Roundhouse Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roundhouse Park
Roundhouse Park viewed from the CN Tower
Location	255 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON, Canada
Operated by	Toronto Parks
Website	Roundhouse Park

Roundhouse Park is a large park in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It covers about 17 acres (6.9 ha). This park is located on what used to be old railway land.

The park is home to the John Street Roundhouse. This is a preserved building where trains were once repaired. Today, it holds the Toronto Railway Museum, a place called Steam Whistle Brewing, and an entertainment spot called The Rec Room. You can also see many real trains, the old Canadian Pacific Railway Don Station, and even a miniature railway for rides. The park is surrounded by Bremner Boulevard, Lower Simcoe Street, Lake Shore Boulevard West, and Rees Street.

History of Roundhouse Park

The John Street Roundhouse was built a long time ago, between 1929 and 1931. After the building was fixed up in the 1990s, the land next to it became a city park. This park, named Roundhouse Park, opened in 1997.

The Toronto Railway Museum is a big part of Roundhouse Park. It officially opened in 2010. The museum uses three sections of the John Street Roundhouse. It has indoor displays and a place to fix old trains. You can even try a full-size diesel train simulator! Outside, there's a miniature railway for fun rides. The museum also has many real railway engines and cars. Plus, there's a fully restored railway village. This village includes the old Don Station, Signal Cabin D, a watchman's hut, a water tower, and a coaling tower.

The John Street Roundhouse Building

The John Street Roundhouse was built for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) between 1929 and 1931. It replaced an older roundhouse from 1897. Trains fixed here were so well cared for that railway workers called their excellent condition "John Street polish."

When trains started using diesel fuel instead of steam, the roundhouse became less busy. It was last used for its original purpose in 1986. The CPR then gave the roundhouse to the City of Toronto.

This is the only roundhouse left in downtown Toronto. Another one, the CNR Spadina Roundhouse, was torn down to build the SkyDome (now Rogers Centre).

About one-third of the original John Street Roundhouse was taken apart. This was done to build the Metro Toronto Convention Centre underneath it. Then, it was put back together in 1995. This part is now home to Steam Whistle Brewing. The other two-thirds of the building were also fixed up. They now house the Toronto Railway Museum and The Rec Room.

The roundhouse could work on 32 trains at one time. It has 32 large doors that face a huge 120-foot (36.5-meter) turntable. This turntable was the biggest one used by the CPR. The building is mostly made of brick and glass. Each bay door is made of wood. They can be opened to show a glass wall with a regular door inside. Lots of natural light fills the building.

The John Street Roundhouse was named a national historic site of Canada in 1990. This means it's a very important historical place in Canada.

Toronto Railway Museum

Toronto Railway Museum

Established	May 2010 (2010-05)
Location	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Type	Transport museum
Collection size	See below
Public transit access	St. Andrew station and Union Station

The Toronto Railway Historical Association (TRHA) started in 2001. This group helps run the Toronto Railway Museum (TRM).

The museum opened on May 28, 2010. The TRM is open all year round. A special building called Cabin D was also moved to Roundhouse Park. It was painted and fixed but still looks like it did originally.

Don Station

The Don Station was built in 1896 by the Canadian Pacific Railway. It was first located by the Don River and Queen Street East. In 1969, it was moved to Todmorden Mills. For many years, it was closed to the public. When it moved to Roundhouse Park, it was fixed up and opened. Now, you can buy tickets for the Miniature Railway here.

Miniature Railway Fun

The Toronto Railway Museum has a Miniature Railway. It opened in 2010 inside Roundhouse Park. Visitors can ride this small train during the warmer months. The ride has four cars, each carrying four people. It also has a caboose. A small replica steam locomotive or a diesel-electric train pulls the cars.

Collection of Trains

Roundhouse Park has many cool trains for you to see. There are four full-sized locomotives (the engines that pull trains). There are also three freight cars, two passenger cars, and one diesel multiple unit.

Here are some of the trains you can find:

• Canadian National Railway No. 6213 U-2-G 4-8-4 train from 1942.
• Canadian Pacific 7020 Class DS10-B, Alco S-2 from 1944.
• Canadian National Railway No. 4803 GMD GP7 from 1953.
• Canadian Locomotive Company 50 Ton Whitcomb Centre Cab Switcher from 1950.
• Canadian Pacific "Jackman" sleeper car from 1931.
• Canadian Pacific "Cape Race" Buffet-compartment-solarium-observation-sleeper, from 1929.
• Dominion Atlantic Railway "Sans Pareil" (now "Nova Scotia") Pullman dining car built in 1896.
• Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Railway Caboose #70, a steel car from 1921.
• Canadian Pacific Railway 188625 – a "Fowler" steel frame boxcar, built in 1917.
• Reinhart Vinegars RVLX 101 – a wooden vinegar tank car, built in 1938.
• Toronto Terminal Railway (TTR) – Pyke Self-Propelled Crane.
• GO Transit Hawker Siddeley RTC-85SP/D diesel multiple unit, built in 1967.

Images for kids

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  Inside the unfinished part of the Roundhouse in May 2008

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  The Don Station

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  Cabin D

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  A wide view of Roundhouse Park

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  A small red locomotive

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  John Street Roundhouse (left) in 1973. The roundhouse on the right was the CNR Spadina Roundhouse, which was torn down. The Rogers Centre is there now.

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  Steam Whistle Brewing

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  Condo buildings next to the park

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  Canadian National Railway train 79144

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  A green Canadian National Railway locomotive

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  Canadian National Railway locomotive 6213 at the Toronto Railway Museum

Other Toronto Roundhouses

Toronto used to have other roundhouses besides the John Street Roundhouse:

• The CNR Spadina Roundhouse was torn down in 1986 to make space for the Rogers Centre.
• The CPR Lambton Roundhouse was built in 1912-1913 and torn down in 1960.
• The CPR West Toronto Roundhouse was built in 1884 and 1891, then torn down in 2001.
• The CPR Parkdale Roundhouse was built in 1891. Its machinery and turntable were moved to John Street Roundhouse in 1897. It was last used in 1907.
• The CNR Mimico Roundhouse was built in 1913 and torn down in 1969 after a fire.
• The CNR Danforth Roundhouse was built in 1884 and torn down in the 1940s.