On May 16, 1853, the first passenger train steamed out of Toronto from a wooden depot located close to the eastern entrance of today’s Union Station. Over the course of the next century, the railways were to have a profound impact on the city of Toronto and its geography.

The story of Toronto’s railways is filled with colourful personalities, convoluted politics, massive engineering projects, tragic accidents, some of the city’s most distinctive architecture and, of course, the trains that have fascinated young and old alike since their invention almost 200 years ago.

Derek Boles educates and entertains with his engaging stories about Toronto’s railways through guided tours, lectures, archival exhibitions, an internet blog, and publications.