Jul 15, 1932: Ontario Premier George S. Henry drives in the last spike of the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway's Cochrane-Moosonee line, not far from the western shore of James Bay. Henry was accompanied by former Premier E.C. Drury and Chief Justice F.R. Latchford. 1/3

Jul 14, 2006: GO Transit suspends train service after a Canadian National freight train derails near the Mimico GO station. The derailment, a little after 2:00 PM, caused freight cars to jackknife and roll over all four tracks used by CN, GO and VIA Rail. 1/3

Jul 13, 1906: the Toronto Terminals Railway is incorporated to "acquire the requisite lands for the erection of a Union Passenger Station and to provide the necessary buildings, tracks, sidings and other terminals facilities [for] all passenger, express and mail traffic." 1/3

Jul 12, 1996: the Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Hunter Street Station in Hamilton celebrates its official re-opening. The ceremony marked the completion of a $25.5 million restoration by GO Transit—although the station had actually opened that April. 1/3

Jul 11, 1906: Moses the camel, one of the most popular exhibits at the Riverdale Zoo, escapes from his enclosure. Unfortunately, the Bactrian camel's escape was cut short when he was struck and killed by a CPR train heading southbound on the Don Branch. 1/2

Jul 10, 1923: the Toronto Transportation Commission ends the practice of carrying baby carriages on the outside of streetcars. The TTC's predecessor, the Toronto Railway Company, had provided hooks on the rear of its streetcars specifically for this purpose. 1/2

Jul 9, 1881: the Northern Railway of Canada re-gauges its track between Toronto and Gravenhurst from 5’6” (1676 mm) between the rails, which it had used since the railway began operating in 1853, to the standard gauge of 4'8.5" (1435 mm). 1/3

Jul 8, 2013: Torrential rains flood the GTA, with a record 126 mm of rainfall measured at Toronto Pearson International Airport. By comparison, the previous one-day record for rainfall was during Hurricane Hazel on October 15, 1954, with 121 mm. 1/3

This painting was posted on a #NewWest Facebook page. Downtown New Westminster, 1940, by Max Jacquiard (1934-2022).

Jul 7, 2021: the Toronto Coach Terminal closes. The last bus to use the terminal was an Ontario Northland coach four days earlier. In 2026 the terminal's covered bus bays were demolished to make way for a new residential tower redevelopment. The main building has been preserved.

Jul 6, 2006: the Greater Toronto Airport Authority opens the 1.47 km LINK Train cable-operated people mover at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The people mover uses two 6-car train sets and connects Pearson Terminals 1 and 3 with the Viscount long-term parking lot.

Jul 5, 1944: Toronto Terminals Railway Superintendent John R.W. Ambrose retires after a railroading career spanning 47 years. He first came to local prominence supervising construction of the Grand Trunk Railway's Parkdale Grade Separation between 1910 and 1912. 1/3

Jul 4, 1886: the first scheduled Canadian Pacific Railway transcontinental passenger train arrives at Port Moody, British Columbia. The Pacific Express had departed from Montreal on June 28 and took 139 hours to cover the 2,893 mile (4655 km) distance across four time zones. 1/2

Jul 3, 1916: a few weeks after officially opening, the Canadian Pacific Railway's North Toronto Station briefly enjoys its peak of passenger service. When the station opened a month earlier, it had twenty trains a day, headed for Montreal, Ottawa, Owen Sound, Bobcaygeon and Teeswater. 1/3

For those who have been waiting for TTC Subway HO scale model trains, we are now offering limited TTC subways from their 70th anniversary collection in 2024. Celebrate the beginning of Toronto's subway history with the iconic 1954 TTC G Series subway train by @rapidotrains.bsky.social.

