Compiled by Pete Coulman, with images donated from his collection
See Also:
History of the Name: Scarboro vs. Scarborough
It’s worth noting the use of the name “Scarboro” in this route history. For the first five decades or so of this bus route, the service was named “SCARBORO”. In the 1980s, when the all-black rollsigns replaced the tricolours, this changed to “SCARBOROUGH”. In some cases (see the image archive below), tricolour and all-black version of the route name coexisted. So there is no hard-and-fast date when the SCARBORO route became SCARBOROUGH.
This is reflective of the use of the name by the wider community. When Scarborough Township was incorporated in 1850, its official title was “Scarborough”, after a city in the United Kingdom. Residents would colloquially shorten the name to “Scarboro’” so as not to have to write the “ugh” at the end of the word. The railway company founded in 1894 to serve Kingston Road (and thus the original ancestor of this bus route) was known as “Toronto and Scarboro’ Electric Railway, Light and Power Company”. Note the apostrophe at the end of the “Scarboro”. This indicates that the official name is longer, but the name has been shortened.
Scarborough Township officially became a city in June 1983. It is likely that, during this time, Scarborough’s mayor and city council emphasized the full spelling of the city’s name as a point of civic pride. It may not be coincidence that it is around this time, when the all-black rollsigns are coming into being, that the route name changes.
June 26, 1936
Service begins on a new bus route replacing the SCARBORO RADIAL line. Buses operate from Bingham loop to the Scarboro post office via Kingston Road, looping in the east end through an off-street loop on the east side of Kingston Road at Eglinton Avenue. Service operates under contract with the Township of Scarboro and is operated out of Davenport Division.
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S C A R B O R O |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
September 1, 1936
An extra “tripper” service is launched, running from Bingham via Kingston Road and north on Birchmount Road to the Scarborough Collegiate Institute. A bus, housed at Russell Division and manned by the “Russell extra man” operates mornings and late afternoons, Monday to Friday. No change in destination signs, although a window card reading “HIGH SCHOOL” is used.
September 3, 1936
Service cut back from Bingham loop to Birchmount loop at the southeast corner of Kingston Road and Birchmount. Passengers travelling further west must transfer to KINGSTON ROAD streetcars.
April 6, 1942
Monday to Saturday rush hour service extended from Eglinton Avenue to West Hill at the Franklin Avenue overpass. Buses loop via east on Lawson, north over the Franklin Bridge and west on Kingston Road to route. The whole route operates with 3-Zone fares rather than using a sliding scale based on route length, as before.
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SCARBORO |
BIRCHMOUNT |
Monday to Saturday, rush hours only | |
|
SCARBORO |
BIRCHMOUNT |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | |
June 11, 1942
The sliding fare scale is restored from Birchmount to Stop 26, with a straight five-cent fare east of Stop 26.
February 28, 1944
West Hill service increased to operate all day, every day, including Sundays and holidays.
September 10, 1945
Operations transferred to Sherbourne Garage
On or Before June 7, 1946
Service to West Hill increased from every hour to every half-hour in rush hours. Additional buses now short turn at Stop 14 (Midland Avenue).
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SCARBORO |
BIRCHMOUNT |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | |
|
SCARBORO |
BIRCHMOUNT |
Additional short turn service | |
July 1, 1954
On this day, the six-month-old Toronto Transit Commission reorganizes most of its suburban services, now that it is responsible for all transit service within the boundaries of Metropolitan Toronto. SCARBORO service replaces KINGSTON ROAD streetcars between Birchmount and Bingham loops, and now operates within Suburban Fare Zones 1, 2, 3 and 4.
The main branch operates from Bingham loop at Kingston Road and Victoria Park via northeast on Kingston Road and east on Lawrence Avenue to an off-street loop at Kingston Road and Beechgrove. This removes service on Kingston Road northeast of Beechgrove to Lawson. In addition, a short turn service operates during rush hours and evenings between Bingham and Birchmount. The TTC map for July 1, 1954 indicates that additional short turns occurred at Kingston Road and St. Clair and at Stop 26 (Kingston Road and Eglinton).
