RIDE THE ROCKET

Ghosts of Toronto's Past | Carys Owen
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It’s that time of year again. The malls are packed with eager people looking to engage in gratuitous gift-buying and stare at a giant reindeer. However, this is also a time where people look towards the new year. This year in particular we will see a new decade, the roaring 20’s. If I’m honest, the upcoming decade will probably contain further grim news reports and general signs of future dystopia, but let’s try to ignore that for the time being. Planning for the new year and refreshing oneself is a part of the holidays I actually look forward to. Out with the old and in with the new.

City of Toronto Archives, Series 71, Item 6086.

This is also the mentality of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) as this year we said goodbye to most of our old streetcars. With more and more streetcars leaving us each year, according to the TTC’s decommission schedule, 2019 has seen a total of 113 Canadian Light Rail Vehicle (CLRV) and 15 Articulated Light Rail Vehicle (ALRV) streetcars disappear. This will essentially leave Toronto with only the newer Flexity Outlook streetcar models. The crusty, change-resistant, old man in me shakes his cane at all this new stuff because the classic cherry red streetcar has become a symbol of Toronto over the years. But, since we have no choice in the matter, we might as well take a look on the history of the streetcar in Toronto.

City of Toronto Archives, Series 71, Item 11134

The history of Toronto’s streetcar actually begins with a horse. In order to combat the overcrowded Williams Omnibus Buses, in 1861 Toronto Civic Railways (TCR) issued a horse-drawn street railway that originally traveled from Yorkville Town Hall to St. Lawrence Market. In 1982, the streetcar began to modernize as the first electric streetcar was used to transport around 167,000 Torontonians. The following years contained a growing Toronto population that was accommodated with a larger and larger streetcar network.

City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 43.

It wasn’t until 1921 that the TTC was born. Originally the commission combined the cars from the TCR along with two models of Peter Witt streetcars. Following the Second World War, the TTC debut the PCC red rocket cars in 1938. These cars were different from the Witt versions as they paid attention to passenger experience and comfort. They came equipped with heightened cushions, spacious seats and rubber springs to minimize noises and vibrations. 

City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 598, Item 24

The old cherry red Toronto streetcars that we know today weren’t introduced until the 70’s. The Canadian Light Rail Vehicle with a round front arrived from Switzerland on December 29, 1977. However, we were nearly denied the pleasure of riding the CLRV streetcar. By the mid 60’s, the TTC planned to eliminate streetcars by 1980 (turns out the TTC has a long history of failed planning). To their credit, the city did get rid of many streetcars following the opening of the subway in 1954, but Toronto transit advocates recognized the benefits of the streetcar and urged the city to reconsider. Spoiler alter, they did reconsider and the city still relies on streetcars today.

City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 597, Item 49

Since 2013, the TTC has introduced 204 Bombardier Transportation Flexibility Outlook model streetcars that include several new features such as bicycle storage areas and curb level access. As we say goodbye to 2019, we also apparently say goodbye to more than one transit tradition. Starting in November 2019 we also said goodbye to the sale of TTC tickets, tokens and passes in favour of PRESTO cards. But, chin up soldier, it’s not all bad. While the old streetcars are red bundles of nostalgia, they are also inaccessible, non- air conditioned and rather unreliable. Nothing lasts forever, and not all change is bad.

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