Jul 2, 1969: the last narrow gauge CN Train No. 102 leaves the Port-au-Basques station, headed for St. John's, Newfoundland. The departure of Newfoundland's last passenger train ended one of the most colourful, unique chapters in North American railway history. 1/3

Jul 1, 1856: the Grand Trunk Railway begins regular service between Toronto and Berlin—now Kitchener—a distance of 68 miles (109 km). Two trains a day ran in each direction. The Toronto terminal was at Queen's Wharf, where eastbound passengers transferred to steamships. 1/2

Join us for a mini train ride this Canada Day weekend! The train will run July 1-6, 11:30 am to 5:20 pm.

now ici #Toronto #Transit #Photography

I didn't think that I was going to come across ex-ONR equipment when I was out west. 🛤 Stewart Southern Railway / 📆 2026-06-24

Jun 30, 1881: the Globe reports that the Credit Valley Railway has completed “filling in the pond” at its new Parkdale facilities. Along with a yard and engine shops, it was building a three-track, 190 ft. (58 m) long car shop and tool shed and 132 ft. (40 m) long paint shop. 1/2

Jun 29, 1973: the last passenger train departs from the Grand Trunk Western's 107-year old Brush Street Station in Detroit, Michigan. The tracks had been removed to make way for the new Renaissance Center, so passengers had to walk a block and a half to board the train. 1/3

Jun 28, 1886: the Canadian Pacific Railway begins regular passenger service between Montreal, Toronto and Port Moody, BC. Unlike the huge celebration in Montreal, there were no recorded festivities in Toronto marking this historic occasion. 1/3

Jun 27, 1996: the new Canada Transportation Act is proclaimed, replacing the National Transportation Act and the Railways Act. With it came a new Canadian Transportation Agency, with a streamlined process for railways to discontinue unprofitable lines. 1/2

Jun 26, 1976: the $63 million, 1,815 foot (or 553 metre) CN Tower officially opens to the public. The CN Tower quickly supplanted the 1965 new City Hall as Toronto's most recognizable visual icon. It would remain the world’s tallest free-standing structure until 2007. 1/2

On this day 50 years ago, the tallest freestanding structure in the world at the time officially opened to the public. These are the views from the CN Tower looking north, south, east, and west in 1976! https://ow.ly/CPQC50ZcSzH

NEW! Today marks the 50th anniversary of the CN Tower. For TVO @therundowntvo.bsky.social I look at its opening. You might want to crack open that bottle of tower-shaped whiskey... #TOHistory www.tvo.org/article/how-...

Today is the CN Tower's 50th birthday. The @thestar.com has a package celebrating this milestone, including a column by me. It still helps define the city, even as Toronto has radically changed around it & it's no longer the tallest. Old, but still looks like the future.

Jun 25, 1906: the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway is incorporated and takes over the optimistically named James Bay Railway. The JBR was then building down the Don Valley. Among its assets were five steam locomotives built in Toronto by Canada Foundry in 1905. 1/2

Jun 24, 1896: the Grand Trunk inaugurates the Sea-Side and White Mountain Special between Chicago, Toronto, Montreal and Portland, ME. The train only ran once a week until August 26 and was composed entirely of wide-vestibuled Pullman cars. 1/2

Jun 23, 1972: the Canadian National Railway introduces "Auto With You," letting passengers bring their cars on the Super Continental between Toronto and Edmonton. Although there was already a "Car-Go-Rail" system in effect on CN, those cars were transported separately, on freight trains. 1/3

Jun 22, 1929: Central Terminal in Buffalo, New York celebrates its official opening. 2200 invited guests attended a luncheon banquet in the concourse for the opening day. Among the guest speakers was Canadian National Railway President Sir Henry W. Thornton. 1/3

Jun 21, 1858: Toronto's first Union Station opens on the Esplanade, just west of York Street. The station was built by the Grand Trunk Railway and replaced a temporary shed built in 1857 at the corner of Bay and Front Streets. 1/3

Jun 20, 1853: the Ontario, Simcoe & Huron Railway extends its line north to Bradford. The railway had opened for business between Toronto and Machell's Corners (renamed Aurora that same year) just one month earlier. 1/2

