Royal York Hotel

[wanswheel]

   

   

[Deggesty]

The Royal York is a fine hotel. My wife and I have stayed there three times. The first time, our reservation had been lost by the hotel's system, but they did have a room for us. We stayed there again on the same trip--and having discovered that it was their mistake, the hotel management upgraded our room to one of the best.

The passage between the hotel and the railway station, going under the street, is convenient in bad weather.

We also stayed at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, but could not use such a passage since the station had been moved from across the street to an outlying location in town.

The Queen Elizabeth's location, in Montreal is the best--over Central Station.

When we arrived in Halifax, my wife wondered how we would get to the hotel--I told her to "walk this way"--and we were in the lobby of the Nova Scotian.

[Miningman]

Sadly no longer owned by Canadian Pacific Railway. it is now a Fairmont Hotel. She is a grand lady though. Spent many a night and day there, always was there for many years for the annual Prospectors and Developers Convention which was always at the Royal York until moved to the Metro Convemtion Centre. The "Grand Ball" and presentation of awards are still held there though and most convention goers from all over the world in mining stay there. 

Arriving by train at Toronto Union Station one could walk from inside the station through the underground tunnel right into the lobby of the Royal York thus avoiding the winter weather, or rain, or traffic. 

When I was based in downtown Toronto in the 70's for an exploration company I would frequently walk over the Royal York main lobby and sit in the big leather chairs and couches ( chesterfield's please), had a coffee and a smoke and it always seemed as if I had the place to myself. Amazing. 

[wanswheel]

It's kind of neat CN built a Tower near their rival’s former tallest building in Canada.

https://www.ieee.ca/millennium/cntower/CN_Tower.pdf

[NorthWest]

wanswheel, I love these old building threads. The older stone construction gives an air of strength and permenance that frail-looking modern construction just doesn't. Thanks.

[MidlandMike]

When I checked out of the Royal York, the bellman pushed my bags in a cart across the busy street to the station.  It was a nice day, and I guess that was easier than going down one elevator and up another.

[BaltACD]

NorthWest

wanswheel, I love these old building threads. The older stone construction gives an air of strength and permenance that frail-looking modern construction just doesn't. Thanks.

My company's former headquarters were in a building that was constructed in 1904 after the previous HQ building was destroyed by fire.  When computerization came in the 60's & 70's the Main Frame Computers were placed on the 11th & 12th floors of the building.  In the early 80's it was decided to move the company HQ to a building a block away that was constructed in the 60's - when it came time to think about moving the Main Frame Computers it was discovered that the only places they could be in the new building was the Main Lobby or the sub-basement - they had too heavy of a foot print to be on any other floor.  Yes old building were solidly constructed - constructed for much heavier loads than were ever envisioned at the time of their design.

[daveklepper]

On my business trips to Montreal the convenience of the Queen Elixabeth directly above Central Station, since arrival and departure was usuallyi on the Monteraller/Washingtonian, meant that I never tried the Royal York, which I could have done, since I did use the Central-D&H Montreal Limited and the Laurentian, today the Amtrak Adarandak (Sp?).  Really, a missed opportunity.

[Deggesty]

But, Dave, the Royal York is several miles removed from the Queen Elizabeth--it is in Toronto.

Incidentally, in French the "Queen Elizabeth" is a masculine noun since it is a hotel.

[wanswheel]

http://www.morphotoarchive.org/rvndb/rvnjpeg_img_rec.php?objno=RVN09897

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZCYKQAPGCc&t=1m47s

[RME]

BaltACD

My company's former headquarters were in a building that was constructed in 1904 after the previous HQ building was destroyed by fire. When computerization came in the 60's & 70's the Main Frame Computers were placed on the 11th & 12th floors of the building.

I thought the computerization started with the DATAmatic system in 1958.  What are the subsequent details of expansion, and what machines were being used by the '80s?

Early railroad data automation and computing can be fascinating, and is very often lost in the 'cracks' between railfanning and historical computer geekdom.

[northeaster]

Absolutely love the Royal York Hotel. We have taken the Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver almost every winter for about 13 years and stay there after our Amtrak/VIA Maple Leaf arrives across the street at the heavily renovated Union Station. Apparently the hotel's kitchen is regarded as the biggest and most able to produce top meals for large numbers of convention/conference guests in Toronto and from our experience, the main restaurant does create wonderful meals from breakfast to dinner. Too bad the art gallery which featured Inuiet art has been forced out by the need for "spa features" to maintain the hotels luxury status. Great place to stay in a grand city.

[Miningman]

Sent from Mike: Some interesting historic views of a changing skyline with the Royal York the star. 

Now the CN tower is built on CN lands of course. The CNR roundhouse is where the Blue Jays outfield and the attached hotel now are. Mike also points out that the CN Tower is what gives Toronto it's international status. In turn I would say "well they could have put it a couple of hundred feet away". Saved the roundhouse and fill it full of all those steamers that were still stored away and become famous for both!

Oh well we still have the CPR roundhouse

Also as you can see outsiders didn't call Toronto the 'big smoke' for nothing!