Old Bruce Service Track
Penfound Varnish, Osler Street team tracks and other small industries
off the Old Bruce service track.
Old Bruce Service Track later known as S Yard,
and finally PS Lead, ran between West Toronto Diamond and Dundas Street
West just north of Parkdale, and was once the Toronto, Grey and Bruce
mainline. It was east of the Galt Sub. and was separated by the CNR
Weston Sub. double track.
It remained in use for many years to serve a number of
local industries, including Rowntree (chocolates), Joe Lowe (Popsicle
Pete), Glidden Varnish and Viceroy Rubber. It ran across West Toronto
Diamond into the MacTier Sub. In later years this seldom-used diamond
was eliminated and the service track was extended eastward on a sharp
curve across Osler Avenue and connected to the North Toronto Sub. It
remained in use until its last customer Laura Secord (formerly Rowntree)
ended rail use (sugar from Redpath on the EastWharf).
finally being abandoned in 199x when the last industry Laura Secord
(formerly, Rowntree, originally Cowan's)
stopped using rail. It was dismantled in April of 1996. Eventually,
the 1.59 mile long right-of-way was sold in July, 2003 to the City of
Toronto for a proposed trail which has yet to be built.
Old Bruce service track, looking south from Wallace
Ave. footbridge.
Tank car sitting in Nacan products (National Adhesives). Note diamond,
unusual for sidings,
other trackwas Solways (scrap dealer). Track at right is West Toronto
interchange track.
CNR Weston Sub. atGO Transit Bloor station. Far right CPR Galt Sub.
July 1985 Gord Billinghurst
