Roundhouse Park and the Toronto Railway Museum
Roundhouse Park is home to both the Toronto Railway Museum and Steam Whistle Brewing

In the heart of Toronto a very popular attraction that is definitely worth taking some time to explore is Roundhouse Park, home to the John Street Roundhouse. Designated as a National Historic Site of Canada, the Roundhouse was built between 1929 and 1931 and now houses the Toronto Railway Museum, a brewery and a home furnishing store. The park stands on 17 acres of prime city land situated just south of the the base of the CN Tower.
The main focus of the park is the Railway Museum which features many historic locomotives and passenger cars as well as old and restored freight trains. There are signs in all of them explaining the importance of their role in history. This form of transportation emotionally hits the core of many people who remember stories from loved ones of days of old.
A wonderful, fun and educational feature hosted by the Toronto Railway Museum is the miniature steam railway. Passengers ride the train and experience a step back in time using real steam technology to run the locomotive. This popular voyage is half a kilometre long starting at the restored 1896 Don Station and passing by many replicas of prominent buildings. Visitors can also enjoy the sensation of a computer simulated ride situated in an authentic diesel locomotive.
Learn about the Canadian origin of the CPR by taking a guided walking tour. There is a small initiation to the steam iron horse, interesting lectures, guide books, a collection of railway equipment and so much more for one to take in and appreciate the fascinating history of this very important form of transportation.
Steam Whistle Brewing is also situated in the charming old John St. Roundhouse that was built in 1929 and used for servicing locomotives from that era until 1986. Here you will be able to take a tour and enjoy tasting samples of this truly Canadian beer. The founders of this company were former workers of the upper Canada Brewing Company and were fired when it was sold to Sleeman and closed down. They decided to put their heads together and open up a brewery of their own. Their pilsner is recognizable by its distinct green bottles that have 3FG embossed on the bottom of them as an inside joke referring to 3 fired guys. All the packaging is made from recycled material. Steam Whistle Brewery is environmentally friendly, having won many awards for this very important aspect. This phenomenal beer is freshly brewed and is GMO-free with only 4 natural ingredients-spring water, malted barley, hops and yeast.
Leons furniture occupies the opposite end of the old Roundhouse building from the brewery. Its atmosphere creates a very spacious and roomy showroom making this an enjoyable and grand place to browse or shop for furniture.
While visiting the area you might want to take advantage of the new Ripley's Aquarium of Canada which is located right across the street from the park.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: The park is free and you can see many of the old locomotives and railcars for free from outside the fence. There is a small entrance fee for access to the Railway Museum which includes the fenced off area.Roundhouse Park Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Address: 255 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3M9, Canada
Phone: (416) 214-9229
Official Website: Roundhouse Park
Roundhouse Park Reviews
Rated
We did not wait to enter.
The inside has some you trains for little kids to play with, I thought this was a VERY great idea!
Inside has alot of information if you take the time to look, scan the codes and listen. There is also a train simulator. Indoors can be slightly overwhelming as everything is crammed into a small area.
The outdoor guided tour was informative and interactive. We enjoyed learning about the old rail system and exploring inside the carts.
The gift shop was lovely, however there needs to be a way to exit the gift shop where patrons of the mini train are not taking up the space. There is a wide deck but everyone waiting for the mini train was lined up and there was really no where for my family to exit with space or getting in the way of the mini train ride.
Also I think that some of the staff could have been a little more upbeat to make the experience joyful. Everyone seemed very cut and dry.
All in all we enjoyed our time, it is brief but affordable.
Destiny Q - a week ago
I thoroughly enjoyed our little tour of the Toronto Railway museum. The trains displayed outside the museum are amazing. With our entry ticket, we had a tour guide which explained the history of one of the trains he was the engineer to. I learnt a lot from him and it was truly a trot down memory lane. The museum inside is quite small, but they have a child play area with colouring. There is also a simulation, which we enjoyed a lot. The miniature trains were so lovely too. If you're around the area and love trains, go for it and take the tour. It was truly worth it.
Anusha Ramgoolam - in the last week
Really enjoyed this little museum! It only takes about 15 minutes to go through, but there’s lots of interesting stuff packed in. The staff were super nice. There’s also a small area for kids, which is a great touch. Worth a visit if you’re in the area!
Logan Van Den Oetelaar - 3 weeks ago
Toronto Railway Museum – Rails Through Time 🚂
🕰️ What You’ll See
Stall 17 gallery: Indoor exhibits include a full-size diesel cab train simulator, vintage artifacts, and restoration glimpses .
Outdoor rolling stock: On-site are impressive full-sized locomotives (e.g., CNR No. 6213 from 1942), passenger cars, cabooses, and the country’s longest turntable (~36.5 m) .
Miniature Railway: From May–Sept, enjoy a 500 m ride through the park on a replica steam or small diesel train—weekday and weekend schedules apply
🎓 Tours & Experiences
Guided walking tours highlight the roundhouse, turntable, and rolling stock .
Train simulator lets you try your hand at driving and braking.
Educational programs and school-group activities tied to Ontario curriculum .
Volunteer restoration projects are visible from inside—watch history in progress .
👍 Why Visit?
Combines indoor exhibits with outdoor, hands-on experiences (mini‑train, turntable).
Housed in a heritage roundhouse, part of Toronto’s railway legacy .
Central location, great for combining with nearby attractions.
Kid-friendly, educational, and accessible by public transit .
💬 Visitor Tips & Reviews
Ideal for a 1–2 hour visit, longer if riding the mini train or taking tours .
A small indoor space—most impact comes from the outdoor displays .
Mini‑train ride is ‘worth it’ for families, offering a fun peek around Roundhouse Park.
Dhruva Kumar - 2 weeks ago
Very nice museum with friendly staff as well as a wonderful collection of locomotives both inside and outside. Very nice simulator as well. Sadly couldn't catch the interior tours of some of them but I hope I can on a future visit.
Prehistoric Terminator - 2 months ago
Directions
TTC Subway Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
---|---|---|
Yonge-University-Spadina | Union Station | 8 Minutes |
How to get to Roundhouse Park by TTC Subway
From Union Station follow the SkyWalk west or walk west on the south side of Front Street to York Street or Simcoe Street and go left (south) to Bremner Blvd. Roundhouse Park is right across the street.
Map & Instant Route Finder
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Accommodations near Roundhouse Park:
Photo Gallery
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The Miniature Railway in Roundhouse Park is great fun for families cc licensed photo by Andrew Rivett -
Painstakingly Restored CN 6213 Steam Locomotive in Roundhouse Park cc licensed photo by Peter Kudlacz -
Restored CN 4803 Diesel Locomotive cc licensed photo by Peter Kudlacz -
Home of the Steam Whistle Brewing Company in Roundhouse Park cc licensed photo by Richie Diesterheft -
Photo Credit: Bernard Spragg - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Bernard Spragg - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Bernard Spragg - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: pmuellr - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: diocrio - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: archer10 (Dennis) - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: archer10 (Dennis) - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Pierre Andre Leclercq - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Ken Lund - cc license via Flickr