Orion V 9441 Posted June 21, 2014 Share #1 Posted June 21, 2014 Today, after around 28 years of service, the TTC's oldest broad gauge subway cars, the H6s, were retired. Today, a set made up of 5858-5859-5908-5909-5899-5898 (ex-5921) operate as an extra service, pulling out from Greenwood Yard at approximately 10 AM, going east to Kennedy, and doing a round trip to Kipling. Unlike the retirements of the H4s and H5s over the past two years, the H6 set sent out was decorated with many posters publicizing that this was the final run of the H6 series, like this: Toronto Transit Commission H6 Farewell Poster by Orion V, on Flickr Additionally, two posters were put at the two ends of the train over the railfan window, denying many people the ability to take video of the ride looking out the front. The MTA should think about that when the R32s and R42s are retired. Here are my photos of the train on its last day of service: Greenwood Station: Toronto Transit Commission 5858 on Line 2 by Orion V, on Flickr 5858 interior and cab photos: Toronto Transit Commission 5858 interior by Orion V, on Flickr Toronto Transit Commission 5858 Cab by Orion V, on Flickr Kennedy Station, before the round trip: Toronto Transit Commission 5858 on Line 2 by Orion V, on Flickr Kipling Station: Toronto Transit Commission 5858 on Line 2 by Orion V, on Flickr Toronto Transit Commission 5859 on Line 2 by Orion V, on Flickr Toronto Transit Commission 5908 on Line 2 by Orion V, on Flickr Toronto Transit Commission 5909 on Line 2 by Orion V, on Flickr Toronto Transit Commission 5899 on Line 2 by Orion V, on Flickr Toronto Transit Commission 5898 on Line 2 by Orion V, on Flickr 5898's number plate, with the numbers for 5921 underneath: Toronto Transit Commission 5898 number plate by Orion V, on Flickr Kennedy Station, as the train is about to go out of service: Toronto Transit Commission 5858 on Line 2 by Orion V, on Flickr Toronto Transit Commission 5858 on Line 2 by Orion V, on Flickr I hope that you all enjoyed these photos of the last ride on the H6 cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttcsubwayfan Posted June 21, 2014 Share #2 Posted June 21, 2014 Great shots! Man, I wish I could have gone. The MTA had the right idea when they ran the last R40 slant train all day. And out of all the things I could have been doing, I was stuck in a math exam Goodbye, old friends! Will always remember the better days as a kid, riding between Kennedy and downtown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missabassie Posted June 21, 2014 Share #3 Posted June 21, 2014 Yes, nice work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minato ku Posted June 21, 2014 Share #4 Posted June 21, 2014 1986, the train is not so old. In Paris, we still have trains from the 1960's in service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttcsubwayfan Posted June 21, 2014 Share #5 Posted June 21, 2014 1986, the train is not so old. In Paris, we still have trains from the 1960's in service. The other H-series cars retired in the last few years (H4, H5) managed to last 35-37 years in service. The reason for the early retirement of the H6s is that they were pretty lemonish when they were first introduced, and they never really got much better. The kicker here is that originally they were supposed to be very similar to the H5s - which had a lot of structural problems but weren't *that* shitty components wise. But then they decided to swap out a lot of parts in the name of adding more Canadian content to the order, and the rest is history. I don't know much, but I reckon the H6s would still be kicking around if they were more like the H5s. Garbage or not, though, they left an indelible mark on a future transit fan all those years ago, and I'll miss them, even though I strongly doubt anyone who maintained the cars feels the same way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theaveragejoe Posted June 22, 2014 Share #6 Posted June 22, 2014 The other H-series cars retired in the last few years (H4, H5) managed to last 35-37 years in service. The reason for the early retirement of the H6s is that they were pretty lemonish when they were first introduced, and they never really got much better. The kicker here is that originally they were supposed to be very similar to the H5s - which had a lot of structural problems but weren't *that* shitty components wise. But then they decided to swap out a lot of parts in the name of adding more Canadian content to the order, and the rest is history. I don't know much, but I reckon the H6s would still be kicking around if they were more like the H5s. Garbage or not, though, they left an indelible mark on a future transit fan all those years ago, and I'll miss them, even though I strongly doubt anyone who maintained the cars feels the same way. No the reason why the H6's are gone now is cause they got funding for the options on the TR order to replace the H6 fleet earlier then they were gonna do. Since they took the options they saved money by replacing the H6's now then waiting a few more years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttcsubwayfan Posted June 22, 2014 Share #7 Posted June 22, 2014 No the reason why the H6's are gone now is cause they got funding for the options on the TR order to replace the H6 fleet earlier then they were gonna do. Since they took the options they saved money by replacing the H6's now then waiting a few more years. Yes, they took the options to replace the fleet earlier, but who's to say they would have been inclined to do so if the H6s didn't suck so much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theaveragejoe Posted June 22, 2014 Share #8 Posted June 22, 2014 Yes, they took the options to replace the fleet earlier, but who's to say they would have been inclined to do so if the H6s didn't suck so much? They only took them cause they were able to get the funding to do so other wise they would have been forced to keep the H6's longer. But im glad they did get the funding as a taxpayer i'm saving money in the long run so im happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Union Tpke Posted June 24, 2014 Share #9 Posted June 24, 2014 Great coverage of their last day of service! