On the Rails: The Experiences of Toronto’s Railway Workers On the Rails: The Experiences of Toronto’s Railway Workers Toronto Railway Museum
John is using an order hoop to pass a message to the engineer in a passing train. Order hoops not retrieved by station staff were often collected by […]
Don Station was moved to Todmorden Mills Heritage Site in 1969, but it was largely removed from its original purpose. At times, it was used for storage. When […]
From 1896 to 1967, train tickets were sold inside Don Station to destinations throughout Canada and the United States. In addition to ticket sales, one of the station […]
Stuart describes how there is no such thing as a typical day at Union Station. Stuart Harvey: “And so when people say what was a mundane day like […]
Stuart describes how railway life can affect the family. Stuart Harvey: “I would work 16 hour days, 16 hour days, 16 hour days, three or four in a […]
“LEN N. WINSLADE / RTIRED SUPT. MOTIVE POWER / 1971 IN CAB 1057 AT JOHNST.” is stamped on the bottom right of the photograph with “Canadian Pacific Railway […]
Steam locomotives were far more labour-intensive than today’s modern diesel engines. Hundreds of workers were employed at John Street and worked 24 hours a day during the steam […]
This is the mechanical staff of the John Street Roundhouse in 1937, posed in front of Canadian Pacific steam engine 3002. The Toronto Railway Museum is housed in […]
This photo was taken in 1941 during a promotion to encourage shop employees to buy Victory Bonds during the Second World War. John Clarke is standing at the […]
“RESTORED BY J.CLARK LOCO. FOREMAN TORONTO 1971” is stamped on the bottom of the photograph. John Clarke on the pilot of No. 1057 at stall 19 of the […]
John was appointed as shop foreman shortly after this photo was taken.
The railways brought industry to Toronto. While this meant jobs for railway workers, it also meant smoke from the trains’ coal-powered engines in their locomotives.
