Toronto Railway Museum
@torailwaymuseum.bsky.social
The Toronto Railway Museum is located in the historic John St. Roundhouse National Historic Site. Open year-round to visitors interested in Toronto's rail heritage.
Nov 26, 1920: Grand Trunk Railway No. 16, the eastbound Detroit-Montreal overnight train, derails just east of Victoria Park Avenue due to a broken rail. One of the Pullman cars, "Makura," was then sideswiped by a westbound freight train, demolishing the left side of the sleeping car. 1/2
November 27, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Nov 26, 1920: Grand Trunk Railway No. 16, the eastbound Detroit-Montreal overnight train, derails just east of Victoria Park Avenue due to a broken rail. One of the Pullman cars, "Makura," was then sideswiped by a westbound freight train, demolishing the left side of the sleeping car. 1/2
Nov 25, 1880: the Credit Valley and Grand Trunk Railways reach an agreement allowing CVR freight trains to use a 2285 ft. (696 m) section of GTR track between Bathurst Junction and Brock Street (now Spadina Avenue), for $1500 per annum plus 8 cents per freight car. 1/3
November 26, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Nov 25, 1880: the Credit Valley and Grand Trunk Railways reach an agreement allowing CVR freight trains to use a 2285 ft. (696 m) section of GTR track between Bathurst Junction and Brock Street (now Spadina Avenue), for $1500 per annum plus 8 cents per freight car. 1/3
Nov 24, 1995: Canadian National abandons 56.3 miles (91 km) of its Beachburg Subdivision from Brent through Algonquin Park to Nipissing, ON. This severed CN's transcontinental main line from Montreal to Western Canada; all transcontinental freight traffic now went via Toronto.
November 25, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Nov 24, 1995: Canadian National abandons 56.3 miles (91 km) of its Beachburg Subdivision from Brent through Algonquin Park to Nipissing, ON. This severed CN's transcontinental main line from Montreal to Western Canada; all transcontinental freight traffic now went via Toronto.
In October, the TRM Curatorial Team closed an off-site storage unit and moved the collection items to the Roundhouse for review. Our staff and volunteers are now busy behind-the-scenes updating collections records and identifying duplicate materials. This also helps us create new displays for 2026.
November 25, 2025 at 1:50 AM
In October, the TRM Curatorial Team closed an off-site storage unit and moved the collection items to the Roundhouse for review. Our staff and volunteers are now busy behind-the-scenes updating collections records and identifying duplicate materials. This also helps us create new displays for 2026.
Nov 23, 1999: a westbound CN freight train collides with a tractor trailer stuck at a crossing in Bowmanville, Ontario. The CN train pushed the burning wreckage almost a kilometre before it was hit by eastbound VIA Rail Train 68 en route from Toronto to Montreal. 1/3
November 24, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Nov 23, 1999: a westbound CN freight train collides with a tractor trailer stuck at a crossing in Bowmanville, Ontario. The CN train pushed the burning wreckage almost a kilometre before it was hit by eastbound VIA Rail Train 68 en route from Toronto to Montreal. 1/3
The Toronto Railway Museum has partnered with Sustainable Books, a local charity that recycles, reuses, and re-homes used books. Sustainable books is taking duplicate and non-rail related books that have been given to the Museum over the years.
sustainablebooks.com
sustainablebooks.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:07 PM
The Toronto Railway Museum has partnered with Sustainable Books, a local charity that recycles, reuses, and re-homes used books. Sustainable books is taking duplicate and non-rail related books that have been given to the Museum over the years.
sustainablebooks.com
sustainablebooks.com
Nov 22, 2015: the TTC's Leslie Street Car Barn opens at the southeast corner of Leslie Street and Lake Shore Boulevard. This was the first new streetcar storage and maintenance facility in Toronto since the Eglinton carhouse opened in 1922 and the Hillcrest Shops in 1925. 1/2
November 23, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Nov 22, 2015: the TTC's Leslie Street Car Barn opens at the southeast corner of Leslie Street and Lake Shore Boulevard. This was the first new streetcar storage and maintenance facility in Toronto since the Eglinton carhouse opened in 1922 and the Hillcrest Shops in 1925. 1/2
Our Curatorial Team is busy processing new acquisitions that are going on display in 2026. We can't wait to share what's new!
