burning oil should gas supply have low pressure in winter. The plant was closed down and demolished following the closing of John Street roundhouse in 1986 by which time the demand for steam had dropped significantly. The TTR then bought their steam supply from Toronto District Heating Corp. which later became Enwave.

Map of Viaduct 1913

The Railway Viaduct Along the Toronto Waterfront Canadian Railway & Marine World Dec.1913

Toronto Grade Separations, Viaduct and Parkdale. pdf Railway Age Gazette June 1913

Agreement was finally reached in November of 1924 for a $28.5 million project with work beginning June 17, 1925. Changes to the final version of the viaduct from those in the above article saved $6 million and included a reduction in the number of subway grade separations by closing Scott, George, Frederick and Princess Streets. John Street bridge was also eliminated. A further cost reduction was had by eliminating the planned trestles from the high level into the fruit markets, one of which was in the old Great Western station. This was accomplished by simply allowing tracks to remain along the Esplanade beyond Church Street, west to Yonge Street. It also eliminated a very dangerous way of switching freight cars along with a reduction in ongoing maintenance.

Panoramic View before the Viaduct 1924

Panoramic View after the Viaduct 1934

Viaduct Gallery Photos of before and after conditions along this extensive area.

50th Anniversary folder issued by the TTR.

TTR Facts

Arrivals and Departures Track allotments for trains. Sheet 1967 Folder 1973 Folder 1982

Transit Toronto (Link) web site article

Toronto Terminals Railway (Link) Official web site