Winnipeg | Historical discussion

[esquire]

^ It was like that right up until the mid 80s when the tracks were removed.

As I understand it, the CN East Yards became expendable following a decline in passenger rail and associated activities (mail and express service) and newer facilities for freight, namely Symington Yards. After Symington Yards opened up the East Yards became functionally obsolete, and CN gradually closed them down.

CN attempted to launch a major redevelopment scheme for the East Yards (someone posted some information about that here within the last year or two), like major stuff with offices, hotels, an arena, etc., but Winnipeg was kind of in the doldrums in those years of the late 70s. So I suppose one thing led to another, and the focus became a park-type development instead which is what it is now, i.e. The Forks.

One of the big differences between The Forks and rail line relocation in general is that the East Yard was a relatively small chunk of land in a desirable area, right between downtown and where the rivers meet. By contrast, other rail yards like the CP Winnipeg Yards and Weston Shops are in relatively undesirable areas from a development standpoint.

And of course the major difference is that CN shut down the East Yards. It no longer had a use for that facility. The layers of government didn't have to pry those yards away from the railway the same way that it would all of the other operating CN and CP infrastructure in town.