November 23, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Our Curatorial Team is busy processing new acquisitions that are going on display in 2026. We can't wait to share what's new!
Nov 21, 1928: the SS Norfolk from Fort William opens the new 2,000,000 bushel Toronto Terminal Grain Elevator at the foot of Peter St. The elevator was a vantage point for several well-known photographs, including a much-reproduced view of CP's new John Street Roundhouse. 1/3
November 22, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Nov 21, 1928: the SS Norfolk from Fort William opens the new 2,000,000 bushel Toronto Terminal Grain Elevator at the foot of Peter St. The elevator was a vantage point for several well-known photographs, including a much-reproduced view of CP's new John Street Roundhouse. 1/3
If you see this, post your getaway vehicle.
November 21, 2025 at 3:26 AM
If you see this, post your getaway vehicle.
Nov 20, 1995: Canadian Pacific announces that its CP Rail System headquarters would move from Montreal's Windsor Station to Calgary. CP said that the move was unrelated to the Quebec referendum ten days earlier. Western Canada was where 80% of its business was located. 1/3
November 21, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Nov 20, 1995: Canadian Pacific announces that its CP Rail System headquarters would move from Montreal's Windsor Station to Calgary. CP said that the move was unrelated to the Quebec referendum ten days earlier. Western Canada was where 80% of its business was located. 1/3
Nov 19, 1855: the Grand Trunk Railway opens between Montreal and Brockville, connecting to Ottawa via the Ottawa and Prescott Railway. The Grand Trunk's Central Division between Montreal and Toronto was built by the British contractors Peto, Brassey, Betts and Jackson. 1/2
November 20, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Nov 19, 1855: the Grand Trunk Railway opens between Montreal and Brockville, connecting to Ottawa via the Ottawa and Prescott Railway. The Grand Trunk's Central Division between Montreal and Toronto was built by the British contractors Peto, Brassey, Betts and Jackson. 1/2
Nov 18, 2010: the City of Toronto eliminates the "Dufferin Jog" at Queen and Dufferin Streets, long hated by west-end residents of the city. The $40 million Dufferin underpass project took two years to complete, meeting its original budget but nearly a year behind schedule. 1/3
November 19, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Nov 18, 2010: the City of Toronto eliminates the "Dufferin Jog" at Queen and Dufferin Streets, long hated by west-end residents of the city. The $40 million Dufferin underpass project took two years to complete, meeting its original budget but nearly a year behind schedule. 1/3
Nov 17, 1945: the Toronto Eaton's department store introduces the Toyland Treasure Train. Children paid a quarter to ride through the Rocky Mountain Scenic Canyon, Doll Land, Topsy Turvy Town and Santa's Northland Castle. 1/3
November 18, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Nov 17, 1945: the Toronto Eaton's department store introduces the Toyland Treasure Train. Children paid a quarter to ride through the Rocky Mountain Scenic Canyon, Doll Land, Topsy Turvy Town and Santa's Northland Castle. 1/3
The restoration of our F7 Cab is coming along nicely! Thank you to our Restoration Crew for all of their hard work. Due to the recent sudden snowy weather, finishing details will have to wait until spring.
November 17, 2025 at 11:49 PM
The restoration of our F7 Cab is coming along nicely! Thank you to our Restoration Crew for all of their hard work. Due to the recent sudden snowy weather, finishing details will have to wait until spring.
