Compiled by Peter Coulman
Originally posted by Alan Gryfe
To avoid confusion, it’s important to note that the “Islington” referred to for this service is the Village of Islington that existed around today’s Islington/Dundas and Islington/Bloor intersections.
April 11, 1929
The TTC-owned Gray Coach Lines acquires Maple Leaf Coach Lines. Maple Leaf’s ISLINGTON route, operating on Dundas Street from Runnymede to Bloor in the town of Islington, is combined with the TTC’s LAMBTON bus route (operating on Dundas from Keele to Lambton Avenue — today known as Prince Edward Drive). Service on both routes initially provided by “red” city buses, but Gray Coach’s gray coaches later take over.
May 5, 1931
Service makes use of Runnymede loop, operating inside of the existing streetcar tracks.
May 19, 1947
Free transfers offered between the second zone of the ISLINGTON bus and the KINGSWAY routes.
March 31, 1952
Additional service to ANGLESEY added to the ISLINGTON schedule (for accounting purposes). From Runnymede Loop via Dundas & Royal York Rd to loop via Anglesey, Kingsway & Ashley to Royal York Rd and return over the same route to Runnymede. No change to main ISLINGTON service
January 1, 1954
With the inauguration of the municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, service transferred from Gray Coach to the new Toronto Transit Commission.
ISLINGTON |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
July 1, 1954
Service absorbs the rush hour LAMBTON route. ANGLESEY is separated from this route and becomes a branch of KINGSWAY. ISLINGTON runs from Runnymede loop via Dundas to Bloor and Dundas in Islington, returning via the reverse route, seven days a week, eighteen hours a day. In addition, a rush hour branch begins operation from Runnymede Loop via Dundas to Prince Edward Drive, looping clockwise via Earlington Avenue, Government Road and Prince Edward. Current operation to Bloor and Dundas remains.
ISLINGTON |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
ISLINGTON |
ROYAL YORK window card used |
Fall 1955
New destination signs installed:
ISLINGTON |
RUNNYMEDE |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | |
ISLINGTON |
RUNNYMEDE |
Monday to Saturday, rush hours only |
June 29,1955 to June 30, 1955
Due to watermain reconstruction on Dundas at Kipling, service looping via west on Dundas to Beemish to Bloor and east on Bloor to route.
May 31, 1956 to July 2, 1956
Service diverted via west on Dundas, north on diversion road, west on Lambeth and south on the Kingsway to route. The “short-turn” service will now short turn via south on Earlington, west on Government Rd and north on Prince Edward Drive to Dundas St.
July 3, 1956
Effective this date, short turn service will permanently operate via south on Earlington, west on Government Rd and north on Prince Edward Drive.
Also, assigned route number 44.
ISLINGTON |
44 |
K I P L I N G |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
ISLINGTON |
44A |
PRINCE EDWARD |
Monday to Saturday, rush hours only |
July 6, 1957
44A short turn service temporarily discontinued on Saturdays during the summer months (July and August).
September 3, 1957
Curtailment made permanent.
October 7, 1957
Buses now operating both ways via newly constructed Dundas Street overpass at Royal York Road.
September 18, 1961
Traffic interchange at the Six Points (Bloor/Dundas/Kipling intersection) opened to vehicular traffic at 10:00 a.m., but not sufficiently complete to allow use by buses.
October 4, 1961
Following the full opening of the Six Points interchange, buses on 44 ISLINGTON loop in the west end via west on Dundas Street, north on Beamish Drive, east on Bloor Street, south on Kipling Avenue, turning west and north onto the eastbound overpass, then northeast under the westbound overpass to Dundas.
August 31, 1963
Last day of service on 44 ISLINGTON. On the following day, service begins on the 30 DUNDAS bus. Also, service begins on a new 37 ISLINGTON bus operating on Islington Avenue itself.