Suburban Zone 1 fares were in effect between Bingham and Kennedy. Suburban Zone 2 fares were in effect between Kennedy and McCowan. Suburban Zone 3 fares were in effect between McCowan and the Canadian National Railway tracks. All stops further east were in Suburban Zone 4.
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SCARBORO |
BINGHAM |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | |
|
SCARBORO |
BINGHAM |
Monday to Friday, rush hours and evenings | |
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SCARBORO |
BINGHAM |
Occasional short turns | |
|
SCARBORO |
BINGHAM |
Occasional short turns | |
February 8, 1955
Service on the main branch is extended east of Beechgrove back to the Franklin Avenue Overpass, looping via east on Lawson, northwest on the overpass and southwest on Kingston Road. In addition, additional midday service (every second bus) is provided to Stop 26 (Eglinton Avenue).
April 15, 1956
Service assigned route number 86. On or before this day, service begins on a new midday and evening short turn service. Buses on the 86 branch operate from Bingham loop via northeast on Kingston Road to nearly St. Clair, looping via south on Brooklawn, west on Sloley and north on Eastville.
Buses are served by Sherbourne Garage, Woodbine Garage and (though it is not officially opened on this date) Birchmount Garage. Through the summer, buses on the main branch operate every 20 minutes during rush hours and every 35 minutes at other times. Service on the 86A “Birchmount” branch operate ever 7 minutes during rush hours. Service on the 86B “St. Clair” branch operate every 35 minutes during weekday midday and evenings, and service on the 86C “Eglinton” branch operates every 20 minutes during rush hours.
SCARBORO | 86 | W E S T H I L L |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
SCARBORO | 86A | BIRCHMOUNT |
Monday to Friday, rush hours | ||
SCARBORO | 86B | S T. C L A I R |
Monday to Friday, midday and evenings | ||
SCARBORO | 86C | E G L I N T O N |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
March 4, 1957
Additional rush hour service is provided between Bingham loop and Midland Avenue, looping via south and east on a private roadway located behind the gas station on the southwest corner, and north on Midland to Kingston Road.
SCARBORO | 86 | W E S T H I L L |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
SCARBORO | 86A | BIRCHMOUNT |
Monday to Friday, rush hours | ||
SCARBORO | 86B | S T. C L A I R |
Monday to Friday, midday and evenings | ||
SCARBORO | 86C | E G L I N T O N |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
SCARBORO | 86D | M I D L A N D |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
September 4, 1961
Last week of official 86B “St. Clair” service. The service does continue to operate on a few trips serving R.H. King Collegiate Institute, looping through the school driveway. Destination sign for this service, if not using the 86B exposure, is likely a blank exposure with a window card.
September 5, 1961
Service begins on a new branch operating from Bingham loop via Kingston Road and then north on Markham Road to Painted Post, looping via west on Rochman, north on Sophia and east on Painter Post, returning via south on Markham Road. Buses operate during the daytime hours, Monday to Friday. Service alternates with the 86 main branch.
At Bingham, the 86E and 86 buses load at the “middle” position at Bingham loop. 86A buses load at the far east, while 86C loads at the far west.
SCARBORO | 86 | W E S T H I L L |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
SCARBORO | 86A | BIRCHMOUNT |
Monday to Friday, rush hours | ||
SCARBORO | 86C | E G L I N T O N |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
SCARBORO | 86D | M I D L A N D |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
S C A R B O R O | 86E | PAINTED POST |
Monday to Friday, daytime | ||
December 5, 1964
Saturday daytime service added to the 86E “Via Markham Road” branch.
August 19, 1966
Service on Markham Road is extended north of Painted Post, Monday to Friday, looping at Ellesmere via a large on-street loop. Buses loop via east and north on Painted Post, north on Scarborough Golf Club Road, west on Ellesmere and south on Markham Road. The extension replaces the looping of a branch of 54 LAWRENCE EAST.