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttcsubwayfan Posted June 24, 2014 Share #10 Posted June 24, 2014 They only took them cause they were able to get the funding to do so other wise they would have been forced to keep the H6's longer. I don't know. Something leads me to doubt that Friday would have been their last day if they weren't lemons - they might have been less inclined to want to replace at least the youngest ones in the fleet so early on, if they weren't troublesome. Who's to say that they would have been inclined to try to get the funding at all? The fact that they were so problematic means that replacing them when they did was a clear choice, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailBus63 Posted June 25, 2014 Share #11 Posted June 25, 2014 I don't know. Something leads me to doubt that Friday would have been their last day if they weren't lemons - they might have been less inclined to want to replace at least the youngest ones in the fleet so early on, if they weren't troublesome. Who's to say that they would have been inclined to try to get the funding at all? The fact that they were so problematic means that replacing them when they did was a clear choice, though. You're over-thinking it, IMO. Plenty of transit agencies have retired perfectly good vehicles if they manage to get funding to buy new vehicles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theaveragejoe Posted June 30, 2014 Share #12 Posted June 30, 2014 I don't know. Something leads me to doubt that Friday would have been their last day if they weren't lemons - they might have been less inclined to want to replace at least the youngest ones in the fleet so early on, if they weren't troublesome. Who's to say that they would have been inclined to try to get the funding at all? The fact that they were so problematic means that replacing them when they did was a clear choice, though. Again reason why they pushed the funding as they saved big time if the tagged on the Rocket order now then wait 3-5 more years it would have cost less. Made since they were able to get funding. It all came down to what made good sense. Remember most of the H6's problems were from the early years in the few years that they ran they were not too much of a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion V 9441 Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted July 21, 2014 As it turns out, a month after retirement, the H6 set is still in Greenwood Yard. It is at the south end, and is visible from passing GO trains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttcsubwayfan Posted July 21, 2014 Share #14 Posted July 21, 2014 As it turns out, a month after retirement, the H6 set is still in Greenwood Yard. It is at the south end, and is visible from passing GO trains. I hoped you could see it from Oakvale Avenue... ho hum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion V 9441 Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share #15 Posted July 21, 2014 Can't view it from oakvale. Blocked by a bunch of T1s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttcsubwayfan Posted July 21, 2014 Share #16 Posted July 21, 2014 Can't view it from oakvale. Blocked by a bunch of T1s Sounds about right. I visited the same place on Doors Open Toronto in hopes of catching my last glimpse of the H6... same issue. Ah well, what can you do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theaveragejoe Posted July 22, 2014 Share #17 Posted July 22, 2014 As it turns out, a month after retirement, the H6 set is still in Greenwood Yard. It is at the south end, and is visible from passing GO trains. Where do you expect it to go so fast? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion V 9441 Posted July 22, 2014 Author Share #18 Posted July 22, 2014 The scrap yard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttcsubwayfan Posted July 22, 2014 Share #19 Posted July 22, 2014 The scrap yard? The last H5 off property (5790) was removed at the start of October 2013. I have no idea why they keep them around that long, but there is a precedent for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theaveragejoe Posted July 22, 2014 Share #20 Posted July 22, 2014 The scrap yard? Takes time to set everything ups for removal of the cars in terms of setting up transport, permits for the oversize transport, if they are going for scrap or EKO they can only take in so many cars at once. Same goes with buses. Scrap yard can only take so many at once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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