Fres is correct.
They are indeed the abandoned stairs to the old CNE Train Station. They were built in 1911 at the same time as the Overhead (the bridge over the tracks). The stairs, the old platforms, the old pedestrian lighting are still in place.
They were probably taken out of service when they built the new CNE station, however, I think the the old location is the superior location since there is better access to the residents of Parkdale. Mind you, if you're living in Parkdale, you have TTC galore at your fingertips to go downtown.
The entire area is currently being "re-thunk" by the TTC and the City of Toronto as part of the new TTC initiative - "Transit City" where they are proposing to build a pile of dedicated Street car lines. Dufferin Street is very much up in the air. The local councilor (Joe Pantelone) is pushing hard for a dedicated street car line running from the Lakeshore in the CNE north along Dufferin, across the bridge and right up to Bloor Street. This would require the existing bridges across the Gardiner and tracks to be removed and replaced. (Hopefully with an amazing new cable stayed bridge - the new Dufferin Gate)
Part in parcel with the Transit City initiative is an Eglinton Dedicated Street Car. I personally think that this is silly. Eglinton needs a subway, not a street car. (As does Queen.) Unfortunately, the political will just isn't there (the feds and the province don't want to fund it and the city doesn't want to push for it.)
Here's the link to the current "Transit City" proposal if you are so interested in the future of transit in Toronto.
IMHO, a Dedicated Street car on Jane, Dufferin, Don Mills, etc. is all well and good, but we NEED SUBWAYS on Eglinton and Queen.
http://www.transitcity.ca/index.php?...d=16&Itemid=30
Here's another view of the old station.....
