Compiled by Peter Coulman
Map by John Calnan

See Also:

• 169 HUNTINGWOOD

Background

In March 27, 1973, the TTC Commission met to discuss the proposal for a new bus service on Huntingwood Drive in northwest Scarborough. On July 13, 1973, the Commission proposed that this service be provided by an extension of the SHEPPARD bus route.

“It is now proposed that this new service be provided by an extension of the SHEPPARD bus route from the present terminus at Don Mills Road. The route would operate via east on Sheppard Avenue from Don Mills Rd, north on Brian Drive, east on Old Sheppard Avenue, Alsike and Huntingwood to the vicinity of McCowan Road, looping via McCowan and Commander Blvd. This loop would serve the new industrial area which has developed and would provide a connection with the existing McCOWAN bus route.

Initially the proposed service would provide a 20-00 headway during rush hours, which would be every other bus now terminating at Don Mills Rd, and during midday hours, ALL service would run every 22-30 minutes to McCowan.

This original approval in principle was given with the knowledge that the Borough of Scarborough would reconstruct Alsike Road during the summer of 1973.

This new service would, of course, operate directly to the Sheppard Subway Station to be opened in the spring of 1974.

On the basis of the report’s recommendation, a new branch of the Sheppard bus serving Huntingwood Drive would start operation with the opening of the September board period on Tuesday, September 4, 1973. The route initially began as an extension to the 84 SHEPPARD bus route. Route designated 84B SHEPPARD (via Huntingwood), McCowan/Weston. Operating from Huntingwood & Commander via Commander, McCowan, west on Huntingwood, Old Sheppard and Alsike, south on Brian Drive and west on Sheppard to loop at Weston Rd via north on Weston, east on Rivalda and south on Bradstock. Service levels operated every twenty minutes during rush hours (every third bus from Weston), every twenty minutes, thirty seconds at other times (all buses operating from Weston). 85 SHEPPARD EAST buses provide overlapping service on Sheppard, running from Yonge Street to east of Midland Avenue. By February 3rd, 1974, 84B buses now run both ways via Sheppard to Victoria Park and east on Huntingwood. Service no longer provided on Brian, Alsike and Old Sheppard.

With the opening of the Yonge subway extension to Finch on March 30th, 1974, service operated as the 85A branch of the SHEPPARD EAST route, running from Sheppard station at Yonge Street. From April 20, 1981, 85E SHEPPARD EAST provides additional service on Huntingwood during rush hours, and continues past McCowan onto Middlefield Drive, looping via Newmill, Maybrook and McNicoll. Two days after the SCARBOROUGH RT opened, the 85E branch replaced by 130 MIDDLEFIELD, with its direct connection to the newly-opened Scarborough RT at Scarborough Centre station on March 24, 1985.

Routing or service levels remained unchanged until February 18, 1990 when the 85A branch became its own route: the 139 HUNTINGWOOD.

February 18, 1990

Service begins on the 139 HUNTINGWOOD, replacing service on the 85A SHEPPARD EAST branch operating from Sheppard station to McCowan Road via east of Sheppard Avenue East, north of Victoria Park Avenue, east of Huntingwood Drive, and south of McCowan Road looping via clockwise on Commander Boulevard, returning via reverse route. Buses operate seven days a week whenever the subway is open. Service operates out of Malvern Garage.

May 13, 1991

Route extended south on McCowan to Scarborough Centre station as a new branch (139A) operating Monday-Friday evenings and all day Saturdays. In addition, a new branch (139B) diverting from the route via Consumers and Victoria Park and operating to Scarborough Centre operates during rush hours and midday, Monday to Friday. Westbound buses operate via Commander Boulevard, while eastbound buses use Huntingwood and McCowan.

Original branch operates on Sunday and holidays only.

September 4, 1992

139B (via Consumers) branch discontinued, replaced by a new 85C branch of SHEPPARD EAST. Service operates on 139A to the Scarborough Town Centre all days, Monday to Saturday, while the original branch operates on Sundays only.

October 17, 1993

Original “McCowan” branch dropped; all buses operate on 139A to Scarborough Centre station. Buses in both directions operate via Commander Boulevard.

February 18, 1996

Due to the elimination of transit subsidies from the provincial government, service cut back to Monday-Friday, rush hours only. At this time, the route was likely redesignated 139.

January 4, 1998

Operations were transferred from Malvern Garage to Wilson Garage.

March 31, 2002

Buses on this route transferred from Wilson Garage to Malvern Garage. On this day, Danforth and Old Eglinton Garages were closed and replaced by the New Eglinton Garage had significantly changed the route assignments across the system.

May 10, 2002

Last day of operation as 139. In anticipation of route 139 FINCH EAST (express service to Don Mills station on the SHEPPARD SUBWAY, due to open later that year), route renumbered 169 HUNTINGWOOD, effective May 13. No change to route or service levels.

139 Huntingwood Image Archive

	An official TTC map of the 139 HUNTINGWOOD operations, effective January 7, 2001.
	TTC GM "New Look" bus #7923 operates on Commander Avenue at the eastern end of the 84A SHEPPARD EAST route on April 24, 1987, three years before 139 HUNTINGWOOD service would take over. This photo is by D. Chalmers and is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	Angelo Bowers captured this posed photograph of Orion V Natural Gas 9405 departing Wilson Garage for service on the 139 HUNTINGWOOD Route. At this time, 139 did not run out of Wilson Garage, but rather Malvern. Photo donated by Brad O'Brien.