Transit Toronto

For the past eighteen months, visitors to Transit Toronto have seen many new photos by transit enthusiast and photographer Richard Glaze covering Toronto’s transit operations from the 1950s to the 1990s. The work of his friends in preserving and bringing his collection to us has opened a window on Toronto city life during the last half of the twentieth century.

But Richard’s collection didn’t just include photographs. Among the cases were reels of 16mm film, over two miles of it, shot during the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. After donating reels of American transit operations to relevant transit historical associations in the United States, we still have around six hours of footage of interest to Toronto transit fans.

It’s one thing to scan photos and slides. Scanning 16mm film requires equipment we can’t afford to buy, and digitizing it is an expensive proposition that’s beyond our resources, but this is where you can help.

We have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds to digitize Richard Glaze’s 16mm film collection. Starting with a goal of $6,900 to cover a quarter of the film available, we hope to raise enough to put all (or as much as possible) of Richard’s material onto our YouTube channel for all rail and transit fans to enjoy. Kickstarter also allows us to offer rewards in return for your generous giving.

So, if you would like to see Richard’s film library of Toronto transit operations in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, please consider donating what you can to our Kickstarter campaign.

You can see some of the videos we made from test scans of Richard’s footage here. For more information and updates, please consult our Kickstarter campaign page, or watch the video Transit Toronto videographer Damian Baranowski produced below using some of Richard’s film.

Starting 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, the TTC is closing

• the Bay streetcar tunnel,

while crews conduct a regular inspection of the streetcar infrastructure.

The TTC is operating buses, instead of streetcars, along this route, while the tunnel is closed:

• 509 Harbourfront.

The transit agency is also detouring streetcars along these routes:

• 310 Spadina overnight; and
• 510 Spadina.

Buses replace route 310 / 510 cars east of Lower Spadina Avenue / Queens Quay West.

Crews continue inspecting and maintaining the Bay streetcar tunnel and the TTC detours the cars until June 17 (4 a.m.).

As part of its preventative and corrective maintenance program, the TTC inspects and maintains the Bay streetcar tunnel regularly, it says, “to ensure safe and reliable operations.”

TTC staff are working in the tunnel to inspect and maintain the tracks and overhead wiring and clean debris and sand from the tracks and drainage system. They use chipping tools to work in certain areas of the tunnel nightly from 1 until 4:30 a.m.

The crews also use a high-pressured water and vacuum system to clear obstructions in the catch basins and pump pits the tunnel and near the bottom of the ramp from the Queens Quay West portal. According to the TTC, “This method of removing the obstructions and residue is efficient and quick.” Expect noise when the equipment is fully operating.

All vehicles access the tunnel from the ramp. Crews park the truck with the water / vacuum system outside at the bottom of the ramp or on Bay Street north of Queens Quay West. You may hear beeping when vehicles back up on the ramp. You may also notice bright lights.

Late nights Monday, June 14 until Thursday, June 17, Line 1 Yonge - University subway trains in both directions operate along the northbound tracks only between Vaughan Metropolitan and Pioneer Village stations, while TTC crews repair a leak on the southbound tracks. Regular service resumes by 6 a.m. each morning.

(Since the single-track operation occurs after midnight each night, technically, the closure is from Tuesday, June 15 until Friday, June 18.)

During single-track operation, both south- and northbound trains alternate along the northbound tracks.

Passengers must board southbound trains on the northbound platforms at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and Highway 407 stations. You may also have to wait for trains longer than usually.

The TTC is closing Line 2 Bloor - Danforth subway between Kennedy and Woodbine stations earlier than usually, Monday, June 14 until Thursday, June 17. Line 2 subway trains operate only between Woodbine and Kipling stations after 11 p.m. those nights.

Shuttle buses partially replace Line 2 service. The buses drop off or pick up passengers on the street near all stations on the closed section of the line.

All stations remain open so you can pay fares or connect with TTC buses, streetcars and Line 3 Scarborough trains. TTC staff will be available to direct you to shuttle-bus stops. However the Teesdale Place entrance / exit at Victoria Park Station will be closed.

Although all shuttle buses are accessible, Wheel-Trans is also available from all stations. Ask any TTC staff member for information about Wheel-Trans frequency and stops.

While this section of Line 2 is closed, TTC crews are maintaining the tracks. According to a TTC news release, “While the TTC does most subway maintenance at the conclusion of service each night, it continues to require weekend and early weeknight closures to complete critical infrastructure and [signal] upgrades.”

From 3 until 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 15 and from 2 until 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, Durham College and Ontario Tech University are closing

• Commencement Drive on the mutual North Oshawa campus

to accommodate Durham College graduates who are picking up lawn signs that commemorate their achievement.

Closing the street blocks bus access to the campuses. Durham Region Transit buses along this route drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops on Simcoe Street North:

• 901 PULSE Simcoe.

GO Transit buses along this route also serve passengers at temporary stops on Simcoe North:

• 56 Oshawa / Oakville.

