Layout Tour #6: The Don Valley

 The last part of Toronto on the layout, the eastern-most part, is the Don Valley.  In the Don Valley section of the layout is GO Transit's Don Yard.  This is a new (new for 2006) layover yard where GO commuter trains wait until they are needed for the morning and evening rush hour schedule.  

Next to Don Yard is the spur track heading to the Toronto Portlands.  If I had more space on my layout, I would have built the Toronto Portlands.  Since it wouldn't fit, I have this spur to house a couple chemical tank cars that are needed at the Ashbridge Sewage Treatment Plant.

On the other end of GO's Don Yard is the Don Valley Parkway. (DVP).  Scenery-wise, this is my favorite section of the layout.  The DVP follows the Don River deep into the valley as the highway makes its way to Highway 401.  The DVP is one of the primary routes to get from the suburbs into Downtown Toronto.  On the other side of the river is the Lower Don Recreation Trail.  If you look down the river, you'll see one of the bridges the trail uses to cross the water.  The scene includes the arched Gerrard Street overpass.  To the right of the overpass is a hydro substation.  The backdrop in this part of the layout is an actual image of the DVP and Don Valley.