Compiled by Peter Coulman
Additional information by John Knight

Operations Overview

• Type: Local
• Established: February 26, 1966
• Distance: 17.04 km
• Blue Night Service: 334 EGLINTON EAST, 353 STEELES EAST
• Types of vehicles used: Orion V, Orion VII NG, Orion VII
• Bus Length: 40’ standard low-floor
• Division: Wilson
• Ridership: 4,117 (2014)

This route operates with 1 branch:

• 51 Eglinton Station - Steeles

February 26, 1966

A new route established running from Eglinton station via east on Eglinton and north on Leslie to an off-street loop at the North York Township Works Yard, south of Sheppard Avenue. 51 LESLIE replaces a portion of the 25A DON MILLS service. Buses run all day, Mondays through Saturdays, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. Buses operate at 20 minute frequencies (with 3 buses) during rush hours and every 30 minutes at all other times during the weekdays and Saturdays (using 2 buses). A single bus provides hourly service in Sundays. Service operates out of Eglinton Garage.

May 12, 1968

An additional bus provided for Sunday service, increasing frequencies to every 30 minutes. Sunday service now operates from 9 a.m. to midnight.

June 3, 1968

Coincident with a realignment of Leslie Street, buses now loop via east and north through the North York General Hospital ramp, west over a new bridge and south via the ramp to Leslie Street and return.

January 6, 1969

Monday to Friday daytime service extended north on Leslie to loop near McNicoll. Buses on the 51A branch loop via east on Clansmen, north on Cresthaven and west on Dexter to Leslie and return. Weekday evenings and all weekend service continues to turn back at the North York General Hospital, near Sheppard.

January 2, 1972

Evening and weekend service extended to Hillcrest Village.

October 15, 1972

All service extended north on Leslie and east on Steeles to just past Don Mills, looping via south on Townsend, west on Freshmeadow and north on Don Mills to Steeles, returning via reverse route. Buses operate every ten minutes during rush hours and every 25 minutes at all other times.

September 4, 1973

Between 8:20 and 9:05 a.m., certain morning rush hour trips short turn at Finch Avenue via north on Leslie, east and south on Ravel and west on Finch to Leslie. These trips, serving students, did not appear on timetables, nor did they continue during the summer months. No new branch was set up for this service, and buses operated with a “SHORT TURN” or “SPECIAL” sign. Service continued until at least March 1976

February 18, 1996

As part of a systemwide reduction in service resulting from an elimination of provincial subsidy, late evening weekday service and evening weekend service eliminated.

February 13, 2000

Accessible service established for this route on this date, using the New Flyer D40LF low-floor buses.

March 31, 2002

Route switched to the newly-opened New Eglinton Garage on Comstock Road, replacing the Old Eglinton Garage.

November 24, 2002

Coincident with the opening of the SHEPPARD SUBWAY, buses in both direction are routed through Leslie station’s bus terminal. Southbound buses loop through the station by turning west on Sheppard, north, west and south on Old Leslie, looping through the terminal, south again on Old Leslie and east on what is today Esther Shiner Blvd. Northbound buses turn right on the access road to North York General Hospital, cross over Leslie Street on a bridge, and then proceed west on Esther Shiner and north on Old Leslie to the bus terminal. They return to the route via south on Old Leslie and east on Esther Shiner before resuming their northbound service to Steeles.

November 23, 2008

As part of the Ridership Growth Strategy, service restored to operate at intervals of 30 minutes or better, seven days a week, whenever the subway is open. Weekday late evening, Saturday early morning and evening and Sunday evening services interlined with 61 AVENUE ROAD NORTH. Route also switched to operate Wilson Garage on Transit Road.

May 8, 2011

As part of a general reallocation of resources, Sunday and holiday service after 10 p.m. eliminated

September 6, 2015

Late evening service on Sundays and holidays is restored. Buses now operate at intervals of 30 minutes or better whenever the subway is open.

