Toronto Transportation Society

The Hamilton Street Railway celebrated its 150th anniversary on May 18, 2024. Two buses have received "retro" wraps as part of the celebrations. NovaBus LFS CNG #2206 has received the red/cream paint scheme that debuted with the 1951 CC&F trolley buses. New Flyer XN60 artic # 1822 has received the Yellow/Black Ticat double stripe scheme that debuted in the early 1980s with rebuilt E700A trolley buses and new GMC artics. Today, May 20, is one of a handful of $1.50 fare days that will occur throughout the year as seen in the destination sign of 2206. The retro buses are free all this week and will be rotated on routes throughout the system.

The Motor Bus Society held its 2024 Spring Convention in Toronto from April 18-21. The MBS had previously been in Toronto in 1977, 1984, 1992 and 2008. On Sunday, April 21, the group visited the TTC McNicoll garage where we were able to get a short ride around the garage on GMC New Look #2252. Jason Shron of Rapido Trains brought the Rapido New Look # 3380 to the garage as well. We were able to take the group photo in front of both of these buses.

The City of Mississauga celebrated its 50th anniversary of incorporation into a City on January 1, 2024. Mississauga Transit, even though taken over by the city in November 1973, is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Three issues of "Transfer Points" are being mailed to members (February, March, April 2024) with a three part feature article on the first 50 years of Mississauga Transit. In the attached photo, Mississauga Transit #2003 (GMC TDH-3502) is seen at the Wolfedale garage in March 1975. It was one of the buses from the fleet of the previous operator Charterways.

The Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation, a partner organization of the Toronto Transportation Society, just released the 2024 "Street Side Guide". It is the ultimate guide to transit fleets across Canada. Information for ordering (as well as back issues) is available at the CTHF store at: https://transitheritage.ca/shop/

The TTS was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Edward (Ted) A. Wickson. Ted was a longtime member of the Toronto Transportation Society and did many presentations at our monthly meetings. His slide and digital shows were always very well researched and interesting. Ted worked for the TTC for over 31 years and was the company photographer for many of those years. This gave Ted unprecedented access to TTC properties and Ted was always willing to share his photos. As a photographer, Ted was unmatched. His knack for composition made his photos spectacular and many have been published in "Transfer Points" over the years. Attached with this post are three photos, a TTC Mack on Spadina in May 1967, two PCCs at Keele Loop in October 1968 and TTC work cars RT-15 and RT-14 westbound on the eastbound track between Islington and Kipling subway stations. Ted's legacy will live on through the books that were published as well as his transportation postcards which were issued under JBC Visuals. Ted will be missed by all. Rest in Peace, Ted.

The Toronto Transportation Society visited the Halton County Radial Railway in Milton, ON on December 2, 2023. The TTS chartered MiWay #2346 for the trip to HCRR. The fan trip was in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the TTS, which held the first fan trip on December 16, 1973. The group photo was in front of ex-TTC Peter Witt #2894 which was appropriate as the origin of the Society goes back to the original five members riding TTC Witt #2766 during the summer of 1973.

The December monthly TTS meeting is tonight in room 310 at Metro Hall. Some of the Jan Gregor slide collection will be shown with plenty of Mississauga and TTC photos. The doors of Metro Hall will be locked so you will have to buzz security at the entrance to gain access. The TTS will try to station someone at the front door prior to the meeting to assist with access.

The TTS will be having a 50th anniversary fan trip on Saturday, December 2, 2023. The first TTS fan trip was December 16, 1973 aboard TTC Peter Witt streetcar # 2766. It was decided for the 50th to give our members the chance to ride a Peter Witt streetcar. The TTS will be visiting the Halton County Radial Railway to hopefully ride Peter Witt # 2894. We will be chartering a New Flyer XDE40 from MiWay to travel to/from HCRR. There is still space available for this fan trip and admission to HCRR is included in the fan trip fee. More details are available on the fan trips page at the TTS website at: www.torontotransportationsociety.ca

The TTS chartered TTC Orion VII #7979 last weekend during the Sunday of Transportation Weekend 2023. We took the bus to Scarborough and were hoping to get photos with the Scarborough RT in the background. It was not to be however, but we did manage to recreate a photo taking during our November 2011 "Farewell to the Fishbowl" weekend.

