Summary
The Canadian Northern Railway first arrived in the Don Valley in 1906 while construction was progressing south to Toronto, but a station wasn’t built in the area until construction began on another line running eastward to Ottawa in 1910. The new line split off the existing one at a junction east of Millwood Road. Originally called East Don Station, it was built in the middle of this junction exclusively as a means to transfer from one line to the other as its location was isolated from the surrounding neighbourhoods located high above the valley. The station used a standard design commonly employed by the Canadian Northern in rural areas across its system. The upper floor was used as the station agent’s living quarters, while the lower floor contained the waiting room, freight room, and the station agent’s office. The first train from Trenton arrived on October 9th, 1911, with service to Ottawa becoming available two years later in 1913.
Within a few years the station’s name was changed to Todmorden after the nearby community of Todmorden Village. By 1918, a total of ten trains stopped at Todmorden on a daily basis. Four of these ran to or from Parry Sound and beyond while six of these ran to or from Ottawa. Passenger service to Todmorden would not continue for much longer due to the poor financial situation of Canadian Northern at the time. It was nationalized in 1918 and informally managed by the newly-formed Canadian National from 1919 onward. After it was formally merged into Canadian National in 1923, its rival the Grand Trunk Railway was also nationalized and merged into it as a result of similar financial circumstances. The former Canadian Northern line running north from Toronto was kept in service as an important artery of transcontinental service, but to the east of Toronto it was deemed that the Grand Trunk route as far as Napanee was superior in a number of ways. Passenger service through to Ottawa remained until the line from Todmorden to Greenburn was abandoned in 1926, prompting the station to close as it could no longer serve its purpose. It was briefly saved from the wrecking ball and remained on location as a private residence for a few decades afterward.
The building was finally demolished around 1956 and the property has largely been reclaimed by nature, making the area inaccessible. The line to Parry Sound remains an important rail corridor for GO Transit and VIA Rail, while little trace remains of the line to Ottawa. However, concrete supports for a bridge that once crossed the Don River east of the station can still be found today.
A 1911 photograph of the station with the line to Ottawa shown under construction in the foreground, while the line to Parry Sound is obstructed by construction supplies off to the right. Photographer unknown. 
A 1955 photograph of the station after it was repurposed as a residence, showing the line to Parry Sound in the foreground. Courtesy of the Toronto Public Library. 
Another 1955 photo shows a Canadian National steam locomotive racing past the old station building. The fence and pair of lawn chairs out front indicate that this has long been private property. Courtesy of the Toronto Public Library.
Condensed Station Info:
| Location: | Served By: | Current State: | Year Built: | Year Demolished: |
| East of Leaside Bridge | Canadian Northern (1910 – 1919) Canadian National (1919 – 1926) | Demolished | 1910 | 1956 |