photo(s) Toronto at dusk

[ttcsubwayfan]

It's been a while since I posted a photo thread, but here's one. I was in Toronto yesterday for the winding down of the evening rush hour, to catch various streetcars returning to their home division. Here are my captures.

 

I boarded an ALRV car #4234 on route 501 Queen, outside of the Osgoode subway station. Due to an accident, my car was forced to divert via King Street instead of taking its regular route via Queen. I have heard that after 6 PM, traffic problems are notoriously terrible on King, but much to my surprise, the streetcar was actually faster on King.

 

I got off at Queen and Roncesvalles, and crossed the street to take some photos. As always, there was a pack of vehicles at the stop - ALRV #4207, which was on route 504 King (although you wouldn't be able to tell, given the signs), my car #4234, and car 4195, which was heading back to the division having completed a service on route 509 Harbourfront.

Toronto Transit Commission 4207 - 01 by Andrew P., on Flickr

Toronto Transit Commission 4234 - 02 by Andrew P., on Flickr

Toronto Transit Commission 4195 - 02 by Andrew P., on Flickr

 

More vehicles retiring for the night followed. 4155, off the 512 St. Clair, and 4181, off the 510 Spadina. New streetcar 4401 also came out of the carhouse, on a training run.

Toronto Transit Commission 4155 - 02 by Andrew P., on Flickr

Toronto Transit Commission 4401 - 07 by Andrew P., on Flickr

More 501 cars diverting.

Toronto Transit Commission 4237 - 01 by Andrew P., on Flickr

Toronto Transit Commission 4239 - 06 by Andrew P., on Flickr

 

The 504 line has outgrown itself. It has 70,000 daily passengers, and the result is that they now have to run buses as supplements.

Toronto Transit Commission 1031 - 01 by Andrew P., on Flickr

 

4020 retiring from the 511.

Toronto Transit Commission 4020 - 01 by Andrew P., on Flickr

 

Two 504 cars inches away from each other. This is a common occurance in the TTC - you will wait a long time for a streetcar and a 2-, 3-, 4- or even 5-pack of vehicles will pull up simultaneously.

Toronto Transit Commission 4159 - 02 by Andrew P., on Flickr

 

4140 coming off the 511, followed by two more cars, including another diverting 501.

Toronto Transit Commission 4140 - 01 by Andrew P., on Flickr

Toronto Transit Commission 4227 - 01 by Andrew P., on Flickr

 

A 506 car ran south down Roncesvalles, and is now heading into the carhouse.

Toronto Transit Commission 4156 - 01 by Andrew P., on Flickr

 

At this intersection, you don't have to wait long for a streetcar to show up.

Toronto Transit Commission 4177 - 03 by Andrew P., on Flickr

Toronto Transit Commission 4179 - 02 by Andrew P., on Flickr

Toronto Transit Commission 4090 - 01 by Andrew P., on Flickr

Toronto Transit Commission 4153 - 01 by Andrew P., on Flickr

Toronto Transit Commission 4158 - 01 by Andrew P., on Flickr

 

4221, with an ad wrap for Strongbow Apple Ciders. I must say, this is a very good looking ad wrap (although, as usual, it would look even better if the front of the car was wrapped as well), and Toronto has had no shortage of absolutely god awful ones.

Toronto Transit Commission 4221 - 01 by Andrew P., on Flickr

 

Toronto Transit Commission 4117 - 01 by Andrew P., on Flickr

 

I caught CLRV #4086 on the 504 heading eastbound, and took it to Spadina. As per before, the 504 was surprisingly speedy.

Here is 4086 after I got off.

Toronto Transit Commission 4086 - 02 by Andrew P., on Flickr

 

4109, on a 510 Spadina Station - King service, is turning onto Spadina from King for a journey back up to Spadina station.

Toronto Transit Commission 4109 - 01 by Andrew P., on Flickr

 

A new Flexity, in service on the 510.

Toronto Transit Commission 4407 - 01 by Andrew P., on Flickr

Followed seconds later by 4138, doing another Spadina Stn. - King service.

Toronto Transit Commission 4138 - 02 by Andrew P., on Flickr

 

I caught car 4131 on the 510 to Union station. I didn't take a photo, because I don't take photos of vehicles I'm about to board should the driver b*tch at me, and there was a million employees and people at Union station that would have also precluded me from getting a good photo.

 

I went to check out the new platform at Union station, which opened on August 18, 2014.

Toronto Transit Commission Union new platform - 01 by Andrew P., on Flickr

Toronto Transit Commission Union new platform - 02 by Andrew P., on Flickr

Toronto Transit Commission Union new platform - 03 by Andrew P., on Flickr

Toronto Transit Commission Union new platform - 04 by Andrew P., on Flickr

Toronto Transit Commission Union new platform - 05 by Andrew P., on Flickr

 

Thanks for viewing!

 

[bobtehpanda]

Great photos!
 

Out of complete curiosity, what is the status of the new streetcar rollout?

[ttcsubwayfan]

Great photos!

 

Out of complete curiosity, what is the status of the new streetcar rollout?

 

Thanks!

 

In response to your question, very poorly indeed. To the best of my knowledge, the ALRVs (cars 4200-4251) should have been phased out in their entirety last year, but only two units have retired, and a number are getting a life extension.

 

The first prototype arrived in September 2012. Further units arrived for the summer of 2013, but none of them ran in service until August 31, 2014, at which point there were 4 cars on property. Between that date and today, just 5 more vehicles have arrived. The tentative fleet numbering for this series is 4400-4603, and 4408 is the highest numbered unit on property. There were various technical delays, as well as strikes at Bombardier.

 

I rode a couple of old cars yesterday. They're not horrible, but they would benefit greatly from having air-conditioning, and having their interiors scrubbed down every now and then. Right now, we're looking at a 2019 date for all of the new streetcars to be in service. Whether that will occur is yet to be seen.

[Q113 LTD]

Nice variety of pictures. In the 8th photo, when people are waiting at the bus stop, do they get on the streetcar too if the bus don't come?

[ttcsubwayfan]

Nice variety of pictures. In the 8th photo, when people are waiting at the bus stop, do they get on the streetcar too if the bus don't come?

 

Thanks! Yeah, the streetcar is the primary type of transport along the corridor, the buses are just supplements that were put into place recently. Sometimes they short turn at the carhouse, though, so as always it's good to pay attention to the signs to find out if you'll get to your destination.