West Toronto RailPath

The West Toronto RailPath is a proposed muti-use asphalt trail that would run from Cariboo Avenue, in Toronto, Canada's The Junction Neighbourhood, to Union Station.

History

Toronto Grey and Bruce Railway

In 1868, the Toronto Grey and Bruce Railway was incorporated to provide rail service connecting Toronto to Southampton and Owen Sound (and points between) [ [http://home.primus.ca/~robkath/railtgb.htm TG&BR ] ] . Sections of this railway in Toronto ran along the right of way of other existing railways. As this railway was a different (narrow) gauge, a separate set of tracks along the right of way were required. Due to service problems associated with the narrow gauge, the line was eventually converted to standard gauge in 1881. By 1883, the Canadian Pacific Railway had acquired the line. [http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/OandQ/TGandB/tgb.htm]

Into the 1960s the portion of the track around Dupont was known as "The Old Bruce". It served several industries, including the Viceroy plant, and the scrapyard. [http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/OandQ/TGandB/tgb.htm]

References

1. "Narrow Gauge Through the Bush - Ontario's Toronto Grey and Bruce Railway and Toronto and Nipissing Railway"; Rod Clarke; pub. Beaumont and Clarke, with the Credit Valley Railway Company, Streetsville, Ontario, 2007. ISBN 978-0-9784406-0-2

2. "Narrow Gauge Railways of Canada"; Omer Lavallee; pub. Railfair, Montreal, 1972. ISBN 0-919130-21-6

3. "Narrow Gauge Railways of Canada"; Omer Lavallee, expanded and revised by Ronald S Ritchie; pub. Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Markham, Ontario, 2005. ISBN 1-55041-830-0

4. "The Toronto Grey and Bruce Railway 1863-1884; Thomas F McIlwraith; pub. Upper Canada Railway Society, Toronto, 1963.

5. "Steam Trains to the Bruce"; Ralph Beaumont; pub. The Boston Mills Press; Cheltenham, Ontario, 1977. ISBN 0-919822-21-5

6. "Running Late on the Bruce"; Ralph Beaumont & James Filby; pub The Boston Mills Press, Cheltenham, Ontario, 1980. ISBN 0-919822-32-0

Acqusition of land by the City of Toronto

The City of Toronto first authorized purchase of the land for the portion from Cariboo to Dundas (known as the CP LEAD spur) in 1997. Funds ($920,000) were approved in 2000. This land was acquired in July 2003 by the City of Toronto from the St. Lawrence and Hudson Railway. The purchase agreement demanded the vendor perform some "soil work" (remediation to industrial standards). After acquiring the lands, the City of Toronto needed to terminate a lease that a salvage yard (M&S Waste and Salvage) had for a portion of the land, leased when the land was owned by Canadian Pacific. [http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/2006/agendas/committees/adm/adm060502/it016.pdf] .

External links

* [http://railpath.communitybicyclenetwork.org/ Community Bicycle Network's Railpath Page]

References

1,2 cite web
title =Toronto, Grey & Bruce
author=R.L.Kennedy
publisher =Old Time Trains
url =http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/OandQ/TGandB/tgb.htm
accessdate =2007-03-27

3 cite web
title =City of Toronto Policy Agenda. Subject: Acquisition of the Abandoned Canadian Pacific Railway Spur Line, the “PS LEAD” from Cariboo Avenue to Dundas Street West (Ward 19 – High Park), (Ward 20 - Trinity Niagara), (Ward 21 – Davenport)
publisher =City of Toronto
date =2000-07-11
url =http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/2006/agendas/committees/adm/adm060502/it016.pdf
accessdate =2007-03-21 |format=PDF

4 cite web
title =City of Toronto Staff Report. Subject: Termination of Lease of Lands Adjacent to 26 Ernest Avenue (Ward 18 - Davenport)
publisher =City of Toronto
date =2006-04-10
url =http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/2006/agendas/committees/adm/adm060502/it016.pdf
accessdate =2007-03-21 |format=PDF