Clare and I went to Toronto on the 19th and 20th of July. We drove, arriving at the Hotel Victoria on Yonge Street between King and Wellington on Sunday evening. Since we were not going to use the car until our departure on Wednesday, July 21, we left it in a municipal garage on Front Street, east of Union Station only a few blocks from our hotel, at a surprisingly good $15 for 24 hours rate. The Victoria is a full service hotel, but can also be characterized as a budget lodging, due to its low rates for some smaller rooms. In that sense it is similar to the nearby Strathcona, which I can also recommend.
While Clare was visiting with a long-time friend from college during daytime hours, I rode and photographed trains and streetcars. On the second day John Thompson of nearby Hamilton joined me on these railfan pursuits. Both days had clear weather from dawn 'til about 2 p.m., when cumulus clouds began to roll in, so after that time it was catch as catch can regarding sun shining on the scenes I photographed. Clare and I spent the evenings together, having dinner and visiting with her friend, who began a successful career as a novelist at the age of 70 (list of books on request).
This report is split into 4 parts, based on subject matter, not the chronology of my activities. I should mention that I used scratch-off TTC day-passes for traveling on both days ($11.50 each), which I purchased at Yonge Street subway stations. Clare used paper senior tickets, costing $2.00 each.
Part 1 deals with the DMU express service inaugurated this past June 6 between Union Station and Pearson Airport, Toronto’s main c
One of the main reasons I wanted to visit Toronto was to see and ride the Toronto Transit Commission’s new 100-percent low-floor streetcars. These 5-section articulated cars are being built by Bombardier and it was said that eight to ten of them were on the property by the middle of July. Indeed, I saw eight of these units on my two days of exploring the TTC’s streetcar system.
It turned out that my visit was during the Pan-American Games and the TTC’s network was adjusted to ramp up service to the events, many of which were being held at the Exhibition. As a result frequencies on the 511-Bathurst and 509-Harbourfront lines, which terminate at that locale, were boosted at the expense of other streetcar routes. For example, the 510-Spadina line was modified to operate only between Bloor Street and Queen’s Quay to prevent congestion in the trolley subway that runs from Queens Quay to Union Station, which during my stay was being used exclusively by the Harbourfront line. Similarly, to make more streetcars available to serve the Exhibition, the 502-Downtowner was operated as a bus line, and the 504-King Street route used buses for tripper service between Parliament and Dufferin Streets. It looked like every other Spadina car was a short turn from Bloor to King Street. (I think I have this correctly; it is mostly based on my observations.)
Nevertheless, the new cars were operating on the Spadina, Harbourfront and Bathurst lines, mixed in with regular CLRV and ALRV units (the ALRVs only on Bathurst of the three routes). The excellent, very frequent service operated on Spadina had alternate cars turning back at King.
The single-ended bright red “Flexity Outlook” cars are part of an order for 204 such units and the first appeared on Toronto streets during t
When I post using the past button on my computer, I do see the photographs. When I try to pull them up later, on this thread. I have the same problem.
I think a revision of the website for direct posting of jpg photos is long overdue. The present arrangement certainly does mean a hardship for those of us that lack time to find a website, then post photos, and then transfer them here. Anyway, here is Jack’s third installment.
In part 2 I wrote about my dislike of knee-to-knee seating for a single-ended car. In response I received a comment by Wally Young’s friend, John Day. He indicated that the backward facing seats might be required because the LRV’s wheels intrude into the cars’ interior. With John Thompson’s help I inquired of the TTC, and this was the response.
Hi John and Jack,
The quad seats are sitting atop wheel wells that are protruding into the saloons. The suspension system is also housed within the same space envelop. This allows the aisle floor to positioned inches above the axle for 100% low floor throughout the car (albeit with shallow ramps at transition points).
This is the conclusion of my Toronto trip report, and as mentioned in Part 4, covers additional items of rail interest that I was unable to see or photograph on my recent trip.
A stainless steel train on the Bloor-Danforth line (now route 2) is shown heading west approaching Old Mill station. The new Rocket cars shown in Part 3 run only on the Yonge-University-Spadina line (route 1). It seems like yesterday, but it was 1968 when this subway line was extended to Islington, concomitant with the abandonment of the last streetcar operations on Bloor Street and Danforth Avenue (PCC shuttles). Jane Bloor lived a fine and productive life though, and will always be remembered by those in our fraternity.
Two CLRVs on Dundas, crossing Spadina in the heart of Toronto’s traditional Chinatown. The photo was taken from an outdoor terrace adjacent to a fourth-
May I have your regular email address or can you email me at daveklepper@yahoo. I wish to suggest something to you privately that can benefit this and other threads.
Note that Bombardier deliveries of Flecity streetcars continues to be very slow this Fall. Last week Toronto again threatened a review of the contract, and to charge the manufacturer for extra charges in keeping the CLRV and ALRV cars running longer. Because of the very tight turns, low floors, trolley pole operation and single point switches, it is/was difficult to find other manufacturers who are willing to build and warranty compliant vehicles. (Note TTC still has a couple of operating PCC cars and even one Peter Witt car which they can bring out for special events and excursions). The LRT versions should be easier to build as they deal with more conventional tracks, switches, pantographs and normal switches. Note that the nearby Kitchener/Waterloo street-running LRT system under construction for 2017 will use the same LRT equipment. As will the expected Hamilton system. Ottawa LRT (subway in the core) will use Alstom Citadis cars.