Toronto Roundhouse Park

Fun: Visiting a site with a collection of trains, a locomotive turntable, and historical buildings

Learn: Engineering, Toronto history

Roundhouse Park was created in 1997 on top of the southern expansion of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The park features the original, fully restored and operational 120-foot long locomotive turntable and a carefully chosen collection of full-sized railway equipment. It is home to the Toronto Railway Historical Association live steam miniature railway and other outdoor exhibits illustrating Toronto's railway heritage. Exhibits include the original 60,000 gallon water tower, the 650 ton concrete locomotive coaling tower and a collection of historic buildings, including the Don Station and Cabin D. (Source: City of Toronto)

The John Street Roundhouse was built for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 1929–1931 by Anglin-Norcross to replace the earlier John Street roundhouse built in 1897. Trains were so properly maintained at this location that railroaders recognized them by their "John Street polish". When diesel-run trains began being used, business slowed at the roundhouse, and the building was last used for its original purpose in 1986. It is the only remaining roundhouse in downtown Toronto. John Street Roundhouse could maintain 32 locomotives at a time. 32 bay doors make up the inner rounded façade of the building and face the 120-foot (37 m) turntable. This turntable was the largest used by the CPR and was constructed by the Canadian Bridge Company. (Source: Wikipedia)

Location: 10-15 minutes walk from Toronto Union Station, South of CN tower. Skywalk directly connects to the Union Station

Free admission to Roundhouse Park

There is an admission fee for the Toronto Railway Museum. $4 for child and youth (4-16), $14 for adult (17-64). 

Photo: Xin Yi Zhang