Walking the Hanley Spur, er, Urban K&P Trail

Before the City of Kingston's Urban K&P Trail was officially opened, we parked at Douglas Fluhrer Park and headed up the trail in spring, 2017. Though it wasn't on this walk, but a future walk in summer 2018, it was at this spot that I had the blinding realization that I had to model the Hanley Spur on my basement layout. There was a pretty powerful sense of living history as we walked. The Imperial Oil warehouse at North Street:

As we walked along the shore of the Inner Harbour, we got away from the former roadbed, but nearer to the remains of wooden ships still visible on the harbour bed!

While I decried the lack of proper signage, I needed to have some patience. The signage now in place is really good! From the waterside, the mill looks as good or better than it may have in its working days. And the site of some pretty nice dinners for the two of us, at the River Mill restaurant!

One of the few vestiges of the area's industrial heritage is this truck-loading superstructure that formerly served the Rosen Fuels tank farm. The Woolen Mill is visible in background as we approach Rideau Street.

Both CN and CP lines were parallel here. The spur to the C E McPherson plant (the plant is visible at middle left) would have diverged here. The city has done a nice job of planting trees and bushes along the trail here.

Where Rideau meets Montreal, we approach Quattrocchi's. The trail is obviously not complete here, but one still takes one's life in one's hands to cross Montreal Street here, and Division Street farther along!

Imagine produce-bearing house cars being spotted here:

I believe that this spot marks the crossing of K&P and the Grand Trunk lines. A short stretch of track was preserved, but I didn't see it on our next walk! Looking north:

And looking south. The Outer Station would have been straight ahead. Imagine a double-track mainline here!

We stopped around Counter Street. On our next walk, we made it to the northwest part of the Division Street and John Counter Boulevard intersection. From there, the trail is not too photogenic, following the original K&P alignment diverging from the CN and heading toward Sydenham Road. From the Binnington Court trail access, it is a nice, rural stroll up to the Highway 401.

Of course, I'd much rather see photos of the Hanley Spur in its heyday, but it's good to know we can still walk where once the mighty limiteds trod!

Bonus! The City of Kingston provides this video view of the Urban K&P Trail.