Vaughan (Toronto), ON: CN MacMillian Yard

(Satellite)

Viral Media posted

“L” Yard

A view of the Local Yard in CN MacMillan Yard in Vaughan, Ontario. The “L” tower is visible at the bottom or the photo. The former Car Shops are on the right. In addition, there is a South Tower (on the administration building), East Tower, West Tower, Main Hump Tower and the Retarder Tower. The MacMillan Yard is the second largest rail classification yard in Canada, after CN's Symington Yard in Winnipeg. Originally "Toronto Yard", site opened in May 1965. CN's relocated their freight yards and facilities out of Toronto, to a new more modern site located on former farmlands to the north. The Yard is 1,000 acres in size and employs over 1,000 employees.

Viral Media posted

CN MacMillian Yard

The CN Classification Yard in Vaughan, Ontario has suffered through various railroad operations changes, and given the current “lean” operating principals, this is one of the remaining hump yards in Canada. The “Local” yard was a hump yard, and the tower is still present. The Dual Hump yard to the north has a giant 72 track classification bowl. Inbound trains enter into the receiving yard on the east side of the yard. There are West and East Departure yards where outbound trains are assembled.

The site also has a large locomotive shops and facilities. A CN Autoport site is present for automotive loading and unloading. A large transloading site also enables materials to be transferred to and from tanks cars.

MacMillan is the 2nd largest rail yard in Canada, after CN's Symington Yard in Winnipeg. It is named for former CN president Norman John MacMillan. The Yard covers 1,000 acres and has over 1,000 employees. This site is located 20 kilometers north of downtown Toronto in Vaughan, Ontario. The yard operates 24 hours a day and handles over 1 million cars (loads and empties) per year, although this is a pre-pandemic number.

Originally "Toronto Yard", site opened in May 1965. CN's relocated their freight yards and facilities out of Toronto, to a new more modern site located on former farmlands to the north. CN Toronto Yard was renamed "MacMillan Yard" in 1975 in honor of recently retired CN president Norman J. MacMillan. Moving railroad freight traffic away from downtown made it possible to establish GOtransit commuter rail operation in 1967.