Sunday, August 10, 2025 @ 10:30-11 am
The Burlington Grand Trunk Railway Station, known as Freeman Station, was built to replace the original two-storey station that burned down in 1904. Until its 1988 closure, Freeman Station was still transporting passengers and freight. Now a museum, it was restored and is managed by the Friends of Freeman Station.
It’s easy to miss the Freeman Station, tucked in next to a fire station and below a burn. It also seems a bit out of place, with the railroad a good distance from the station proper, almost as if the line itself was moved. But in reality, the station itself has been moved from its original station like so many before. And despite its look, Burlington Junction, as it was officially called, was once a hub of railroad activity in Burlington.
In 1904 the old station burned down. Having no choice, Grand Trunk, who probably would have replaced the station, eventually completed a new station in 1906, renaming the stop to Burlington Junction. The new station followed the popular Queen Anne Revival and Picturesque style and was constructed of wood in a board and batten style with a limestone foundation. Larger than other stations due to it being a junction, the station was only a single-storey. There is a single general waiting room and a large freight and baggage office. A station master’s office, ticket window and telegrapher bay. Like other stations of the era, it was painting in a typical green, mauve, and grey colour scheme. While passenger service remained popular, the proximity to Biggs Fruit, Alymer Canning, and Tip Top Cannery ensured that freight remained a major driver of train traffic. Volumes stayed high throughout the Grand Trunk years and well into Canadian National operations starting in 1923. Even through the depression years and into the war years, the station continued to operate. In the mid-century, Canadian National repainted the station a typical railroad red. GO Transit reached a sharing agreement with Canadian National in 1967 to allow its passengers to use the station during morning and evening rush hours. Passenger service continued under VIA rail in 1977 while Canadian National continued to use the station for freight operations. Operations out of the old Burlington Junction station continued until 1988; GO has opened a new station in 1982 and VIA in 1988. Canadian National had also ceased use of the station as much of the freight traffic from Burlington had ceased.
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This cache belongs to the SideTracked series. Events which are held especially in celebration of the SideTracked Series can only be held on SideTracked Day. This is held and celebrated on August 10 each year which commemorates the placement of the first SideTracked cache.