On the Rails: The Experiences of Toronto’s Railway Workers On the Rails: The Experiences of Toronto’s Railway Workers Toronto Railway Museum
Sleeping Car Porters were introduced to Canada in the 1870s. Privately owned Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) began hiring emancipated Black Americans for cheap labour. Soon after, other Canadian […]
Shirley Jackson (far left) was active in the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP). The Canadian group joined the American Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1939. On […]
Jake Charendoff and Bert Fortune await passengers at Toronto’s Union Station. In 1972, Charendoff claimed the title of Toronto’s oldest Red Cap. He picked up his first piece […]
On August 26, 1966, a national rail strike shut down train services across the country. Red caps at Union Station had little work to do without any passenger […]
In the early 1980s, the workers at the John Street Roundhouse were mainly responsible for maintaining business cars, road switchers, and trailers. The yard and car shops remained […]
The number of passenger trains using the station declined in the decades following the Second World War until 1967, when GO Transit began operating a new commuter service […]
Chris describes the challenge of balancing life and work obligations as an engineer. Bob Fallowfield (interviewer): “What would you say is the biggest challenge of your job?” Chris […]
Michelle explains that there are many others who helped make the railways a better workplace. Michelle Ardron: “While there is some interest in the fact that I was […]
Michelle describes her decision to return to working with a railway company. Michelle Ardron: “Transport Canada was great, I got to see and do many, many things there […]
SC Modiste explains what she would like audiences to know about Walter. SC Modiste: “I think I’d like the one thing for them to know is when you’re […]
SC Modiste recounts how her grandfather Walter felt about working on the railways. SC Modiste: “This is such a, in my view, like the beginning of the expansion […]
Chris describes all the tasks involved in driving a locomotive. Chris Fox: “But the work-life balance is one of the hardest things,” Bob Fallowfield (interviewer): “It’s tough.” Chris: […]
