Toronto Cement Company & Railroad Derailment Remains.

The Toronto Cement Company was built in the late 1920's by a business man whom promised locals jobs and prosperity for the area if they invested in his cement company. The company never made any cement and the building was abandoned shortly after being built due to it's poor construction. There is also a local legend surrounding the ‘Two Eyes' part of the structure (the chimney base) which is that in the 1980's a teenager hung themselves from one of the bars at the top of the structure. The trail surrounding the area is relatively new so I don't fully believe this, likely just local folklore trying to make something more interesting. (You know because it's abandoned it MUST be haunted. LOL) 

The plaque says: ‘Looking from the north side of the CN tracks to the east this is what the Toronto Cement plant looked like in 1931. The hexagonal stack at the left of the image was a flue for the two rotary cement kilns that were supported by the Two Eyes structure. But the plant never produced an ounce of cement and was abandoned to demolition and decay. All that remains today are the poorly constructed building foundations - and the enigmatic Two Eyes. 

If you continue down the trail further there are remains of a legendary railway disaster. In the early morning hours of February 14th 1984 the substantial rains from the night before partially washed out the rail bed causing the CN train carrying 21 car some of which carrying propane to derail, wiping out a half mile of track and $1,000,000 worth of damage. You can see various pieces of the wreck still poking out of the ground. 

The plaque says: ‘ Icons from a past tragedy. Along this section of the railway embankment you can see the remains of a very serious CN freight train derailment that happened on the cold, stormy night of February 14th 1984. Look carefully at the slope for a damaged rail car air-brake cylinder and suspension parts. Heavy rains falling on frozen ground caused a washout of the ballast supporting the south track. The unsupported rail broken under the weight of the train and sent many of the freight cars careening into the then flooded Thames River. Drainage improvements now ensure this busy route remains safe and secure, no matter what the weather.’