Possible Bayview Junction & Bruce Trail Visit

RobertInOntario

Active Member
I'm thinking of visiting Bayview Junction soon, possibly this weekend with my sons.

If I do go, I'll try to take some pix and post them later.

Does anyone know how easy it is to get to the Bruce Trail (or one of its sidetrails) from this area? I think the RBG and Bayview Junction are very close, at least to one of the BT side trails. It would be neat to fit a hike in as well. :smile:

Thanks,
Rob
 

doctorwayne

Active Member
Rob, I think the area of the RBG closest to the Bruce Trail is the Rock Chapel Sanctuary, which appears to be quite a distance from Bayview. For Bayview, you can park at the RBG Headquarters, on Plains Rd., in Burlington, or go a bit farther along Plains Rd. to the Laking Gardens. There's a pedestrian bridge near here over the mainline, and the lower end of it also affords some good photo opportunities. Alternately, you can turn left off Plains Rd. before you get to the Headquarters Building, onto Spring Garden Rd., and follow this road, which dips down to cross a Bailey Bridge below Laking Gardens. The bridge may be closed to vehicular traffic, but you don't need to cross it anyway. Continue along the road to your right, upgrade, where you'll reach a parking lot, which is at the bottom of the aforementioned pedestrian bridge.
To get to Bayview itself, you'll need to cross the Bailey Bridge, then walk up the road, under the overpass for the tracks. The entry road to Bayview will be on your right, although this area is private property and is well-signed. Be extremely careful in this area, as Bayview is the busiest railfanning spot in the country, and trains drifting through here can be very hard to hear until they're almost on top of you.
If you want to do some walking, there are lots of pathways through the various parts of the Gardens. The Rock Gardens are my favourite, and are within walking distance from Bayview. Simply continue up Valley Inn Road from Bayview: you'll come to York Blvd., and the Rock Gardens are across the street and to your right. There's also a tea house there.

Wayne
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Rob, I think the area of the RBG closest to the Bruce Trail is the Rock Chapel Sanctuary, which appears to be quite a distance from Bayview. For Bayview, you can park at the RBG Headquarters, on Plains Rd., in Burlington, or go a bit farther along Plains Rd. to the Laking Gardens. ... The Rock Gardens are my favourite, and are within walking distance from Bayview. Simply continue up Valley Inn Road from Bayview: you'll come to York Blvd., and the Rock Gardens are across the street and to your right. There's also a tea house there.
Wayne

Thanks, Wayne, this is really helpful. I was trying to sort this out over lunch hour via a couple of online maps.

For some bizarre reason, I've never gone to this area, yet it seems to encompass several of my interests -- hiking, nature & trains!

I'll see what we can do this weekend! I'm hoping the footbridge will be a safe viewing spot.

Rob
 

doctorwayne

Active Member
Rob, the footbridge is a generous width and all-concrete construction, so very safe and a good view along the tracks, especially towards Hamilton. From the lower parking lot, the tracks are in a bit of a cut, but you should still be able to get a good view. If you do hike to the Rock Gardens, there are more good photo opportunities from the bridges on York Blvd. Also, Dundurn Castle is only a mile or so along York Blvd, to the east. In my opinion, this whole area is one of the most attractive settings anywhere in which to watch trains.

Wayne
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Rob, the footbridge is a generous width and all-concrete construction, so very safe and a good view along the tracks, especially towards Hamilton. From the lower parking lot, the tracks are in a bit of a cut, but you should still be able to get a good view. If you do hike to the Rock Gardens, there are more good photo opportunities from the bridges on York Blvd. Also, Dundurn Castle is only a mile or so along York Blvd, to the east. In my opinion, this whole area is one of the most attractive settings anywhere in which to watch trains.
Wayne

Wow, I'm really looking forward to this so I'm going to try to go on Saturday. It sounds as if the footbridge is a good starting point, especially with kids. Thanks for these tips and I'll let you know what happens.
Rob
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Second thoughts?

A guy at an LHS just said that he visited Bayview Junction twice (both times on weekday for about 1-1/2 hours each time) and didn't see anything ....

So, I'm wondering if I should go another time because I'm going to be rushed tomorrow, but should be able to stay for 2 hours.

Just wondering, roughly how many trains one would normally see at Bayview Junction?

Thanks,
Rob
 

60103

Pooh Bah
Rob: on a weekend, there should be 6 passenger trains each way (2 of them for Niagara Falls) between 8:28 am and 9:00 pm (using the times for Aldershot station).
Probably a pile of freights as well.
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Rob: on a weekend, there should be 6 passenger trains each way (2 of them for Niagara Falls) between 8:28 am and 9:00 pm (using the times for Aldershot station).
Probably a pile of freights as well.

Great -- thanks, David ... I'm feeling more optimistic now! Take care, Rob
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
My son & I just got back from Bayview Junction -- it was great! Took lots of pics which I need to upload in the next day or so. We saw 6-7 freight trains in the first hour! I'll post some pics later on a new thread. Rob
 
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