The Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway was incorporated in 1883 as part of the federal government's promise to provide rail service to British Columbia. Engine maintenance for the rail line began at a small, one-stall shed in Victoria West, with operations transferring to the Wellington terminus in 1898, when the northern station was completed. This expansion was designed to take advantage of rail and water transportation links within Victoria s Inner Harbour. The locomotive house has 10 stalls, with locomotive pits and one drop pit. The machine shop abuts to the back of the end stall and contains two locomotive pits and one drop pit, similar to the locomotive house.
Lighting is provided by three large skylights on the roof, together with large sidelights.
A blacksmith and boiler shop is a continuation of the machine shop. The engine and boiler room are located in the angle between the machine shop and the locomotive house. The site also includes a car shop and stores building. Until the mid-1900s, Canadian Pacific operated about 20 steam locomotives, all of which were serviced at the Russell s Roundhouse. In the late-1940s, the Vancouver Island operations underwent significant technological change.