Façade under a grey sky
Canadian Pacific Railway Freight Office

Canadian Pacific Railway Freight Office

Canadian Pacific Railway Freight Office

Trains and Grain

Montréal (Quebec), Canada

Hochelaga-Maisonneuve has been deeply marked by the train, in its development. Even today, it is surrounded by three tracks : the Canadian Pacific to the west, the now abandoned Canadian National to the east and the one of the port of Montreal to the south.

For the longest part of the 20th century, it was also bordered to the north by the «shop Angus», a vast industrial complex occupying 40 acres of land as well as the «Montreal Locomotive Works», a provider of the CPR, to the east, both now vanished.

The line of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) to the west of the district is the first railway to arrive in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. It was built in 1876 by ​​a company created by the Government of Quebec, Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Occidental Railway (QMO & O). It is at the end of the 19th century that the CPR Freight Office was built, along this track on Moreau Street.

This modest wooden building has been classified by the City of Montreal, in 2007, as «a building with interesting heritage». It is obviously far from the buildings of heritage and architectural interest, exceptional value and large institutional character of the district that must be tightly controlled, as to the construction, renovation and demolition such as the Olympic Stadium, the Maisonneuve Market, the Letourneux fire station and many churches.

This is not so much its architectural quality that gives value to the CPR Freight Office rather than the period of great industrial deployment of Montreal to which it refers and the vital role played by the railways in the economy.

Nevertheless, in 2013, the last occupant, a food wholesaler for livestock farm, pack up and silos were demolished. Early 2014, it was the turn of the CPR Freight Office to go under the wrecker's ball and there remains today no trace of this piece of history in the area.

Related content

The Belding Corticelli abandoned plant
Coaticook, Quebec (Canada)

It is in 2004 that the old factory Belding Corticelli has been shut down. Since then, it has been abandoned and floors has been waved at the mercy of weather that infiltrate by the roof and windows. Long time ago, there has been manufactured...

The Abandoned Aerodrome
Calzadilla de los Barros, (Spain)

Located a few kilometers from the municipality of Calzadilla de los Barros and its 850 inhabitants, the abandoned aerodrome dates from before the Spanish Civil War which took place from 1936 to 1939 with the victory of General Franco.

It...

The old abandoned cinema
Montréal, Quebec (Canada)

No, this movie theatre does not bear that name, but you will allow me this nod to Giuseppe Tornatore's film that chronicles the history of cinema from its beginnings to today. Since the place has not suffered the wrath of vandalism and because...

The pit - Photo: Jarold Dumouchel
Montréal, Quebec (Canada)

Built in 1954, the Dickson incinerator was, at the time, the most modern one in North America. It was built to replace these old incinerators where horses were used for harvesting waste.

In the 1920s, the city of Montreal was struggling...