Text by James Bow
On October 15, 1976, near the end of the service day, an arsonist set fire to a bundle of newspapers in an empty car at the end of a train heading eastbound on the BLOOR-DANFORTH subway. When the fire was detected by the crew, the train was stopped at Christie station and everyone on board evacuated. The fire burned out of control and did tremendous damage to the train and Christie station. Ten passengers and three TTC employees had to be taken to hospital.
It took two days for over 200 TTC personnel to repair the damage to the station and clear the debris. During that time, subway service was shut down between St. George and Ossington station, forcing the TTC to rely on shuttle buses to ferry passengers between the two segments. This was one of the first times the TTC had to replace subway service for such an extended period of time. Richard Glaze and other photographers were on hand to capture a number of scenes over these two days as many buses plied the route.
Christie Subway Fire Diversion Image Archive
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Richard Glaze caught this image of TTC emergency vehicles 139 and 162 at Christie Station on October 16, 1976.
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Richard Glaze caught GM New Looks 3771 and 3737 and other buses in subway diversion service across the intersection of Bloor and Bathurst on October 16, 1976.
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TTC GM New Look bus #3925 pulls up to Ossington Avenue, westbound on Bloor in subway diversion service on October 16, 1976. Photo by Richard Glaze.
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TTC GM New Look bus #3939 turns into Ossington Station at the west end of the subway diversion on October 16, 1976. Photo by Richard Glaze.
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While Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9319 picks up passengers at its regular platform at St. George station for 4 ANNETTE service, TTC GM New Look #3948 pulls out of the northern platform to begin its journey west to Ossington Station in subway diversion service. This photo was taken October 16, 1976 by Richard Glaze.
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TTC GM New Look bus #7169 heads up a line preparing to turn left from Bloor onto St. George at the eastern end of the shuttle route. This photo was taken on October 16, 1976 by Richard Glaze.
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TTC GM New Look bus #7169 pulls up to the western entrance of St. George Station to drop off passengers during the subway disruption on October 16, 1976. Photo by Richard Glaze.
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TTC GM New Looks #7357 and 8032 meet at the intersection of St. George and Bloor at the eastern end of subway diversion service on October 16, 1976. Photo by Richard Glaze.
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TTC GM New Look #7706 heads westbound on Bloor crossing Spadina in subway diversion service on October 16, 1976. This photograph was taken by Richard Glaze.
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Richard Glaze caught TTC emergency vehicles 105, 220 and 143 outside Christie station on October 16, 1976.
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