A commemorative certificate issued to a passenger aboard the Canadian railway speed record-setting run by the Turbo Train on April 22, 1976. No paying passengers were aboard the train for this run, only specially invited guests. The certificate features a colour illustration of the Turbo Train in the new VIA-CN colour scheme at the top and states that the speed attained was 140 miles per hour or 225 kilometres per hour.

The record-setting run was staged to promote CN's new passenger marketing arm, which it called "VIA." All crossings were flagged and all switches were spiked along the route for safety. (Thanks to Jason Shron of Rapido Trains Inc. for the information on this item.) 2/2

The VIA-CN Turbo Train at Kingston, Ontario on April 22, 1976, prior to making its speed record-setting run. Photo from the Joseph Testagrose collection.

Apr 22, 1976: the Canadian National Railway's Turbo Train sets a Canadian land speed record of 140.6 mph (226 km/h) travelling eastbound between mileposts 104 and 84 of the Kingston Subdivision—roughly between Prescott and Cornwall, Ontario. 1/2

A photo from page 4 of the April 22, 1943 edition of the Globe and Mail newspaper. The caption says "equipped with all the answers, volunteer workers of the Landseair Club opened their 'Information, Please' bureau in the centre of the Union Station rotunda yesterday afternoon. They will answer queries of men and women of the army, navy, air force, transient in Toronto, and will be on duty from early morning to midnight seven days a week. Above: Pte. R.G. McGraw gets the correct information from Mrs. Ross Humphrey and Mrs. E. Young, two of the club members."

Apr 21, 1943: a central information bureau for men and women in uniform opens in the Toronto Union Station Ticket Lobby for the duration of the Second World War. It was known as "Information Please" and was staffed by 300 mostly female uniformed volunteers from local service clubs.

A photo of a plaque that used to be mounted on one of the columns on the Front Street colonnade of Toronto Union Station. It features a stylized bas-relief illustration of the steam locomotive "Toronto" and the text "at this place on May 16, 1853 the first train in Ontario hauled by a steam locomotive started and ran to Aurora." Photographer unknown.

A decade later the line was revived as the Ontario, Simcoe & Huron, which would begin operations as the province's first steam-powered public railway in 1853. 3/3

Part of a map of Upper Canada in 1836. The proposed route of the City of Toronto and Lake Huron Rail Road is not shown, but would have run from Toronto to Guelph and then on to Goderich on Lake Huron. A little over twenty years later all of these communities would have railway connections built by other companies. Map created by James Wyld, Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center Collection, Boston Public Library.

A route was surveyed from Toronto to Lake Huron and the prospective railway company raised capital from some of Toronto's leading citizens. Unfortunately, Toronto's first railway venture came to an abrupt end with the financial panic of 1837 and the rebellion in Upper Canada. 2/3

Part of the first page of the April 20, 1836 act passed by the Parliament of Upper Canada incorporating the City of Toronto and Lake Huron Rail Road Company.

Apr 20, 1836: the Parliament of Upper Canada passes an act incorporating the City of Toronto and Lake Huron Rail Road Company. This was just three months before Canada’s first steam-powered railway, the Champlain & St. Lawrence Rail Road, opened near Montreal that July. 1/3

Amtrak E8A diesel locomotive No. 4316 wearing the new passenger rail corporation's first experimental paint scheme at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in August, 1971. This early scheme was simply an extended Amtrak logo and large numbers applied over the locomotive's previous all-black Penn Central scheme. Photo by Roger Puta, Marty Bernard Collection via RailPictures.Net.

Apr 19, 1971: the U.S. National Railroad Passenger Corporation announces that it will re-brand as "Amtrak." The federally-controlled passenger operator had chosen the new name in preference to its original moniker of "Railpax." It officially began operations on May 1 of that year.

Toronto Mayor David Miller (at centre) cuts a ceremonial ribbon in front of the restored Don Station to open the Toronto Railway Museum on May 28, 2010. To Miller's right are project architect Don Loucks of the IBI Group and city project manager Glenn Garwood. To Miller's left are TRHA president Orin Krivel and TRHA historian Derek Boles. Photo by Thomas Blampied.

The Toronto Railway Museum was officially opened at the John Street Roundhouse by Mayor David Miller on May 28, 2010. Kyle Rae retired from politics later that same year. 2/2

Toronto city councillor Kyle Rae speaks to a media scrum on May 22, 1996. Photo by Jim Rankin, Toronto Star Archives, Toronto Public Library.

Apr 18, 1996: Toronto city councillor Kyle Rae addresses a letter to the people advocating for a railway museum at the John Street Roundhouse. Rae wrote "I must state categorically...that I do not support the retention of the roundhouse as a functioning railway museum." 1/2

A CN steam locomotive hauls a westbound freight train through the Bathurst Street yards in Toronto circa 1959, while several diesel switching locomotives are also visible in the scene. Photograph by Walter Taylor.