The Toronto Transportation Society held Transportation Weekend on September 2 and 3, 2023. This was the first time that the bi-annual event had been held since 2018. On the Saturday, the TTS chartered Toronto Bus Company 5201 for a tour of Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Brantford and Hamilton. The group photo is taken in front of Hamilton City Hall. On the Sunday, the TTS chartered TTC 7979, an Orion VII. We took the bus to Scarborough where the highlight was a quick drive through the McNicoll division and a chance to pose 7979 with GMC New Look 2252. The TTS will be celebrating their 50th anniversary of operating fan trips in December and we hope to operate one at that time. Details will be posted on Facebook once known.

The TTC has wrapped a number of their buses and streetcars with Black History themes for the month of February. Bus # 8422 is seen at Pape Station on February 11, 2023. Other vehicles with Black History wraps are 1305, 3287, 3354, 3407, 4426, 4597, 8688, 8883 and Wheel-Trans W547.

Oakville Transit started in September 1972 with the main transfer point at Church and Dunn in downtown Oakville. During the TTS Oakville charter yesterday, we posed NovaBus LFS # 1903, wrapped in an anniversary scheme at Dunn and Church. Bus # 1903 is posed just a little north of where Orion 1 # 8033 was photographed on June 25, 1981.

The Toronto Transportation Society held a Christmas Lights fan trip in Oakville yesterday on Saturday, December 17. It was the first Christmas Lights fan trip since 2016 in Guelph. Oakville Transit # 1903, NovaBus LFS was chartered. It has been wrapped in the original paint scheme in honour of the 50th anniversary of Oakville Transit. This photo was taken at the Christmas Light display at Navy and Lakeshore in downtown Oakville.

The Toronto Transportation Society held their first event since September 2019 recently on Saturday, August 27, 2022. This event was offered for members only as we expected a sell out due to the long time between events. Niagara Falls Transit # 2368, an Orion VII, was chartered for a tour of the Niagara Falls area. One of the photo stops (actually a drive by) was on Niagara Parkway with the American Falls in the background. The TTS has not decided whether or not there will be additional fan trips this year but it was nice to finally have an event.

The TTC is celebrating National Indigenous History Month by featuring the work of Indigenous artists on 8 buses and 2 streetcars. The campaign was launched June 21 and the vehicles will remain wrapped until September 30, according to their website. The streetcars are numbered 4422 and 4509. The known bus numbers are 1273, 3275, 3500, 8530, 8834 and 8863. There are two unknown numbers at this point. Photos of 3 of the buses and 1 streetcar are attached with this post. More information can be obtained from the TTC website at the link: https://www.ttc.ca/news/2022/June/TTC-celebrates-National-Indigenous-History-Month-by-showcasing-Indigenous-art

The National Capital Trolley Museum in Silver Spring, MD operates former TTC PCC streetcar # 4602. The class A-15 car, originally numbered 4537, was withdrawn from TTC service at the end of 1995. It was donated to Trolleyville in Ohio but then was purchased by the National Capital Museum when Trolleyville closed in 2005. Car # 4602 is seen today operating in Silver Springs, MD.

The Toronto Transit Commission is celebrating Black History Month by showcasing the work of 8 black artists on their streetcars and buses for the month of February. Two low floor streetcars (4417, 4486) and four buses (1004, 1006, 3605, 8850) have been wrapped. In the attached photo, TTC # 1006, an Orion VII Hybrid is seen on Jane Street, just north of Bloor today. The wraps are only scheduled to be on the vehicles for the month of February.

Our partner organization, the Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation, has released the 2022 edition of "The Street Side Guide". The Guide contains information on transit fleets across Canada, accurate to January 1, 2022. The new edition can be ordered from the link: https://transitheritage.ca/street-side-guide/

The January 2022 issue of "Transfer Points" contains more TTC memories from our members in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the TTC. Memories from Keith Littlewood, Tom Shepherd and Kevin Nicol are included. Tom Shepherd drove many types of vehicles for the TTC during his 30+ year work career. Included were the 1954 Bristol double-deck buses, numbered DD10 to DD12, that were operated by the TTC on sightseeing tours during the 1970s. TTC # DD12 is seen on Queen Street, west of Bay, on August 26, 1976. Paul Bateson photo.

Public demonstrations are becoming more and more common nowadays, but they are nothing new. In the December 2021 issue of "Transfer Points", mailed yesterday to members, Paul Bateson recalls a demonstration in Ottawa in November 1981. The demonstration was against high interest rates and high inflation and brought over 900 charter buses to Ottawa with protestors. Included in the charter buses that day was Gray Coach Lines #2213, an MCI MC7 seen in front of Ottawa City Hall on November 21, 1981. Paul Bateson photo.

