Personal Work

Circa 1973: Railway Tracks Vanishing into the Sunset

This photograph captures a nostalgic view of downtown Toronto, Ontario, looking westward. The railway tracks stretch towards the horizon, seemingly disappearing into the golden embrace of the setting sun and the rapidly descending darkness.

At the time this image was made these tracks led to Toronto's bustling Union Station, the city's main passenger train terminal. The tracks still are there however, much has changed since I captured this moment in time.

The tracks, once prominent, are now mostly obscured by a forest of modern condos and office towers. The old buildings in the background have long since been demolished, replaced by towering skyscrapers that dominate the skyline.

The elements of this scene that I found the most interesting and what caused to me take the photo aren't the sunset or the tracks themselves, but rather those seven small red dots towards the center of the frame.

These dots are signal lights, an essential part of railway infrastructure, indicating whether a train can proceed, and at this moment, the answer is a resounding no. The lights, glowing softly in the fading daylight, add a touch of intrigue and mystery to the image, hinting at untold stories of the trains and passengers who have travelled these tracks since they were first laid in 1853.

Circa 1973: Railway Tracks Vanishing into the Sunset

This photograph captures a nostalgic view of downtown Toronto, Ontario, looking westward. The railway tracks stretch towards the horizon, seemingly disappearing into the golden embrace of the setting sun and the rapidly descending darkness.

At the time this image was made these tracks led to Toronto's bustling Union Station, the city's main passenger train terminal. The tracks still are there however, much has changed since I captured this moment in time.

The tracks, once prominent, are now mostly obscured by a forest of modern condos and office towers. The old buildings in the background have long since been demolished, replaced by towering skyscrapers that dominate the skyline.

The elements of this scene that I found the most interesting and what caused to me take the photo aren't the sunset or the tracks themselves, but rather those seven small red dots towards the center of the frame.

These dots are signal lights, an essential part of railway infrastructure, indicating whether a train can proceed, and at this moment, the answer is a resounding no. The lights, glowing softly in the fading daylight, add a touch of intrigue and mystery to the image, hinting at untold stories of the trains and passengers who have travelled these tracks since they were first laid in 1853.