Last runs of steam during the transition to diesel were not definitive and it's hard to be sure of the true final run. Steam locomotives could be pressed into service when diesels had maintenance problems. CN's Central Region officially became diesel-only on May 31, 1959. 2/2

Canadian National Railway U-2-h class 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive No. 6255 at CN's Mimico, Ontario engine facility on March 9, 1959. Photo by C.A.Butcher.

Apr 17, 1959: the last regular Canadian National Railway steam-hauled train to Toronto departs from Montreal, an overnight freight extra behind U-2-h No. 6255. The 4-8-4 Northern-type—similar to No. 6213 at the museum—was built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in 1943 and scrapped in 1960. 1/2

Two men, one of whom is the Ontario, Simcoe & Huron Railway's first conductor, John Harvie (standing near the front) pose with the locomotive "Lady Elgin," the first steam locomotive to operate in Toronto. The photo was likely taken in the 1860s. Toronto Star Photo Archive, Toronto Public Library.

The “Toronto” was the Ontario, Simcoe & Huron Railway's second locomotive. The first, the "Lady Elgin," came from the U.S. seven months earlier. High transportation costs and customs duties encouraged the OS&H to find a local locomotive builder for its second engine. 3/3

A drawing showing the side elevation of the steam locomotive "Toronto" as it might have appeared when brand new in 1853. The artist appears to be credited as George A. Stewart and the drawing was reproduced by Hugh Scobie, lithographer, who was also the editor and proprietor of the Toronto Colonist Newspaper until his death in December 1854. Archives of Ontario Collection.

The 4-4-0 type locomotive weighed almost 30 tons (27 metric tonnes) and was 26 feet (7.9 metres) in length without its tender. Its four driving wheels were 5'6" (1.7 metres) in diameter. 2/3

A group of nine men strike various poses around Northern Railway of Canada (formerly Ontario, Simcoe & Huron) 4-4-0 steam locomotive No. 2, the "Toronto," some time in the 1860s or 1870s. The locomotive is typical of early wood-burning steam power, with a very large balloon-style smokestack to reduce sparks emitted in its exhaust. It features an unusual globe-shaped sand box on top of the boiler. Library and Archives of Canada photo.

Apr 16, 1853: James Good's foundry, located near the northeast corner of Queen and Yonge Streets, completes the steam locomotive "Toronto." This was the first railway locomotive built in Canada, and probably the first anywhere in the British Empire outside of Great Britain. 1/3

Two views of Keith Hopkin & his kid Jeremy Hopkin with C.N.R. steam locomotive #6213 in Toronto over the years.

Thank you to the Toronto Railway Museum for hosting "Rails Reclaimed" tonight, and to the 150+ people who attended!

I hope you all enjoyed it! 😃🚂

@torailwaymuseum.bsky.social

#ZoomTalk #railway #leaside #torontohistory #jeremyhopkin

A coloured sketch illustrating the proposed Front Street elevation of the new Toronto Union Station, circa 1914, as proposed by the station's new architecture team of Ross & Macdonald, Hugh G. Jones and John M. Lyle. The Beaux-Art style is evident in the classically-inspired central colonnade, cornice, east and west wings and raised centre hall with round-arched windows at each end.

Construction was delayed for several years and Carrère and Hastings' involvement ended when senior partner John Carrère died in 1911. Ross & MacFarlane successor Ross & Macdonald assumed responsibility for designing Toronto Union Station in 1914, along with Hugh Jones and John Lyle. 3/3

A sketch published on the front page of the Toronto Globe on January 22, 1907, showing the initial design for the new Toronto Union Station proposed by New York architects Carrère & Hastings. The design is distinctly Romanesque, with seven large arched window openings dominating the centre of the front elevation. The Globe's caption describes the design as "frankly utilitarian." The overall massing is similar to the station that was actually built, with a large central block flanked by east and west wings, but with none of the Beaux-Arts, classically-styled design features, such as the Front Street colonnade, that ultimately characterized Union Station's appearance.

The collaborators on the 1906 Union Station design would include F.S. Baker as Carrère and Hastings' Toronto associate. Westinghouse, Church, Kerr & Company, engineers, of New York and Montreal architects Ross & MacFarlane were also part of the team. 2/3

A 1907 postcard view of the Trader's Bank Building at the corner of King and Yonge Streets in downtown Toronto. It is 15 storeys tall and features Beaux-Art style classical details such as a heavy cornice above the 13th storey and a colonnade in front of the second and third-storey windows on both the King and Front Street façades. John Chuckman collection.

A portrait of architect John Merven Carrère, circa 1900. Lightner Museum collection.

A portrait of architect Thomas Hastings, circa 1900. Lightner Museum collection.

Apr 15, 1906: New York architectural firm Carrère and Hastings announces a collaboration to design the new Toronto Union Station. The firm had already designed the 15-storey Trader's Bank Building (1905) at King and Yonge Streets, Toronto's first true skyscraper. 1/3

The Toronto Island ferry Sam McBride in Toronto Harbour with the Island visible in the background, circa 1960. City of Toronto Archives photo.