^ Click to enlarge.

Wednesday, June 16, Trans-Northern Pipelines starts a project at Oakville GO Station to make sure its pipelines are functioning properly.

This changes how you access the station:

• Board and exit GO Transit buses at the temporary bus stop on Cross Avenue by the entrance to the bus loop. Use the nearby sidewalk to enter and leave the station.
• Board and exit Oakville Transit’s Home to Hub and care-A-van vehicles and Region of Peel TransHelp vehicles at the temporary stop between the passenger pick-up and drop-off area (the “Kiss and Ride”) and the GO station building.
• The work zone blocks access to covered bike parking just north of the bus loop. You can use the bike racks beside the Kiss and Ride, beside the northwest parking lot or in the south parking lot.
• About 40 parking spaces just north of the bus loop and the northwest parking lot remain closed during construction. GO says, “There is still plenty of parking for you at the station.”

Regular Oakville Transit buses continue to serve passengers in the bus loop.

Pipeline construction at Oakville GO Station continues “for approximately 3 weeks”, meaning construction continues as late as until July 5.

Metrolinx continues to upgrade safety and amenities at Guelph Central GO Station, as part of the GO Expansion Program.

Starting Monday, June 14, GO Transit is installing tactile yellow safety tiles and digital signs on the east side of the platform. This temporarily affects how you exit from or board trains at the station.

^ Click to enlarge.

Travelling from Guelph Central GO Station:

• GO is closing the east side of the platform. Use the south side of the platform to board trains until further notice.
• Only doors on coach 6 and the accessibility coach doors open at Guelph Central GO.
• If you need the accessibility coach, wait at the accessibility ramp to board the train.
• Look for information on signs to learn where to stand. Remember to spread out along the platform to help keep everyone safe.

Travelling to Guelph Central GO Station:

• Not all coach doors open at Guelph GO. Listen to announcements on your train or ask a customer service ambassador for help.
• Check out the boarding guide below before your trip.
• If you need to use the accessible ramp,ask the customer service ambassador in the accessible coach for help.

Metrolinx and GO plan to accommodate more passengers and increase service along the Kitchener line, as part of their GO Expansion Program (formerly “regional express rail”).

MiWay has announced that, starting Friday, June 11, it’s closed the eastbound station building at Dixie Station on the Mississauga Transitway. It has not explained why it’s closed the station.

All passengers must enter or exit the station through the westbound side of the station. Passengers who must exit the station or connect to other services can do so from the north station building. Security staff will escort eastbound passengers across the transitway roadway to and from the eastbound platforms.

The elevator in the eastbound station building is also unavailable.

The station closure affects eastbound passengers travelling aboard GO Transit buses along these routes:

• 19 Mississauga / North York; and
• 40 Hamilton / Pearson / Richmond Hill.

It also affects MiWay passengers aboard buses along these routes:

• 5 Dixie;
• 73 Kamato;
• 74 Explorer; and
• 109 Meadowvale express.

Starting 6 p.m. Friday, June 11, York Region Transit is closing to buses

• Newmarket Terminal,

while crews repair cracks in the terminal roadway.

To accommodate the work, YRT is also closing the south entrance of the terminal building. You can continue to use the north entrance to access the building and public washrooms. Work crews may start preparing for the project as early as 3 p.m. June 11.

YRT buses along these routes and services drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops in the terminal parking lot:

• 50 Queensway;
• 52 Holland Landing;
• 56 Gorham - Eagle;
• 57A Mulock;
• 96 Keele - Yonge;
• 98 Yonge;
• Viva blue;
• Viva yellow; and
• Mobility On-Request.

This phase of construction at Newmarket Terminal and the resulting temporary YRT service changes continue until June 13.

Starting 8 p.m. Friday, June 11, the TTC is replacing worn rail at the westbound stop

• on King Street West at Niagara Street.

Crews work only in the track area to:

• cut, mill and break the old concrete to expose the rail;
• replace the old rail with new rail; and
• place new concrete.

The transit agency is detouring streetcars and buses along these routes, during the project:

• 504 King; and
• 504Q King shuttle buses.

Rail replacement at King West / Niagara and the resulting TTC detours continue until June 14 (4 a.m.)

The track crew sets up a work zone Friday, June 11 at 8 p.m. and start cutting into the concrete. They then mill and excavate to expose the old rail. They end these activities by 11 p.m. each day. However, the TTC cautions, “While most work typically ends at 11 p.m., rail work of this nature requires periods of around-the-clock work to ensure quality installation of new rail and concrete.”

When crews replace the old rail with new rail, they also cut, weld and grind the rail. Expect noise. They then pour concrete in the track area and set it to cure. The new concrete requires curing time before the crews can remove the work zone so that all vehicles can again use this section of roadway by 4 a.m. Monday, June 14.

The work zone restricts traffic to the curb lanes during the project. The City of Toronto is restricting on-street parking near the work zone to maintain traffic flow. The work zone my block motorists from turning left onto or off of this section of King West.