The Downtown West neighbourhood is home to over 50,000 people living within walking distance of Union Station. Now these residents have a wonderful new 17 acre greenspace called Roundhouse Park which is located at the foot of Bremner Blvd, just south of the Rogers Centre. Roundhouse Park is the newly minted home of the Toronto Railway Heritage Centre. This museum was championed by the Toronto Railway Historical Association which sought to commemorate Toronto's rich railway history.
The centrepiece of this museum is the restored John Street Roundhouse turntable, circa 1929, that features a remarkable 32 bays that once serviced Canadian Pacific's steam locomotives. Now designated a National Historic Site the Roundhouse has taken on new life. Bays 1-14 are appropriately occupied by Steam Whistle Brewery. Bays 15-17 are occupied by the Toronto Railway Historical Association, and bays 18-32 are now the home of a new Leon's retail store that is a must see and a great lesson on how old spaces can be converted to new uses in a way where everybody comes out a winner.
Without a doubt the highlight for the kids will be the miniature steam railway that runs through Roundhouse Park. A computer simulated cab ride in an actual diesel locomotive as well as an interpretive railway village with restored railway buildings and trains are some of the other highlights that make this museum well worth the visit. The Toronto Railway Heritage Centre is open from May to October. Be sure to check it out. It is well worth the visit.
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