Barrie in Simcoe County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
The Railyards at their Peak
| | Waterfront Heritage Trail | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2024
1. The Railyards at their Peak Marker
1955 Rail Yards
The first train arrived in Allandale in 1853 at the onset of the new age of steam engines. Allandale rose to become a junction of such national importance that the Grand Trunk Railway launched the most modern passenger train maintenance centre on the Grand Trunk System in 1904. The Rail Yards were still thriving in 1955.
Turn & Look
West towards the Allandale Train Station imagining rows and rows of rail lines where Lakeshore Drive and parkland is now.
North across the water and imaging a train puffing along the northern shoreline of Kempenfelt Bay on the converted rail bed known today as the North Shore Trail.
South across Lakeshore Drive at the last remaining rail beds in operation.
The End of the Rail Yards
Canadian National Railways assumed ownership in 1922 and continued yard operations at Allendale until the mid-1990's, when train services were centralized in Toronto.
1981
The Roundhouse has been removed but the turntable is still in place beside the Master Mechanics building.
2012
The faint outline of the former Roundhouse foundation remains and most of the rail beds have been converted to parkland around the Southshore Community Centre. Lakeshore Drive is now built and parallels the last
this page online
Erected by Barrie Waterfront Heritage Trail.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1955.
Location. 44° 22.451′ N, 79° 40.842′ W. Marker is in Barrie, Ontario, in Simcoe County. It can be reached from Lakeshore Drive one kilometer west of Miner's Point Road, on the right when traveling west. The marker is on the Waterfront Heritage Trail at Station #3 ("The Rail Yards"), on the west side of the Barrie Southshore Community Centre. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 205 Lakeshore Drive, Barrie ON L9S 3T7, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Ontario Cottage Country and specifically in Georgian Bay Country. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Coal Chute (here, next to this marker); Railyard Workers (here, next to this marker); The Roundhouse (here, next to this marker); Frederic Cumberland (here, next to this marker); Master Mechanics Building and Stores Department (here, next to this marker); In Recognition of the Rotary Club of Barrie Tree Planting Program (within shouting distance of this marker); Barrie's Military Heritage Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Military Heritage Park (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Barrie.
Related markers.
Barrie Historical Archive
2. Marker detail: 1955 Aerial Image
An aerial view of the Allandale Rail Yard showing Milburn, and Cumberland Streets with surrounding area, ca. 1955.
Courtesy City of Barrie
3. Marker detail: 1981 Aerial Image
Courtesy City of Barrie
4. Marker detail: 2012 Orthographic Aerial Image
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2024
5. The Railyards at their Peak Marker
Looking north from near the Barrie Southshore Community Centre. Kempenfelt Bay is in the background.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2024
6. The Railyards at their Peak Marker
Looking west from the Barrie Southshore Community Centre. It is the rightmost of six related interpretive panels at this location.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 24, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 105 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 25, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
