directionstoronto

Union Station
The station is located downtown, on Front Street between Bay and York Streets.

From points east - follow Hwy #401 westbound to the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) southbound. Follow the DVP to the Gardiner Expressway westbound to the York Street exit. Proceed north on York Street to Front Street. Turn right, the station will be on your right.

From points north - follow Hwy. #400 south to Hwy. #401 westbound to Hwy. #427 southbound. Follow Hwy. #427 to the Queen Elizabeth Way/Gardiner Expressway. Follow the Gardiner Expressway eastbound to the York Street exit. Follow the instructions in bold italics above.
NOTE: This may seem like a roundabout route if you're looking at a road map, but it would be the quickest and avoids any unnecessary travel on city streets.

From points west (London, Windsor, Sarnia) - Follow Hwy #401 eastbound to Hwy #427 southbound. Follow Hwy #427 to the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW)/Gardiner Expressway. Follow the Gardiner Expressway eastbound to the York Street exit. Follow the instructions in bold italics above.

From points west (Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Hamilton) - Follow the QEW eastbound to the York Street exit. Follow the instructions in bold italics above.

From points south - Forget it...you'll have to swim across Lake Ontario first!!

Follow the instructions for Union Station above regarding accessing the Gardiner Expressway. Follow the Gardiner Expressway to the Spadina Avenue exit. Do NOT turn onto Spadina, but follow Lakeshore Road eastbound to Rees Street, turn left. Follow Rees St. to Bremner Blvd., turn right. Roundhouse Park will be on your right.

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CN's MacMillan Yard
The yard is located on Regional Road #7 (formerly Provincial Hwy #7) approximately ten minutes east of Hwy #400 in the suburb of Woodbridge.

From points east - follow Hwy #401 westbound to Hwy #400 north. Follow Hwy #400 to the Highway #7 exit. Follow Hwy #7 east for approximately ten minutes (look for the Pinecrest Restaurant on your right). The first bridge after the restaurant crosses over the yard's north entrance. If you're polite to the restaurant staff (and perhaps promise to have a meal there afterwards - good eats, btw!) they may let you park in their lot. But don't just assume - ASK!

From points west - follow Hwy #401 eastbound to Hwy #400 north. Follow the instructions in italics and bold italics above.

From points north - follow Hwy #400 southbound to Regional Road #7 (formerly Provincial Hwy #7). Follow the instructions in bold italics above.

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CP's Toronto Yard
This yard is located in Scarborough, a suburb on the east side of the city.
It is within the basic city block of McGowan Road (west), Finch Avenue (north), Markham Road (east) and Sheppard Avenue (south).

From all points - follow Hwy #401 to the McGowan Road exit (exit #381).
Follow McGowan Road North (you should see the yard on your right as you cross over the entrance tracks) to Middlefield Road, turn right. The yard will be on your right.

Update
On July 15, 2012 I finally paid a visit to the yard. The Finch Avenue bridge crossing over the north entrance offers the best viewing location.
Unfortunately, photographers will have to compensate for shooting into the sun.

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VIA's Mimico Yard & GO Transit's Willowbrook Yard
The best viewing location is on the Islington Avenue bridge overlooking the yards. VIA to the east, GO Transit to the west.

From all points - follow Hwy. #401 to Islington Avenue.
Follow Islington Avenue South to Judson Street, turn left. I've parked on the first sidestreet (Ourland Avenue) on the left, beside the community park.

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SOME DRIVING TIPS

These directions are the easiest to follow routes to the locations listed. I have tried very hard to explain these routes in a simple and straightforward manner. BUT, the author cannot be held responsible if the traveller gets lost, either by their own routes or by using these directions. Those familiar to the city may be aware of other lesser-known but more direct routes - of course, feel free to use them instead.
Most highways leading into the city are busy, especially during the morning (6 am - 9 am) and afternoon (3:30 pm - 6 pm) rush hours. It is best to plan your arrival and/or departure to avoid these times. During the summer, holiday weekends can be even worse, depending on your direction of travel. Entering the city at the beginning of the weekend should be fine, as should be departing the city at the end of the weekend.

Major Provincial Highways leading into or through the city are:

Highway #401 (The MacDonald-Cartier Freeway) from points east and west.
Highway #407 (The Express Toll Route, or ETR) from points east (Pickering) and west (Burlington).
     NOTE: This is an electronic toll highway, meaning you have to pay to use it.
                The vehicle's license plate will be photographed at each entrance and exit used and a usage charge will be billed to the registered owner of the license plate.
Highway #403 from points west (Woodstock, Brantford).
The Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) from points west (Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Hamilton).
     NOTE: Because the QEW does a complete change of direction around the western end of Lake Ontario, routes are not marked as 'QEW East' or 'QEW West', but rather '                QEW Toronto (or Hamilton or Niagara Falls)' or 'QEW Fort Erie (or Hamilton or Niagara Falls).
     NOTE: The QEW and Hwy #403 are combined between Burlington and Oakville.
     NOTE: The QEW changes into the Gardiner Expressway as you enter the city.
The Gardiner Expressway (within the city limits) from points east and west - this is the most direct route into downtown Toronto.
The Don Valley Parkway (DVP) from points north-east.
Highway #400 from points north.
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To access the city from Pearson International Airport - Dixon Road south to Hwy #409 south to Hwy #427 south to either Hwy #401 eastbound or the Gardiner Expressway eastbound.