SCARBORO | 86 | W E S T H I L L |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
SCARBORO | 86A | BIRCHMOUNT |
Monday to Friday, rush hours | ||
S C A R B O R O | 86B | CHURCHILL HTS |
Monday to Saturday, daytime | ||
SCARBORO | 86C | E G L I N T O N |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
SCARBORO | 86D | M I D L A N D |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
May 11, 1968
Coincident with the extension of the BLOOR-DANFORTH SUBWAY to Warden station, all SCARBORO 86 buses are rerouted at the west end to operate out of Warden station. Service on Kingston Road southwest of St. Clair is now provided by the new 12 KINGSTON RD bus. The 86A “Birchmount” and 86C “Eglinton” branches are discontinued.
The 86B “Churchill Hts” branch is redesigned 86A and extended north of Ellesmere, looping via west on Progress and north, west and south on Estate Drive and east on Progress back to Markham Road.
SCARBORO | 86 | HIGHLAND CREEK |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
S C A R B O R O | 86A | P R O G R E S S |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
September 3, 1972
Service on the main branch is extended east of Lawson Road via Old Kingston Road to Meadowvale, looping via White and Meadowvale. No change to destination signs.
January 2, 1973
Service begins on a new rush hour branch into the Beechgrove area, replacing a portion of the 54 LAWRENCE EAST route. 86B SCARBORO buses follow the regular route to Kingston Road and Lawrence and then head east on Lawrence, looping via south on Beechgrove, west on Coronation and north on Manse to Lawrence.
SCARBORO | 86 | HIGHLAND CREEK |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
S C A R B O R O | 86A | P R O G R E S S |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
S C A R B O R O | 86B | BEECHGROVE DR. |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
July 21, 1974
Coincident with the opening of the Metro Toronto Zoo, a new branch of the 86 SCARBORO bus is extended to provide service. Buses run from Warden Station over the regular route to Meadowvale and then north on Meadowvale to the new Metro Zoo looping in the parking lot. Service provided on a limited basis when the Zoo is open.
SCARBORO | 86 | HIGHLAND CREEK |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
S C A R B O R O | 86A | P R O G R E S S |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
S C A R B O R O | 86B | BEECHGROVE DR. |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
SCARBORO | 86C | METRO ZOO |
During Zoo hours | ||
October 16, 1977
Last day of service on the 86A “Progress” branch. The following day, service on Markham Road is provided by the new 102 MARKHAM RD bus.
September 7, 1980
Service on the 86 “Highland Creek” branch is extended north on Meadowvale to loop at an off-street loop just north of Sheppard Avenue. 86C buses provide service north of Sheppard to the Zoo throughout the day and the evening, whenever the Zoo is open.
SCARBORO | 86 | SHEPPARD |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
S C A R B O R O | 86B | BEECHGROVE DR. |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
SCARBORO | 86C | METRO ZOO |
During Zoo hours | ||
 |
An 86 SCARBOROUGH transfer, circa 1985 |
November 22, 1980
Coincident with the extension of the BLOOR-DANFORTH SUBWAY to Kennedy, service in the west end is rerouted to operate out of Kennedy station via Eglinton, Kingston Road and Meadowvale. Service on Kingston Road southwest of Eglinton is provided by 102 MARKHAM RD and by the newly minted 114 KINGSTON RD EAST routes. 114 KINGSTON RD EAST also replaces the 86B “Beechgrove” branch.
The 86C “Zoo” branch is redesigned 86A. Also on this day, service begins on the 86B rush hour short turn service at Lawrence. Buses follow the regular route to Kingston Road and Lawrence and loop via east on Lawrence and north on Morningside to Kingston Road.