May 7, 2017

The interline with 61 AVENUE RD NORTH is eliminated, seven days a week, to reduce the effects on service reliability as a result of Metrolinx Line 5 EGLINTON LRT construction. Between the two routes, one more bus will be used. Trips will no longer interline between routes. During the late evening, seven days a week, the service will change from every 30 minutes to every 25 minutes.

June 23, 2019

The 5 EGLINTON LRT construction causes the temporary shutdown of Leslie and Eglinton intersections to vehicular traffic for eight weeks. This resulted the 51 LESLIE to be cut back at the loop north of Eglinton. Designated as branch 51A, this branch operates in the temporary bus loop enroute to its normal routing via Leslie. A new branch, designated as the 51C, runs from the normal routing north of Leslie, east of Lawrence, looping through the Don Valley Parkway ramp returning via reverse route. This service operates after 10 p.m. weekdays and 7 p.m. weekends when the 54C/G LAWRENCE EAST service is not operating.

Passemgers transferring from the 51 LESLIE may have transfer to other routes on Eglinton to connect to Eglinton Station and Don Mills/Lawrence to connect with the 54 LAWRENCE EAST.

August 22, 2019

With construction finished ahead of schedule, the intersection of Leslie and Eglinton reopens and normal service resumes on the 51 LESLIE routing.

March 29, 2020

Buses operating into Eglinton station are rerouted to loop via Duplex Avenue and Berwick to more easily access the south entrance and serve the southernmost platforms. No change to schedules.

March 28, 2021

Service transferred from Wilson Garage to the newly-opened McNicoll Garage on Milliken Avenue.

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Due to construction on the LINE 5 EGLINTON LRT, buses approaching Eglinton station will enter via Yonge Street and Berwick instead of via Duplex Avenue. This change had been in place at the divisional level since January 2024.

51 Leslie Image Archive

	An announcement highlighting the extension of the 51 LESLIE and 36 FINCH buses, effective January 6, 1969.
	An official TTC map of 51 LESLIE operations, effective February 26, 1966. Donated by Pete Coulman.
	An official TTC timetable map of 51 LESLIE services, effective July 2010.
	TTC Orion VII 1084 waits at Eglinton station to begin a run to Steeles on 51 LESLIE. This shot, taken on December 27, 2009, was taken by Downsview7834.
	TTC Twin 44-S class bus #1319 heads northbound on Leslie, past North York General Hospital in this December 1969 shot. This image is courtesy the North York General Hospital Archive.
	TTC GM New Look bus #3505 heads northbound on Clansman Road, in service on the 51 LESLIE "Hillcrest Village" branch in this January 1970 shot. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy Pete Coulman.
	TTC GM New Look #3999 operates eastbound on Eglinton, crossing Mount Pleasant for 51 LESLIE in this 1974 shot. Photo by Peter Cox.
	TTC GM New Look #7588 heads up Leslie towards Sheppard while bearing a SPECIAL sign, possibly as part of the special short turn school service to Ravel near Finch Avenue. The photographer of this August 1977 shot is unknown, and the photo is from the Pete Coulman collection.
	On January 10, 2017, Jelo Gutierrez Cantos photographed TTC Orion VII NG bus #8159 now sporting its new livery based on the Flexity streetcars that was unveiled a month prior. Here it is seen in service running on route 51 LESLIE on Leslie Street approaching south of York Mills Road.
	TTC Flyer D901 #8472 crosses Yonge Street and prepares to turn left from Eglinton Avenue into Eglinton station. Bus is operating on 51 LESLIE in this March 1982 shot. Photo donated by Peter Coulman.
	TTC Orion V bus #9432 heads northbound on Leslie, approaching Ravel Road in 51 LESLIE service on May 25, 2015. Photo by Flame Cube.
	TTC Orion V bus #9438 is seen here operating southbound on Leslie at Finch in 51 LESLIE service. It will short turn at Leslie station. This photo was taken on June 17, 2015 by Flame Cube.
	TTC Orion V bus #9446 is seen here heading north towards Steeles on 51 LESLIE, approaching the Ravel Road Stop. Photograph taken on May 4, 2015 by Flame Cube.

References

• Orders&Notices #2667, February 1, 1966