Canadian National Railway station (1931-1993) in Hamilton, Ontario, now LIUNA Station Banquet and Convention Centre. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Allandale Grand Trunk Railway station (1904-1980, 1990-1993) in Barrie, Ontario. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
April 2023
Before motor vehicles and paved highways made transportation of people and goods easier, railways were the fastest and most efficient method of land transportation. Every city, town and village along the railway lines had a station where the trains would stop to load and off-load passengers, mail and goods. Some were proper buildings, but in remote areas, they could be anything from a small, one-room hut, to a lean-to, to just a flag on a pole.
Many commercial buildings today, especially public buildings, are rather architecturally boring; a lot of straight lines and plain walls, and just generally lacking character.
In the glory days of the railway stations, whether big or small, would generally provide a ticket sales office, waiting rooms, luggage storage areas and office space for railway workers. Larger stations might have other amenities like a restaurant, but all were architecturally impressive buildings.
Urban railway stations were built in an opulent style reflecting popular architectural styles of the day, such as Victorian Romanesque, Greek Revival or Art Deco. Many former urban stations are still standing, repurposed to serve a variety of functions, although a small number may still be in use as train stations.
Rural stations were smaller and generally less grandiose, but still architecturally impressive buildings. Generally built from frame or brick, they were frequently adorned with Victorian gingerbread, small turrets, or other decorative elements from the period. The turrets not only added design and visual appeal to the station, but also provided a reference point for the locomotive engineer.
Some of the historic former railway stations in Ontario, and one in Michigan, that are still standing. Some are still in their original location, but others needed to be re-located in order to save them from demolition.
For this article, I’ve highlighted the original railway that operated the stations and the dates that they were used as a passenger station. Some of the former stations remained in use by railways for maintenance or storage purposes.
King City Grand Trunk Railway station (1853-1967), now at the King City Museum. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Grand Trunk Railway Freeman-Burlington Junction station (1906-1988) re-located not far from its original location and now a railway museum. Photo: Bruce Forsyth. Caledonia Grand Trunk Railway station (1908-1977), now the Grand Trunk Railway Station & Museum. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Havelock Canadian Pacific Railway station (1906-1990), now the Station Restaurant & The Pizza Station. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.The Canadian Pacific Railway (Toronto) Don station (1892-1967), with the tool shed and Signal Cabin D, now a part of Roundhouse Park in Toronto. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Grand Trunk Railway Vine (Innisfil Township) station (1916-1962), a little east of its former location. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Railway Brantford station (1896-1969), was most recently the Iron Horse Steakhouse, but now vacant. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Railway Jerseyville station (1895-1954), now at the Westfield Heritage Village. It served as the “Avonlea” station in the Anne of Green Gables TV movie and the Road to Avonlea TV show. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Grand Trunk Railway Whitby Junction station (1903-1969), south of its former location, now used as an art gallery. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway station (1894-1960), now the visitor information centre and railway museum in Barry’s Bay. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Grand Trunk Railway Orillia station (1917-1995), most recently used as a bus station. Photo: Bruce Forsyth. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Canadian National Railway Jarvis station (19071996), relocated one mile south of its former location, now used as a museum. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Canadian Pacific Railway station (1903-1994) in North Bay, now the North Bay and Area Museum and a Discovery Centre. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Ontario Northland Railway Gravenhurst station (1919-2912), now the Muskoka Rails Museum. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Replica of the London and Port Stanley Railway station, July 2021. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Goderich Canadian Pacific Railway station (1907-1956), re-located closer to the waterfront and now the Beach Street Station restaurant. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Railway station Smithville station (1903-1981), now the West Lincoln Historical Society & Archives and the Chamber of Commerce. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Toronto and York Radial Railway Stop 17 station in Thornhill, now a little to the south of its former location. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Michigan Central Railway station (1913-1988) in Detroit, abandoned for three decades, now being restored by Ford Motor Company as the centrepiece of its Corktown Campus. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Canadian Northern Railway Washago station (1906-2012), now used by Canadian National Railway maintenance staff. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Canadian National Railway Owen Sound station (1932), now the Owen Sound Marine and Rail Museum. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Canadian Pacific Railway Owen Sound station (1947-1970), now the Owen Sound Marine and Rail Museum. Photo: Bruce Forsyth. Grand Trunk Railway Craigleith station (1880s-1960s), now a museum, library, tourism and community hub. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Replica of the original 1906 Grand Trunk Railway Creemore station, built in 2000 for use as Creemore Station on the Green, an catered activity and event centre. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Hamilton & Northwestern Railway Milton station (1905-1960), at its current location in Chris Hadfield Park and used as an information centre. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Toronto & Nipissing Railway Coboconk station (1908-1965), now in Legion Park and used as a community event centre. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Grand Trunk Railway Newmarket station (1900-1981), now used as the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Lake Erie & Northern Railway Port Dover station (1911-1962), now located near the waterfront on Saint George Street and used as a gift shop. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Canadian Pacific Railway Orangeville station (1907-1960s), now located in downtown Orangeville and currently the Barley Vine Railway Company restaurant. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railway Palmerston station (1871-1970), now the Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum and the centrepiece of CNR Park. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Canada Southern Railway St. Thomas station (1873-1979), now owned by the North American Railway Hall of Fame, who use it as an event space to raise funds for a complete restoration. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Hamilton Radial Electric Railway Oakville (1906-1925), station, the eastern terminus station, now used for office space, with a third-floor addition added to create a living space. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Algoma Central & Hudsen Bay Railway Sault Ste Marie (1912) station, now used by Community First Credit Union. Photo: Bruce Forsyth. Canadian National Railway Huntsville station (1924). Plans include transforming it into a community event space. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.The Powerhouse (1894-1931), a popular Stoney Creek Pub. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Replica of the Grand Trunk Railway Collingwood station (1873-1932), now the Collingwood Museum. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Canadian Pacific Railway Orillia station (1911-1930s), now the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 34. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Canadian Pacific Railway Breckin station (1911-1937), now a Wild Wing restaurant. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Grand Trunk Railway Stayner station (1860-1960), now the clubhouse at Cranberry Golf Course in Collingwood. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Canadian National Railway Parry Sound station (1932-1990), now the Parry Sound Station Gallery. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Canadian Pacific Railway Priceville station (1908-1957), now a private residence close to its original location. Photo: Google Maps.Canadian National Railway Southampton station (xxx), now a private residence. Photo: Google Maps.Canadian National Railway Wingham station (xxx), now xxx. Photo: Google Maps.Canadian Pacific Railway Wingham station (xxx), now a private residence close to its original location. Photo: Google Maps.Kingston and Pembroke Railway Kingston station. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Grand Trunk Railway Kingston station. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Grand Trunk Railway Ernstown station (1856-1973). Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
Historic railway stations that are still in use as railway stations and a few replica historic stations:
The restored Maple Grand Trunk Railway station (1903-present), now used by GO Transit. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.The flagship Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Railway station (1933-present) in Hamilton, now used by GO Transit. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Grand Trunk Railway Rockwood station (1912-1971), now located at the Halton Radial Railway Museum, with Toronto Transit Commission streetcar #2894, built in 1923, out front. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Toronto Transit Commission Meadowvale Station #47, now located at the Halton Radial Railway Museum. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.The Port Stanley Terminal Railway station (1856-present) in Port Stanley, is now a tourist railway. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.The world’s smallest Union Station, used by the Port Stanley Terminal Railway. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Grand Trunk Railway Aurora station (1903-present), now used by GO Transit. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Grand Trunk Railway Bradford station (1900-present), now used by GO Transit. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Toronto and Nipissing Railway Uxbridge station (1904-present), now used by the York–Durham Heritage Railway. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.The Rotary Village Station in Huntsville, used by the Huntsville and Lake of Bays Railway Society, is a replica of a heritage railway station. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.The gingerbread-style Atherley Junction railway station. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Crumbling ruins of the Michigan Central Railway Stop in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Toronto Terminals Railway’s (CNR/CPR joint venture) Union Station (1927-present). Photo: Google Maps.Great Hall in Toronto Terminals Railway’s (CNR/CPR joint venture) Union Station (1927-present). Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
Some railway stations that have been demolished that have special meaning to me:
Grand Trunk Railway West Toronto Junction station (1907-1988), since demolished. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.Grand Trunk, Georgian Bay & Lake Erie Railway Neustadt station (1882). Since demolished. Historical photo.Canadian Pacific Railway Durham station (1908-1970). Moved off-site and now a private residence. Photo: Grey Roots Archival CollectionMural of the Canadian Pacific Railway Markdale station (1915-1970s). Since demolished. Photo of mural: Bruce ForsythGrand Trunk Railway Stuart Street station (1876-1931). Photo: City of Hamilton Archives. in 1928.
Bruce Forsyth served in the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve for 13 years (1987-2000). He served with units in Toronto, Hamilton & Windsor and worked or trained at CFB Esquimalt, CFB Halifax, CFB Petawawa, CFB Kingston, CFB Toronto, Camp Borden, The Burwash Training Area and LFCA Training Centre Meaford.
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About the Author
Bruce Forsyth served in the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve for 13 years (1987-2000). He served with units in Toronto, Hamilton & Windsor and worked or trained at CFB Esquimalt, CFB Halifax, CFB Petawawa, CFB Kingston, CFB Toronto, Camp Borden, The Burwash Training Area and LFCA Training Centre Meaford.
