Historic Note: 1st Train on New Elevated Toronto Viaduct - Jan 21, 1930

Click on each image for a closer look!
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Derek Boles, TRHA's historian, publishes a daily posting on the Toronto Railway Heritage Yahoo Group List. These postings document major railway oriented events that happened on that day of the year. One of today's items is as follows:

January 21, 1930:
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Regular train service begins along the new elevated Toronto viaduct. The first eastbound arrival was Canadian National No.208 from Stratford hauled by 4-8-4 #6121. The first westbound arrival was Canadian Pacific No. 601 from Peterborough hauled by 4-8-4 #3100. Both trains simultaneously approached the station from each direction and entered the trainshed at 10:30 AM where they were greeted by officials including Toronto Mayor Bert Wemp. The first departures were CNR No. 33 with Pacific #5610 en route to Sarnia at 12:55 and CPR no. 38 at 1:40 PM with Pacific #2237 to Ottawa.
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These four trains were the only trains scheduled on two tracks that day; the remaining four tracks were put into service over the next several days. The southern portion of the viaduct structure, along with the remaining six tracks, were still under construction and completed on December 15, 1930. - Derek Boles
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At the above left, we see CPR #3100 hauling that first train. At the above right, we feature a photo of both the CNR and the CPR trains where they came to meet just west of the Bush trainshed on that day.
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If you wish to read the daily postings from Derek, simply join the Toronto Railway Heritage Yahoo Group List by clicking here.
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Posting by Russ Milland; Photos from the City of Toronto Archives