The John Street Roundhouse was built in 1929–1931 and renovated in the 1990s. In 1997, the area to the east of the building became the city-owned Roundhouse Park.
In 2010, the Toronto Railway Museum opened in three stalls of the roundhouse and its environs. It has an indoor display and restoration facility and a full-size diesel cab simulator. Outside is a miniature railway, numerous railway engines and rolling stock, and a fully restored railway village that includes Don Station, Signal Cabin D (moved to Roundhouse Park from the City's collection of historic buildings), a watchman's shanty, a water tower, and a coaling tower.
The John Street Roundhouse was built for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 1929–1931 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] After the arrival of diesel locomotives, business slowed at the roundhouse, and the building was last used for its original purpose in 1986. The CPR 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) by Hotson Bakker Architects and is now home to Steam Whistle Brewing. Renovations to the brewery interior were done by William Hurst Architects. The remaining two-thirds was rehabilitated by IBI Group Architects and now house the Toronto Railway Museum and Cineplex's Rec Room entertainment complex. Roundhouse Park with the restored wooden railway buildings, the turntable and courtyard was also completed by IBI and received design awards. The SkyWalk retains a direct connection from Roundhouse Park to Union Station.
John Street Roundhouse could maintain 32 locomotives at a time. 32 bay doors make up the inner rounded façade of the building and face the 120-foot (37 m) turntable. This turntable was the largest on the CPR and was constructed by the Canadian Bridge Company.[2] The exterior and interior of the building are 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 façades. Refurbished wooden columns also stand within the interior of the structure.[3] The coaling tower and water tank are auxiliary structures still in the park from the working days of the John Street Roundhouse.[4]
The roundhouse and associated structures were first protected under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, passed by Toronto City Council on August 12, 1996. It was then designated under Part V of the act with by-law 634-2006 passed on July 27, 2006, as part of the Union Station Heritage Conservation District (encompassing the park, Union Station and the Royal York Hotel).[7]
The Toronto Railway Museum opened on May 28, 2010, and operates year-round.
The museum is supported by the Toronto Railway Historical Association, a federally registered charity that was established in 2001 and whose main focus is developing the museum.
During warmer months, it operates the Miniature Railway, opened in 2010. Hauled by a replica steam locomotive/tender or replica CLC diesel-electric Whitcomb centre-cab switcher, the ride has four cars carrying four passengers each plus a caboose.[8]
Tickets for the miniature railway are sold at the Don station, built in 1896 by the Canadian Pacific Railway on Queen Street East along the western bank of the Don River. In 1969, it was moved to Todmorden Mills, where it long sat boarded up. It was moved to Roundhouse Park, where it was repaired and repainted for use as a ticket office.
Collection of trains
Roundhouse Park contains four full-sized locomotives, three freight cars, two passenger cars and one diesel multiple unit.[8]
Inside the unfinished portion of the Roundhouse in May 2008
The Don Station
Cabin D
Panoramic View of Roundhouse Park
Red locomotive
John Street Roundhouse (left) in 1973. The roundhouse on the right was CNR Spadina Roundhouse, which was demolished. Rogers Centre stands in its place.
CPR Parkdale Roundhouse, King and Queen at Dufferin Street, 1891 by Credit Valley Railway; machinery and turntable moved to John Street Roundhouse in 1897; last used 1907
CNR Mimico 34-stall Roundhouse, Mimico Yard (current site of the Via Toronto Maintenance Centre), built in 1913 by the Grand Trunk Railway, demolished in 1969 after a 1965 fire[13]
CNR Danforth 31-stall Roundhouse, south and across the tracks from current Danforth GO station, 1884 by the Grand Trunk Railway, torn down 1940's
^"Heritage Property Detail-255 BREMNER BLVD". City of Toronto. 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015. SEE 222 Bremner Blvd - CP Roundhouse, Water Tower, Coaling Tower; Sanding Tower; 1929; 1929. Adopted by City Council on Sept 4 & 7, 1984. Part IV Designation By-Law Passed by City Council on August 12, 1996. Part V Designation by-law 634-2006 passed July 27, 2006. Located within the Union Station Heritage Conservation District; Heritage Easement Agreement AT1915385 registered on Oct. 3, 2008. Partially repealed by by-law No. 1143-2008 passed on Oct 30, 2008.
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