The October and November issues of "Transfer Points" were mailed to members today. These issues continue with the TTC 100 memories and recollections of some of our members. William Sharpe, Ted Wickson and John Thompson, all of whom worked for the TTC for many years, share some of their experiences. William Sharpe reflects on the first bus he was trained on, a Gray Coach old look suburban with a manual transmission. The attached photo shows Gray Coach # 1656, a GMC TDM-4515, is seen on Edward Street on August 28, 1973. The photo is taken by long time TTS member, Paul Bateson.

The Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation (CTHF), a partner organization of the Toronto Transportation Society, worked with the TTC to produce a coffee table book on the 100th anniversary of the TTC. The book is for sale now on the CTHF website at the link: https://transitheritage.ca/product/a-century-of-moving-toronto-ttc-1921-2021/
The book is summarized by decade and covers the significant events over the last 100 years that have helped to create the TTC as we know it today. The TTS highly recommends this book for your personal transportation library.

The Toronto Transit Commission has applied partial wraps to at least 2 low floor LRVs (4462 and 4469) to celebrate their 100th anniversary. Three scenes on the side depict transit over the years. Car # 4469 is seen at Bathurst and College on September 14, 2021, Paul Bateson photo.

One of the most significant achievements of the Toronto Transit Commission during the first 100 years was the opening of the Yonge subway line in March 1954. The "G Trains", bought new for the line, were built by the Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Company of England. These cars would remain in service for over 35 years. With their comfortable seats, openable end windows and flickering lights, they have a feel all of their own. The attached photo was taken during the G Train TTS charter on September 30, 1990. The train is heading southbound on the Spadina Expressway right of way and the photo is taken by Rob Scrimgeour.

Perhaps the most iconic vehicle operated by the TTC over the past 100 years is the PCC streetcar. First introduced in 1938, a small amount lasted in regular service until 1996. Two PCC streetcars are still in the historic fleet. In the attached photo, air-electric PCC # 4239, class A-3, is seen at Humber Loop on September 16, 1963. In the background at left is a GMC TDH-4512 while a newer GMC TDH-4517, one of only 15 35' buses is seen to the right of the photo in the as delivered all red scheme. This photo was taken by Peter Cox and is part of the Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation collection.

The Toronto Transit Commission is celebrating it's 100th anniversary today. On September 1, 1921, the Toronto Transportation Commission (note the slight change in name versus the current version) took over operations from the various railway companies that preceded it. Over the next few days, the TTS will look at the various forms of transportation that TTC has operated over the years. The first new vehicles delivered to the TTC were Peter Witt streetcars starting in 1921 which would go on to service Toronto residents for approximately 40 years. In the attached photo, Peter Witt # 2824 is seen at the eastern entrance to the CNE on July 18, 1961. This is a Peter Cox photo, courtesy of the Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation collection.

The Toronto Coach Terminal serviced Toronto intercity and commuter customers for just under 90 years. It opened in December 1931 and the final day of revenue service was Saturday, July 3rd. Ontario Northland, the last coach company to use the terminal, operated trip # 799 to North Bay departing at 11:30 PM on Saturday evening. Bus # 5332, a Prevost X3-45, was the last official bus to depart the terminal on the trip to North Bay. Ontario Northland now operates out of the new Union Station Bus Terminal, effective July 4th.

The June/July issue of "Transfer Points" was mailed out this past weekend to TTS members. It provides an update on the numerous light rail projects currently underway in the greater Toronto area. In the attached photo, TTC # 8738, a NovaBus LFS, is seen alongside Eglinton LRT car # 6252 being unloaded at Eglinton and Rosemount on May 25, 2021. Thanks to Harold McMann for providing this photo.

The May issue of "Transfer Points" was mailed out over the weekend to TTS members. It deals with the opening of TTC's new garage, McNicoll. Included are before and after allocation sheets. In the attached photo, NovaBus LFS # 3289 is seen alongside GO Train engine # 612. The GO Stouffville line runs along the east side of the new garage. Thanks to Ferdinand Galitane for this great photo.

The April issue of "Transfer Points" is being mailed to members tonight. It deals with the 35th anniversary of CNG vehicles in Hamilton. Bus # 7727, a GMC T6H-5307N, the first bus converted, is seen on a road trip in the fall of 1987. To get the full story on the road trip, you will have to read the issue. This photo was taken by Bill Lupkoski.