Compiled by Jeffrey Kay, with contributions by Alan Gryfe and Peter Coulman
November 19th, 1952
Service to Armour Heights begins as a branch of the NORTH YONGE route, running from Glen Echo loop via northwest on Yonge Boulevard, west on Wilson Avenue and north on Avenue Road, looping counterclockwise via east on Bombay Avenue, north on Tregellis Road, west on Sandringham Drive and south on Bideford Avenue back to Avenue Road. One bus provides service on a 20:00 minute headway. Service operates Mondays through Saturdays only.
ARMOUR HEIGHTS |
Monday to Saturday, 18 hours a day |
Note that the rollsigns on this route were very simple, showing just the route in white text on a black background compared to the two-colour combined route and destination signs used elsewhere in the system. Until route numbers were assigned in 1956, buses operating on the NORTH YONGE route or its relatives showed only the route name or the destination.
A typical NORTH YONGE route sign read as follows:
T O R O N T O RICHMOND HILL S T E E L E’S WILLOWDALE L A N G S T A F F ARMOUR HEIGHTS |
The NORTH YONGE route was never seen on a rollsign until route numbers were applied in 1956.
January 15th, 1954
Officially becomes a separate route, instead of a branch of NORTH YONGE.
ARMOUR HEIGHTS |
Monday to Saturday, 18 hours a day |
February 22, 1954
All day service cancelled. Buses now operate rush hours only (Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:40 p.m. and Saturdays between noon and 6:40 p.m.).
July 1st, 1954
Routing revised to operate as a shuttle on Avenue Road between Bombay and Roe loop, connecting with the NORTOWN TROLLEY COACH. At the same time the northern terminal loop is replaced by a U-turn in the intersection of Avenue Road and Bombay Avenue.
ARMOUR HTS |
BOMBAY |
Monday to Saturday, rush hours only |
A photograph confirms a BOMBAY-ROE exposure as early as 1958, but a notice from the Eglinton Division dated September 7, 1956 suggests that some buses could have been signed ARMOUR HTS-ROE
July 3, 1956
For fare collection purposes, route switched from zone 2 to zone 1 operation. Free transfer now offered with NORTOWN TROLLEY COACH, extra fare payable when transferring to Wilson bus. (at an unknown date the route was switched back to zone 2)
September 7, 1956
Route number 1 assigned to ARMOUR HEIGHTS.
ARMOUR HTS |
1 |
B O M B A Y |
Monday to Saturday, rush hours only |
July 6, 1957
Saturday rush-hour service discontinued.
September 5, 1967
Midday service added.
ARMOUR HTS |
1 |
B O M B A Y |
Monday to Friday, rush hours and midday |
March 14, 1976
Operation of this route transferred from Eglinton to the new Wilson Garage.
February 9, 1981
Thirty-foot Orion buses now operated on this route, from Eglinton garage.
Mid 1980’s
Operation of 30ft Orion buses discontinued. In 1983, the TTC noted that the ARMOUR HEIGHTS route was one of the poorest performers on the system, handling 473 passengers per day in 1982, or roughly 2.1 passengers per trip. As no service reduction could be identified which could bring the service up to the TTC’s financial standard, the route was listed as among those considered for elimination, should service changes benefitting more passengers be found elsewhere in the city. However, TTC planners noted, “the Armour Heights route functions essentially as the end section of the Nortown trolley coach and, therefore, may be expected to exhibit performance characteristics typical of route ends throughout the system.” As the route did not duplicate other existing services, it was protected, although the TTC did not feel it justified to string up trolley wires and extend Nortown trolley bus service in its place.
April 2nd, 1990
In conjunction with the inauguration of the 142 AVENUE RD/DOWNTOWN EXPRESS route, ARMOUR HEIGHTS service eliminated during rush hours, running only from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
A R M O U R |
1 |
B O M B A Y |
Monday to Friday, midday only |
February 14th, 1992
Last day of service. The next day the 61 AVENUE ROAD NORTH is extended north to Bombay.
1 ARMOUR HEIGHTS RIDERSHIP
Year Daily Passengers Rank
1978 392 113/117
1979 440 112/117
1980 428 114/118
1981 428 121/123
1982 473 121/123
1983 400 123/124
1984 395 126/131
1985 402 132/137
1986 347 136/138
1987 311 135/137
1988 342 135/137
1991 326 136/138