John Street Roundhouse
Encyclopedia
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." 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.
Company and was constructed by the Canadian Bridge Company. 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.
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...
in Toronto, Ontario. Built for the 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...
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." 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
CNR Spadina Roundhouse
The CNR Spadina Roundhouse was owned by the Canadian National Railway, built in 1928 . 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 Cars terminating, or originating at Toronto Union...
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
Toronto Railway Heritage Centre
The Toronto Railway Heritage Centre is a museum being developed by the Toronto Railway Historical Association in partnership with the City of Toronto in Ontario, Canada.-Mission:The mission of the Toronto Railway Heritage Centre is to:...
, Leon's Furniture and Steam Whistle Brewing
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,...
. 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.
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 RailwayCanadian 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...
Company and was constructed by the Canadian Bridge Company. 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.
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. 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. 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.Collection
- Canadian National RailwayCanadian National RailwayThe Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
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1953 - 50 Ton Whitcomb Centre Cab Switcher 1950
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(TTR) - Pyke Self-Propelled Crane
See also
- CNR Spadina RoundhouseCNR Spadina RoundhouseThe CNR Spadina Roundhouse was owned by the Canadian National Railway, built in 1928 . 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 Cars terminating, or originating at Toronto Union...
demolished 1986 to make way for Rogers CentreRogers CentreRogers 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... - Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific RailwayThe 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...
Lambton Roundhouse - St. Clair Ave. W. and Runnymede Road, 1912-1913 (demolished 1960) - Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific RailwayThe 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...
West Toronto RoundhouseCPR West Toronto YardWest Toronto Yard is a small marshalling yard for Canadian Pacific Railway on the Galt Subdivision in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The yard was built in 1882 to relieve stress at the Parkdale Yard and is located near Keele Street and Dundas Street West in The Junction...
, 1891 (demolished 2001) - Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific RailwayThe 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...
Parkdale Roundhouse, King and Queen at Dufferin Street, 1891 by Credit Valley RailwayCredit Valley RailwayThe Credit Valley Railway was a shortline railway that operated in Southern Ontario, Canada from 1871 to 1883. Engineered by James Ross, its mainline went from Toronto to Orangeville with branchlines from Cataract to Elora and Streetsville to St. Thomas. It was acquired by the Ontario and Quebec...
; last used 1907