Nov 16, 1885: Louis Riel is executed by hanging at Regina, after being convicted for treason in a trial that had begun that July. Riel had led First Nations and Métis people in the North-West Rebellion in what is now the Province of Saskatchewan. 1/3
November 17, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Nov 16, 1885: Louis Riel is executed by hanging at Regina, after being convicted for treason in a trial that had begun that July. Riel had led First Nations and Métis people in the North-West Rebellion in what is now the Province of Saskatchewan. 1/3
Nov 15, 1995: Amtrak replaces the Amfleet and Horizon cars on the Toronto-Chicago "International" with bi-level Superliner equipment. The change was made at the behest of the State of Michigan, which underwrote the cost of running the train within the United States. 1/2
November 16, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Nov 15, 1995: Amtrak replaces the Amfleet and Horizon cars on the Toronto-Chicago "International" with bi-level Superliner equipment. The change was made at the behest of the State of Michigan, which underwrote the cost of running the train within the United States. 1/2
Our friend Russ Milland, Toronto Railway Historical Association founding member, director and chief systems officer, has died at the age of 80. We miss him terribly. We will be sharing more about Russ’s life in the days to come.
November 16, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Our friend Russ Milland, Toronto Railway Historical Association founding member, director and chief systems officer, has died at the age of 80. We miss him terribly. We will be sharing more about Russ’s life in the days to come.
Nov 14, 1975: CN cancels commuter service between Toronto and Guelph, ending the use of non-air conditioned passenger cars in the GTA. Cancellation of the CN Toronto-Guelph commuter trains also marked the end of CN’s Parkdale as an active passenger station. 1/3
November 15, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Nov 14, 1975: CN cancels commuter service between Toronto and Guelph, ending the use of non-air conditioned passenger cars in the GTA. Cancellation of the CN Toronto-Guelph commuter trains also marked the end of CN’s Parkdale as an active passenger station. 1/3
Our Restoration Crew is already planning ahead for the 2026 mini train season. Two switches have been removed from Roundhouse Park and will be rebuilt over the winter.
November 14, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Our Restoration Crew is already planning ahead for the 2026 mini train season. Two switches have been removed from Roundhouse Park and will be rebuilt over the winter.
Nov 13, 1875: the Toronto, Simcoe & Muskoka Junction Railway opens from Allandale to Gravenhurst. By this date it was officially known as the Muskoka Branch of the Northern Railway of Canada.
November 14, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Nov 13, 1875: the Toronto, Simcoe & Muskoka Junction Railway opens from Allandale to Gravenhurst. By this date it was officially known as the Muskoka Branch of the Northern Railway of Canada.
Our last mini train of 2025 departed on November 2. Thank you to all 27,172 visitors who joined us for a ride this season. We'll see you again in May!
November 14, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Our last mini train of 2025 departed on November 2. Thank you to all 27,172 visitors who joined us for a ride this season. We'll see you again in May!
Nov 12, 1917: the Toronto Civic Railways' Bloor West streetcar line is extended from Quebec Avenue to Runnymede Road. The Bloor West section was later incorporated into the TTC Bloor line, the second busiest streetcar line in the city after Yonge Street. 1/2
November 13, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Nov 12, 1917: the Toronto Civic Railways' Bloor West streetcar line is extended from Quebec Avenue to Runnymede Road. The Bloor West section was later incorporated into the TTC Bloor line, the second busiest streetcar line in the city after Yonge Street. 1/2
Nov 11, 1965: a 1:30 AM collision between CN and CP freight trains at Port Credit on the Oakville Subdivision kills two of the train crew, one from each train. A boxcar was propelled over the railing of the Highway 10 overpass, narrowly avoiding two passing motorists. 1/2
November 12, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Nov 11, 1965: a 1:30 AM collision between CN and CP freight trains at Port Credit on the Oakville Subdivision kills two of the train crew, one from each train. A boxcar was propelled over the railing of the Highway 10 overpass, narrowly avoiding two passing motorists. 1/2
The two First World War service medals, the British War Medal (l) and the Victory Medal (r) are named to Sergeant Frederick Jacobs of Toronto. Jacobs enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1916, and he served with the 1st Canadian Railway Troops (CRT).
November 11, 2025 at 9:58 PM
The two First World War service medals, the British War Medal (l) and the Victory Medal (r) are named to Sergeant Frederick Jacobs of Toronto. Jacobs enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1916, and he served with the 1st Canadian Railway Troops (CRT).