CN’s MacMillan train yard in the Toronto area is the second largest train yard in Canada – after Winnipeg’s Symington yard. Opened in 1965, it helped move rail traffic – and the CN train yard – out of downtown Toronto and freed up track space for GO Transit in 1967, along with the CN Tower and other landmarks.
It officially opened in May 1965 as Toronto Yard. Within a decade, it was renamed MacMillan Yard after former CN president Norman John MacMillan who saw the start of the CN Tower in Toronto.
I flew into Toronto last week, and we happened to fly right beside MacMillan Yard. I took the opportunity to snap some photos out the window.
The hump yard is clearly visible in the photo above. There are two hump tracks, approached from the right (north). The receiving yard is in the foreground where incoming trains are left to be processed.
Mac Yard is not actually within Toronto – it’s in Vaughan. You can see the office and condo towers in the background, behind the local yard, and split by highway 7 at left. Highway 407 is just visible at top left.
In the photo below, looking north, highway 407 is in the foreground with 7 behind it, with sprawling Mac Yard dominating the photo.
My son and I spent some time standing on the highway 7 overpass, watching trains work the yard. That’s another post!
I have grabbed some quick pics of that yard as a passenger while passing over it on Highway 407. None of them have turned out all that well, with the exception of one. I look forward to seeing some great shots. I’ve always wanted to see that yard up close. These shots are a great teaser.