CNR Spadina Roundhouse
Encyclopedia
The CNR Spadina Roundhouse was owned by the Canadian National Railway
, built in 1928 (by Anglin-Norcross of Montreal). The purpose of Spadina Roundhouse, was to pre-trip inspect, service and repair the motive power
of passenger
trains, including locomotives and Budd Rail Diesel Car
s terminating, or originating at Toronto
Union Station
.
Spadina Roundhouse was located in the rail yard
, south of Front Street
, on the east side of Spadina Avenue
. Other facilities included a wheel shop, passenger car repair track and paint shop. A coach yard was located west of Spadina Avenue.
Toronto's Canadian Pacific Railway
, John Street Roundhouse
, now the home of the Steam Whistle
brewery
along with Spadina Roundhouse were two of hundreds of roundhouse
s in North America in the 1930s.
The Spadina Roundhouse was demolished in 1986, and the Toronto SkyDome, presently known as the Rogers Centre
, has been built in its place.
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
, built in 1928 (by Anglin-Norcross of Montreal). The purpose of Spadina Roundhouse, was to pre-trip inspect, service and repair the motive power
Motive power
In thermodynamics, motive power is an agency, as water or steam, used to impart motion. Generally, motive power is defined as a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover. The term may also define something, as a locomotive or a...
of passenger
Passenger
A passenger is a term broadly used to describe any person who travels in a vehicle, but bears little or no responsibility for the tasks required for that vehicle to arrive at its destination....
trains, including locomotives and Budd Rail Diesel Car
Budd Rail Diesel Car
The Budd Rail Diesel Car, RDC or Buddliner is a self-propelled diesel multiple unit railcar. In the period 1949–62, 398 RDCs were built by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States...
s terminating, or originating at Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
Union Station
Union Station (Toronto)
Union Station is the major inter-city rail station and a major commuter rail hub in Toronto, located on Front Street West and occupying the south side of the block bounded by Bay Street and York Street in the central business district. The station building is owned by the City of Toronto, while the...
.
Spadina Roundhouse was located in the rail yard
Rail yard
A rail yard, or railroad yard, is a complex series of railroad tracks for storing, sorting, or loading/unloading, railroad cars and/or locomotives. Railroad yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock stored off the mainline, so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic....
, south of Front Street
Front Street (Toronto)
Front Street is an east-west road in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The street marks the rough outline of the shoreline of Lake Ontario as it existed during the original English settlement of York, then called Palace Street...
, on the east side of Spadina Avenue
Spadina Avenue
Spadina Avenue is one of the most prominent streets in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Running through the western section of downtown, the road has a very different character in different neighbourhoods....
. Other facilities included a wheel shop, passenger car repair track and paint shop. A coach yard was located west of Spadina Avenue.
Toronto's Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
, John Street Roundhouse
John Street Roundhouse
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...
, now the home of the Steam Whistle
Steam Whistle Brewing
Steam Whistle Brewing is a brewery in Toronto, Ontario. The company produces a premium pilsner lager packaged in distinctive green glass bottles and a non-twist cap. They only use four natural ingredients: spring water from Caledon, Ontario; hops from Germany; two-row barley; and yeast. In 2004,...
brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
along with Spadina Roundhouse were two of hundreds of roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
s in North America in the 1930s.
The Spadina Roundhouse was demolished in 1986, and the Toronto SkyDome, presently known as the Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
, has been built in its place.
See also
- CPR John Street RoundhouseJohn Street RoundhouseJohn 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...