Jun 19, 2009: former Canadian National Railway steam locomotive No. 6213 is unloaded from the rig that brought it to Roundhouse Park from Exhibition Place a week earlier. The big U-2-g class 4-8-4 Northern-type locomotive moved over Toronto Railway Museum tracks for the first time. 1/2

Jun 18, 1910: the Polson Iron Works launches the Toronto Ferry Company's $75,000 side wheel steamer "Trillium" at the foot of Sherbourne Street. The Trillium was acquired by the Toronto Transportation Commission when it took over operation of island ferry services in 1926. 1/2

Our mini train and retail team is ready for summer visitors! Yoojung, Celyn, Will, and Pansy have all been here for 3+ seasons and can answer any questions you have about our site.

Jun 17, 1968: the Canadian National Railway introduces completely re-equipped passenger trains in southwestern Ontario, branded as "Tempo" service. Toronto Mayor William Dennison officially inaugurated the new Tempo equipment at Toronto Union Station on CN train No. 151, departing for Sarnia. 1/3

Jun 16, 1856: Grand Trunk Railway begins passenger service between Queen's Wharf on the Toronto waterfront and the City of Guelph. The construction contractor on this line was Toronto engineer Casimir Gzowski. Today, this forms part of the GO Transit Kitchener line.

The Toronto Railway Museum has launched a new Google Maps listing to highlight the TRM Shop at Don Station and the Mini Train. We need your help to populate it with positive 5-star reviews! Thank you for your support! shorturl.at/XqjQz

Jun 15, 1996: the Toronto Transit Commission opens its new Exhibition streetcar loop, replacing the old loop to the south that was removed to make way for the new National Trade Centre. The new TTC passenger loading and unloading area was close to GO Transit's Exhibition Station.

Jun 14, 1886: the Grand Trunk Railway inaugurates a new overnight train departing Montreal at 11:55 PM and arriving in Toronto at 11:50 AM. The train provided a convenient through connection from Boston and supplemented existing daytime and overnight trains in each direction. 1/2

Jun 13, 1936: the Canadian National Railway displays its new U-4-a class 4-8-4 Northern steam locomotive No. 6400 at the Simcoe Street freight yard in downtown Toronto. Over the next three days, 42,000 Depression-weary Torontonians paid a visit the locomotive and passed through its cab. 1/3

Jun 12, 2004: the Canadian Pacific Railway’s restored 4-6-4 standard Hudson steam locomotive No. 2816 hauls an excursion between Toronto Union Station and Milton as a Breakfast For Learning ‏Foundation fundraiser. It was No. 2816's second Toronto visit in two years and the last one to date. 1/3

Jun 11, 1929: Lord Willingdon, the Governor-General of Canada, officially opens Canadian Pacific's Royal York Hotel, now the Fairmont Royal York. The opening of what was then the largest hotel in the Commonwealth was one of Toronto's most glittering social events of the 1920s. 1/3

Jun 10, 1856: the first Grand Trunk Railway train arrives in Berlin, Ontario, from Toronto. Passengers aboard the train included Walter Shanly and Casimir Gzowski, the engineer and contractor who built the line as the Toronto & Guelph Railway. Regular service began a few days later. 1/2

Jun 9, 1846: the Montreal & Lachine Railroad Company is incorporated to build a line over eight miles (13 km) from Montreal to Lachine Wharf. From there it would operate steamboats to points on the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers. The line opened in 1847. 1/2

Jun 8, 1914: Artist and engineer William Armstrong dies in Toronto at age 92. Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1822, Armstrong emigrated to Canada in 1851 and began his engineering career with the Ontario, Simcoe & Huron Railway. 1/3

This year the Toronto Railway Museum has 15 seasonal staff members. Thank you to the Government of Canada and MP Chi Nguyen for supporting six of our summer positions with $49,000 in federal funding .

Jun 7, 1981: the Canadian Pacific Railway hosts an Open House Day at Toronto Yard in Agincourt. Over 12,000 people attend the event. The day commemorated the centennial of the incorporation of the company and was a goodwill gesture for CP employees and their families. 1/3