Wandering around North Toronto Station, looking .... just looking ...

[Mustapha]

According to the old city maps; before the Beaux Arts North Toronto Station we are all so familiar with was built, along with the embankment raising the railbed, there was a small station on the west side of Yonge behind the still existing Dominion bank building. This first station was at ground level and was demolished at some point after the new station went up. Servicemen returned to this small station from the Great War (there are Toronto Archives photos ... think I'm making this up? ). I was thinking perhaps that servicemen also departed from this long gone station. For many Toronto boys this hallowed ground would have been their last steps on Toronto soil.

The station was about 100 yards behind the Dominion bank building:
Then.

Now.

Let's walk down down the right side of the building and see what we can see.
Back then we would have seen this BEFORE the embankment was built.

If we walk west to the platform, we can gaze out towards Avenue Road. Hanging basket plants are 12.99 or two for 25.00 this week at Dominion. ff'ing smileys.

And this AFTER the embankment. Our poor widdle station is now officially out of service. Just to be sure, someone from Security dumped something in the middle of the driveway to prevent access.

Today, this is what we see at the end of the laneway beside the old Dominion bank. Let's walk down to the end of this carpark. Your guess is as good as mine as to where the station was. Around here somewhere for sure. The overgrown embankment is on the right. Are there any surveyors here at urbantoronto? Perhaps they have a better eye for these things.

View from the end of the carpark. Any bets the lost station is under this mound? I'm looking for volunteers for a - semiofficial - dig. It will take place at night - maybe the station safe is in there. Dates TBD.

A disappointment.

Let's see if we can make our way to the top of the embankment.
View to the east. That train was just CLIPPING along.

View to the west, towards Avenue Road. Our lost station down the embankment to the left of the photo, approx. where the 3rd set of rail ties are laying.

Buh-bye. Before you all think I am some sort of mackintosh wearing nekkid-underneath railfan; I am NOT a railfan.

-Moose

 

[LowPolygon]

great urban archeology! thanks for doing the work...

 

[TKTKTK]

I think you're probably right about the station being near (or under) the last part of the garage:

Probably around here?

 

[Redroom Studios]

thanks for the old photos and the tour! I loved your picture with the end of the train just flashing out of the frame. entertaining commentary too...

 

[Mustapha]

thanks thedeepend, redroom studios and TKTKTK. You're most welcome.

 

[Mustapha]

I think you're probably right about the station being near (or under) the last part of the garage:

Probably around here?

Didn't know Google maps was user modifiable like this. Neat.

 

[Woodbridge_Heights]

Great tour. It's a real shame North Toronto is so disused even if it were only for Go Trains. It's as connected to the subway network as Union.

It's too nice a building to simply be known as an LCBO store.

 

[TKTKTK]

Great tour. It's a real shame North Toronto is so disused even if it were only for Go Trains. It's as connected to the subway network as Union.

It's too nice a building to simply be known as an LCBO store.

at least it's a really, really good LCBO.

 

[Observer Walt]

I like that LCBO store! One of the nicer buildings in Toronto, actually.

I had no idea of that old station that was on Cottingham. Thanks!