Harbourfront-CityPlace in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Turntable

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 14, 2025

1. Turntable Marker

Inscription. A circular building with radial tracks was the most efficient way to maximize the number of locomotives under cover in a given space. Steam locomotives were usually operated in one direction only and turntables provided a compact and efficient means to turn them around. This turntable was built by the Canadian Bridge Company of Walkerville, Ontario in 1929. It is a twin-span, three-point turntable that pivots on a central axis. The weight of the locomotive is supported in the centre and at both ends on trucks that ride on a circular rail extending the circumference of the reinforced concrete pit. An air motor at each end propels the turntable by compressed air pumped up from an underground generator. At 120 feet, the John Street turntable is one of the longest ever built in Canada and was sufficient to accommodate the largest steam locomotives used by Canadian Pacific in Toronto passenger service. These were two 4-8-4 Northerns built by the CPR's Angus Shops in 1928 and used to haul overnight passenger trains between Toronto and Montreal until 1954. In the 1990s, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre was built underneath

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what is now Roundhouse Park and the turntable was dismantled and stored in the roundhouse until 2007 when it was moved to Barrie and restored by Western Mechanical.

Erected by Toronto Railway Heritage Centre. (Marker Number 6.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1929.

Location. 43° 38.481′ N, 79° 23.152′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Harbourfront-CityPlace. It can be reached from Bremner Boulevard. The marker is in Roundhouse Park, approx. 70 metres from the entrance to the park on Bremner Boulevard, across from Ripley’s Aquarium. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 255 Bremner Boulevard, Toronto ON M5V 3M9, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto

and on the Golden Horseshoe.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois)

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 14, 2025

2. Turntable Marker

Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Roundhouse (a few steps from this marker); Union Station (within shouting distance of this marker); The Coach Yards (within shouting distance of this marker); Canadian National Railways No. 6213 (within shouting distance of this marker); Pyke Crane (within shouting distance of this marker); Canadian Pacific Railway, Fowler Boxcar No. 188625 (within shouting distance of this marker); Canadian Pacific Railway “Cape Race” (within shouting distance of this marker); The Railway Lands (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Turntable marker photos and captions detail (top) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 14, 2025

3. Turntable marker photos and captions detail (top)

Turntable marker photo and caption detail (bottom) image. Click for full size.

4. Turntable marker photo and caption detail (bottom)

Former John Street Roundhouse turntable in 2025 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 14, 2025

5. Former John Street Roundhouse turntable in 2025

Credits. This page was last revised on February 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 48 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 16, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.