John Street Roundhouse
| John Street Roundhouse (Canadian Pacific) | |
|---|---|
| National Historic Site of Canada | |
 Inside the unfinished portion of the Roundhouse in May 2008 |
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| Province | Ontario |
| Municipality | Toronto |
| Original use | Roundhouse |
| Current use | Toronto Railway Heritage Centre, Steam Whistle brewery and a furniture store |
| Administrative body | City of Toronto |
| Designated as a NHSC | 1990 |
| Year built | 1931 |
John Street Roundhouse is a preserved locomotive roundhouse in Toronto, Ontario. Built for the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1929-31 by Anglin-Norcross to replace the earlier John Street roundhouse built in 1897. Trains were so properly maintained at this location that railroaders recognized them by their "John Street polish." [1] When diesel run trains began being used, business was slowed at the Roundhouse and the building was last used for its original purpose in 1986. The Canadian Pacific Railway Company donated the roundhouse to the City of Toronto. It is the only remaining roundhouse in downtown Toronto (the CNR Spadina Roundhouse was demolished to make way for construction of the SkyDome). One third of the original structure was dismantled, to allow construction of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre below, then reconstructed (1995) and is now home to The Toronto Railway Heritage Centre, Leon's Furniture and Steam Whistle Brewing. Renovations to the brewery portion were done by William Hurst Architects.
The John Street Roundhouse was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990.[2][3]
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[edit] Structure
John Street Roundhouse could maintain 32 locomotives at a time. 32 bay doors make up the inner rounded facade of the building and face the 120 foot turntable. This turntable was the largest used by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company and was constructed by the Canadian Bridge Company. [4] The exterior and interior of the building is mostly composed of brick and glazing. Each of the bay doors is of wood construction and can be left open to reveal a floor to ceiling glass wall with a regular sized man door inset. Natural light floods the interior space from the curved loft space and all exterior facades. Refurbished wooden columns also stand within the interior of the structure. [5]
[edit] Roundhouse Park
Following the renovations of the roundhouse, the area to the east of the building became a city owned park named Roundhouse Park in 1997. The Toronto Historical Railway Association has located a number of railway items to the park and volunteers have been working to create it as a railway theme museum.[6] The 17 acre park is bounded by Bremner Boulevard, Lower Simcoe Street, Lake Shore Boulevard West/Gardiner Expressway and Rees Street. Officially opened on May 28, 2010, Roundhouse Park contains not only John Street Roundhouse itself but 4 full sized locomotives, 3 freight cars, 2 passenger cars and a miniature train that can pull 24 people around the park. [7] Cabin D and Don Station have also been moved to Roundhouse Park from the City's collection of historic buildings. Each of them has been repainted and repaired but remains in its original structural state. The coaling tower and water tank are auxiliary structures still located in the park from the working days of the John Street Roundhouse. [6]
[edit] Collection
- Canadian National Railway No. 6213 U-2-G 4-8-4 MLW 1942 - formerly located at New Fort York
- CP Rail 7020 (Class DS10-B, Alco S-2 1944
- Canadian National Railway No. 4803 GMD GP7 1953
- 50 Ton Whitcomb Centre Cab Switcher 1950
- Canadian Pacific "Jackman" sleeper 1931
- Canadian Pacific "Cape Race" Buffet-compartment-solarium-observation-sleeper, 1929
- Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Railway Caboose #70 steel sheathed, 1921
- Canadian Pacific Railway 188625 - "Fowler" steel frame boxcar, built 1917
- Reinhart Vinegars RVLX 101 - wooden vinegar tank car, built 1938
- Toronto Terminal Railway (TTR) - Pyke Self-Propelled Crane
[edit] See also
- CNR Spadina Roundhouse demolished 1986 to make way for Rogers Centre
- Canadian Pacific Railway Lambton Roundhouse - St. Clair Ave. W. and Runnymede Road, 1912-1913 (demolished 1960)
- Canadian Pacific Railway West Toronto Roundhouse, 1891 (demolished 2001)
- Canadian Pacific Railway Parkdale Roundhouse, King and Queen at Dufferin Street, 1891 by Credit Valley Railway; last used 1907
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.trha.ca/johnstreet.html
- ^ John Street Roundhouse (Canadian Pacific), Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada
- ^ John Street Roundhouse (Canadian Pacific), National Register of Historic Places
- ^ http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/CPR_Toronto/JOHN_ST_LOCOMOTIVE.htm
- ^ http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/culture/doorsopen2008.nsf/219af60e39f783108525747a005ae9b8/67f7bb2bc82fce20852574190040e6e9?OpenDocument
- ^ a b http://www.trha.ca/roundhousepark.html
- ^ http://spacingtoronto.ca/2010/05/28/john-street-roundhouse-park-now-home-to-railway-heritage-museum/
[edit] External links
- Toronto Railway Historical Association (restoration of roundhouse)
- John Street Roundhouse at Old Time Trains
Coordinates: 43°38′27″N 79°23′09″W / 43.640862°N 79.385925°W
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