The Belt Line trail

Originally a passenger line to connect downtown to new suburbs, the original Grand Trunk Railway line only served passengers from 1892-1894. Thankfully much of it has been retained and serves as a hiking and biking trail through the city. The section from Allen Road to Mount Pleasant Road is now officially called the Kay Gardner Beltline Park.

In recognition of the original use of the trail, the City is building a number of raised seating areas to mark the 'Lost Stations' along the Beltline.

Also along the trail is the Robert Bateman Parkette named after the Canadian painter who lived just a few steps away on Chaplin Crescent and grew to love nature in part due to the time he spent as a kid on the Belt Line.

 
 

List of all subjects. You can also see all the historic photos for a given neighbourhood. We also have a list of all the photos arranged by date.

And you can also go up a level to see the other photos we've put under the category of streetcars_and_buses photos.

1895 Historic photo from 1895 - East end of Winchester Street showing Belt Line - now in RIverdale Park in Riverdale parkEast end of Winchester Street showing Belt Line - now in RIverdale Park
130 years ago - Riverdale park - 1895
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1895 Historic photo from 1895 - Winchester Street bridge over the Don River and Belt Line in Riverdale parkWinchester Street bridge over the Don River and Belt Line
130 years ago - Riverdale park - 1895
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1900 Historic photo from 1900 - Belt Line above Bloor St., looking to West (along south Kingsway near Humber; Brother Will on tracks) in KingswayBelt Line above Bloor St., looking to West (along south Kingsway near Humber; Brother Will on tracks)
125 years ago - Kingsway - 1900
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1909 Historic photo from 1909 - Moore Park station along the Belt Line - built 1892 - private residence in 1912, then demolished in the 1930s in Moore ParkMoore Park station along the Belt Line - built 1892 - private residence in 1912, then demolished in the 1930s
116 years ago - Moore Park - 1909
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1910 Historic photo from 1910 - Highlands of Toronto map along the Belt Line Railway in FairbankHighlands of Toronto map along the Belt Line Railway
115 years ago - Fairbank - 1910
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1912 Historic photo from Thursday, December 5, 1912 - Looking up at the Clarence Avenue bridge (Heath Street over the  Belt Line) in Mount Pleasant CemeteryLooking up at the Clarence Avenue bridge (Heath Street over the Belt Line)
113 years ago - Mount Pleasant Cemetery - Thursday, December 5, 1912
Max temp: 9.4°C - Min temp: 0.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912 Historic photo from Thursday, December 5, 1912 - Clarence Avenue bridge (Heath Street over the  Belt Line) in Mount Pleasant CemeteryClarence Avenue bridge (Heath Street over the Belt Line)
113 years ago - Mount Pleasant Cemetery - Thursday, December 5, 1912
Max temp: 9.4°C - Min temp: 0.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1914 Historic photo from Wednesday, February 4, 1914 - Moore Avenue, Belt Line railway looking southwest in Moore ParkMoore Avenue, Belt Line railway looking southwest
111 years ago - Moore Park - Wednesday, February 4, 1914
Max temp: 2.8°C - Min temp: -5.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1915 Historic photo from Thursday, May 6, 1915 - G.T.R. subway over Yonge Street - Belt Line Bridge in Mount Pleasant CemeteryG.T.R. subway over Yonge Street - Belt Line Bridge
110 years ago - Mount Pleasant Cemetery - Thursday, May 6, 1915
Max temp: 18.9°C - Min temp: 5.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1916 Historic photo from Tuesday, March 28, 1916 - Belt Line Railway at Merton Street near Mount Pleasant Road bridge in Mount Pleasant CemeteryBelt Line Railway at Merton Street near Mount Pleasant Road bridge
109 years ago - Mount Pleasant Cemetery - Tuesday, March 28, 1916
Max temp: 8.9°C - Min temp: 2.8°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1919 Historic photo from Friday, May 30, 1919 - Belt Line car 592 passing street car track construction on Spadina Avenue in Chinatown (Spadina Ave)Belt Line car 592 passing street car track construction on Spadina Avenue
106 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - Friday, May 30, 1919
Max temp: 30.0°C - Min temp: 16.1°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1920 Historic photo from 1920 - Radial line workshop, Yonge Street, near old Belt Line in Mount Pleasant CemeteryRadial line workshop, Yonge Street, near old Belt Line
105 years ago - Mount Pleasant Cemetery - 1920
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1921 Historic photo from Monday, November 21, 1921 - Metropolitan Railway Building at Belt Line on Yonge Street in Mount Pleasant CemeteryMetropolitan Railway Building at Belt Line on Yonge Street
104 years ago - Mount Pleasant Cemetery - Monday, November 21, 1921
Max temp: 7.8°C - Min temp: 2.2°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1952 Historic photo from 1952 - G.T.R. Belt Line railway bridge, looking n.w. from e. of Mt. Pleasant Rd. in Mount Pleasant CemeteryG.T.R. Belt Line railway bridge, looking n.w. from e. of Mt. Pleasant Rd.
73 years ago - Mount Pleasant Cemetery - 1952
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1954 Historic photo from Tuesday, June 15, 1954 - Heath St. E., between Hudson Drive & Brendan Rd., showing site of bridge over G.T.R. Belt Line. in Moore ParkHeath St. E., between Hudson Drive & Brendan Rd., showing site of bridge over G.T.R. Belt Line.
71 years ago - Moore Park - Tuesday, June 15, 1954
Max temp: 24.4°C - Min temp: 17.2°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1955 Historic photo from Saturday, October 1, 1955 - Bridge over G.T.R. Belt Line along Eglinton Ave West between Spadina  and Chaplin Crescent, looking southeast in Forest HillBridge over G.T.R. Belt Line along Eglinton Ave West between Spadina and Chaplin Crescent, looking southeast
70 years ago - Forest Hill - Saturday, October 1, 1955
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1955 Historic photo from Tuesday, October 4, 1955 - G.T.R. Belt Line, looking e. across Bathurst St., betw. Shallmar Blvd. & Roselawn Ave. in Forest HillG.T.R. Belt Line, looking e. across Bathurst St., betw. Shallmar Blvd. & Roselawn Ave.
70 years ago - Forest Hill - Tuesday, October 4, 1955
Max temp: 25.0°C - Min temp: 10.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
2013 Historic photo from Monday, June 3, 2013 - Robert Bateman: Memories of the Beltline in Forest HillRobert Bateman: Memories of the Beltline
12 years ago - Forest Hill - Monday, June 3, 2013
Link to archive record - Map location