Summary

Gormley Station was built by the Canadian Northern Railway in 1906 while its construction was progressing south towards Toronto, located on the inside of a sharp curve. It was a two-storey wood frame structure containing a waiting room, baggage room and the station agent’s office on the first floor. The second floor held the station agent’s living quarters, which was a common feature on many railway stations in rural areas as it was cheaper than building separate accommodations. This was a standard “third class” design used extensively by the Canadian Northern across their system. Across from the station was a grain elevator for local farmers, bringing prosperity to the surrounding communities. The first revenue train arrived at Gormley in November 1906, but this section of the line had been built separately from the rest of the Canadian Northern system located predominantly in the prairie provinces. Direct service to the west began in 1915 when the last 540 miles from Ruel to Port Arthur was complete. A total of four passenger trains stopped at Gormley on a daily basis by 1918.

The presence of the Canadian Northern in Gormley was short lived. Due to their worsening financial situation, the railway was nationalized in 1918 and informally managed by the newly-formed Canadian National from 1919 onward. The two entities wouldn’t be officially merged until a few years later in 1923. The popularization of automobiles combined with the opening of Highway 12 in 1922 began to reduce passenger ridership in rural communities that had otherwise been primarily connected to the outside world by the railway. The station closed to passengers in the 1960’s, after which it quickly deteriorated and was demolished shortly thereafter. After many decades without passenger service, the Gormley GO Station was opened in 2016 as part of an extension of the Richmond Hill Line, located 600 meters north of the original station site.

  • An early postcard of Gormley station from the south, showing the grain elevator across the tracks from the station. Courtesy of the Richmond Hill Archives.
  • Gormley Station in 1964, not long after abandonment judging by the smashed-in windows. Courtesy of the Al Paterson Collection.

Condensed Station Info:

Location:Served By:Current State:Date Built:Date Demolished:
Station RoadCanadian Northern (1906 – 1919)
Canadian National (1919 – 1960’s)		Demolished19061960’s