TTC tickets were used as fares on the island ferries until the Metro Toronto Parks Department took over responsibility for the ferry service in 1962. 2/2

The Hanlan’s Point mainland ferry docks and streetcar loop at the foot of York Street in 1926, just prior to the TTC takeover of the ferry service in 1927. City of Toronto Archives photo.

Apr 14, 1927: the Toronto Transportation Commission takes over the Toronto Island ferry boat service. The Toronto Ferry Co. and Hanlan's Point Amusement Park had been bought by the City of Toronto, who gave the ferries to the TTC to run. 1/2

Register – Rails Reclaimed: How Toronto’s rail infrastructure found new life – Zoom Rails Reclaimed: How Toronto’s rail infrastructure found new life – Zoom, Tue 14 Apr 2026 - Rails Reclaimed uncovers the afterlives of Toronto’s rail infrastructure. How many former streetcar, radial ...

Join us tomorrow for our Second Tuesday Zoom talk on Rails Reclaimed. Guest speaker Jeremy Hopkin will explore the afterlives of Toronto’s rail infrastructure including many former streetcar, radial and rail properties across Toronto.

www.tickettailor.com/events/toron...

A builder's photo of Canadian Northern gas-electric rail car No. 500 in October 1911. Photo from the CN Archives.

Both the CNoR's successor Canadian National and the Canadian Pacific Railway would go on to operate a small number of similar gas-electric units, however their high initial purchase cost and mechanical unreliability limited their appeal to railways in the first half of the 20th century. 2/2

Canadian Northern gas-electric rail car No. 500 stops at the railway's Belleville station in 1912. Photo from the Harold Reid collection.

Apr 13, 1912: the Canadian Northern Railway sends its new gas-electric rail car No. 500 from Toronto to Trenton, ON, for testing over the Canadian Northern-controlled Central Ontario Railway line between Trenton and Picton. 1/2

Join me tomorrow for "Rails Reclaimed", my Second Tuesday Zoom talk for the Toronto Railway Museum.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

www.tickettailor.com/events/toron...

#torontohistory #streetcarhistory #transit #torontorailwaymuseum #jeremyhopkin

Canadian National FPA-4 diesel locomotive No. 6777 hauls an eastbound passenger train near Bayview Junction in Hamilton, Ontario, circa 1968. Photo by Dave Burroughs via RailPictures.Net.

In keeping with 1960's CN—and later, VIA Rail's—policy, the names assigned to passenger trains attempted to be recognizable in either of Canada's two official languages. 2/2

Canadian National Railway FP9A diesel locomotive No. 6533 hauls an eastbound passenger train past the site of the recently-demolished Sunnyside station in Toronto's west end in 1969. At left of the train is the Gardiner Expressway. In the background is the Roncesvalles Avenue footbridge over the tracks and the Expressway. Photo by John Chuckman.

Apr 12, 1966: the Canadian National Railway renames several of its passenger trains operating out of Toronto. The new names included the Ottawa-Toronto "Capital," the Toronto-Windsor "Erie" and "Tecumseh" and Toronto-Sarnia "Huron" and "Mohawk." 1/2

A worn brown leather valise with wrap-around strap handles, a flap that closes over the top and a brass lock. It is seen with its flap open, showing a peek at the inside top of the bag.

A worn brown leather valise with a leather strap and a lighter brown flap closed over the top but with the brass lock not latched. The flap has "F. Seminoff, Toronto" engraved on the part that folds over the front of the bag.

This month’s feature is a leather bag with custom stencilling. The mid-twentieth century two-tone leather bag remains in excellent condition. The original owner, Frank Seminoff of Toronto, was a longtime locomotive engineer for CN and our object was his workbag for some years.

CN steam locomotive No. 6060 prepares to depart from Toronto Union Station with an excursion train on May 31, 1975. Photo by Michael Taylor.

No. 6060 had been on static display at Jasper, Alberta since 1962. It was taken to Point St. Charles shops in Montreal and restored in 1973. This was the sixth and last steam locomotive used by CN in excursion service and it operated until 1980, mostly out of Toronto. 2/2

Canadian National U-1-f class 4-8-2 Mountain type steam locomotive No. 6060, sometimes referred to as a "Bullet-nosed Betty" type, sits outside CN's Point St. Charles shops in Montreal in July 1973. CN publicity photo.

Apr 11, 1972: Canadian National Railway vice-president of transportation and maintenance K. E. Hunt announces the debut of steam locomotive No. 6060 in excursion service. The U-1-f Mountain-type replaced Northern-type No. 6218, which CN had retired from excursion service the summer before. 1/2

A clip art style drawing of a door with a sign on it saying "closed April 19th for a museum refresh!" There is also a small Toronto Railway Museum logo at the bottom left and a sticker of a steam locomotive near the top right.

The Toronto Railway Museum will be closed on Sunday, April 19th for renovations. Thank you for your understanding, and stay tuned for exciting updates!