24 June 2007
Save the Roundhouse
Toronto Ontario - As many Sun readers may be aware, it
appears that some sort of arrangement has been struck that will see a major furniture store move into the historic CPR roundhouse
located on Toronto's waterfront near the Dome and the CN Tower. Ever hear of anything so stupid? And the idea was endorsed by the
city's Culture people. Any wonder our heritage keeps slipping away?
Now, I first have to admit that when it comes to discussing the plan to put a furniture store in an historic railway roundhouse, I'm
sitting on the outside working with the information I've been able to glean from news reports. So be aware, anything and everything may
have changed by the time you read this story. Anyway, here goes.
On 15 Oct 1929, Canadian Pacific Railway, in need of modern facilities in which to service the increasing number of steam
locomotives serving the busy routes into and out of the burgeoning City of Toronto, opened its mammoth new roundhouse complex near the
intersection of Fleet (now Lake Shore Boulevard) and John Sts. and adjacent to the newly constructed cross-waterfront
railway viaduct.
The complex included, in addition to the 32-bay roundhouse, a coaling tower, water tank, and huge turntable. That
turntable was used to re-position the locomotives after servicing so they would be ready to haul trains eastward.
The turntable eliminated the need for a lengthy, and costly "turn around" track that otherwise would have been needed to get
the locomotives ready for the return trip to Montreal.
PASSENGERS
These steam-powered trains transported hundreds of thousands of passengers between Canada's two largest cities, Montreal
and Toronto. In the days before airliners became the way to travel trains, pulled by mammoth steam locomotives, were regarded as
"king". And if the railway was king then the new CPR roundhouse would be the where the king's locomotives would be cleaned,
fed, and readied for their daily rounds.
MOST MODERN
Constructed in only four months, the million-dollar facility was the most modern of its kind on the entire continent. And
over the next half-century or so the Canadian Pacific roundhouse, along with a similar Canadian National facility nearby,
were kept busy servicing countless numbers of steam engines.
Then with the advent of more efficient diesel locomotives and the move by Canadian Pacific away from the passenger rail business
roundhouses became redundant and eventually CN's structure was demolished to make way for the new SkyDome.
That left the CP roundhouse as a unique artifact in the entire Toronto area, a reminder of a time when steam engines were the
workhorses of a proud and fast-growing nation.
In 1984 a report was presented to the city that recommended the CP roundhouse be retained and developed into something more than a
static museum.
In fact the term "railway interpretive centre" was used to denote an attraction that would compliment the other numerous
attractions that were sure to come along as the waterfront evolved from a place of commerce and industry into a destination for both
tourists and citizens alike.
That same year the city designated the roundhouse under the Ontario Heritage Act. This action recognized the importance of this
structure in the evolution of our city.
In addition, the complex of buildings had also been recognized as a National Historic Site, something important to all of Canada.
As recently as 2006 a report from city staff, that amended certain lease arrangements with the Steam Whistle brewery that had become a
tenant of a portion of the roundhouse, confirmed earlier recommendations that the structure, in the report's own words, "be
developed as an active museum occupying a significant portion of the roundhouse building.
The major component of the museum will be the regular movement of locomotives and rolling stock into and out of the building by means
of a fully operational turntable."
Somehow a deal appears to have been struck that will result in this expectation being superseded by a super store and the locomotives
by ottomans and recliners. And if that happens will the furniture gurus next rewrite Glenn Miller's 1941 hit song Chattanooga Choo
Choo.
I can hear it now... "nothing could be finer than to be in a recliner".
BOUNCE THAT IDEA
Seriously, if the city has any interest in Toronto's heritage it'll bounce that furniture mart idea and start working on fulfilling the
long-held dream to turn the CP Roundhouse into an exciting waterfront attraction.
Hey, I just thought of something. Toronto will be 175 years young in 2009.
Maybe that dream of a Canadian railway interpretive centre located in the historic CP roundhouse can be a legacy of that special
year.
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