SCARBORO | 86 | SHEPPARD |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
SCARBORO | 86A | METRO ZOO |
During Zoo hours | ||
SCARBORO | 86B | LAWRENCE |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
March 14, 1988
Service begins on a new rush hour express service, following the 86 main branch route to Sheppard Avenue. Buses operate express from Kennedy Station to Kingston Road and Guildwood Parkway and continue on in local service
SCARBOROUGH | 86 | SHEPPARD |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
SCARBOROUGH | 86A | METRO ZOO |
During Zoo hours | ||
SCARBOROUGH | 86B | LAWRENCE |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
SCARBOROUGH E X P R E S S | 86C | SHEPPARD |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
February 18, 1990
Coincident with the elimination of the 114 KINGSTON RD EAST bus route, service on the 86B “Lawrence” short turn branch ends, with a new branch established to provide service between Kennedy station and the Beechgrove/Coronation area. Buses follow the regular route to Kingston Road and Lawrence and then operate via west on Lawrence, looping via south on Manse, east on Coronation and north on Beechgrove to Lawrence. Buses operate Monday to Friday, daytime until 6:30 p.m.
SCARBOROUGH | 86 | SHEPPARD |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
SCARBOROUGH | 86A | METRO ZOO |
During Zoo hours | ||
SCARBOROUGH E X P R E S S | 86C | SHEPPARD |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
SCARBOROUGH | 86D | BEECHGROVE |
Monday to Friday, rush hours and midday | ||
September 6, 1998
Service is established on a new rush hour short turn service, running from Kennedy station over the regular route to loop via Lawson, north on the Highland Creek Overpass and west and south over Old Kingston Road. Although the exact schedule of this service is not known, in later years, all local rush hour service operated along this 86B branch, while service on Meadowvale was provided entirely by the express service.
February 14, 2000
The 86C express branch is re-designated 86E.
WESTBOUND |
|
EASTBOUND |
||
86 |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
86 |
SCARBOROUGH |
TO KENNEDY STN |
TO SHEPPARD |
|||
7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
||||
|
|
|
86A |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
TO TORONTO ZOO |
|||
During Zoo Hours |
||||
|
|
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86B |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
TO HIGHLAND CREEK |
|||
Monday to Friday, rush hours only |
||||
|
|
|
86D |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
TO BEECHGROVE |
|||
Monday to Friday, rush hours and midday |
||||
86E |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
86E |
SCARBOROUGH |
TO KENNEDY STN |
TO SHEPPARD |
|||
Monday to Friday, rush hours only |
||||
March 31, 2002
Route transferred from Birchmount garage to the newly opened Eglinton garage on Comstock Road.
June 19, 2005
Service became accessible using Orion VII low floor buses in all runs throughout the week.
November 23, 2008
As part of the TTC’s Ridership Growth Strategy, new evening and weekend service to Beechgrove is provided. Buses operate at intervals of 30 minutes or better whenever the subway is open.
May 8, 2011
Due to a reallocation of resources resulting from a reduction of municipal transit subsidies, all Sunday and holiday service is eliminated on the 86D “Beechgrove” branch. All service after 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday is also eliminated.
June 22, 2014
As part of a system-wide reorganization of route branch designations, northbound buses on the main “Sheppard” branch are redesignated 86C. All southbound local buses continue to show 86 SCARBOROUGH destination signs.
WESTBOUND |
|
EASTBOUND |
||
86 |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
|
|
TO KENNEDY STN |
|
|||
7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
||||
|
|
|
86A |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
TO TORONTO ZOO |
|||
Monday to Friday, rush hours and midday |
||||
|
|
|
86B |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
TO HIGHLAND CREEK |
|||
Monday to Friday, rush hours only |
||||
|
|
|
86C |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
TO SHEPPARD |
|||
7 days a week, evenings |
||||
|
|
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86D |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
TO BEECHGROVE |
|||
Monday to Friday, rush hours and midday |
||||
86E |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
86E |
SCARBOROUGH |
TO KENNEDY STN |
TO SHEPPARD |
|||
Monday to Friday, rush hours only |
||||
October 11, 2015
Late evening Sunday and holiday service is increased on the 86C “Sheppard” branch so that service between Kennedy station and Sheppard Avenue operates at intervals of ten minutes or better whenever the subway is open.
January 6, 2019
Express service on this route is now split off into the newly renamed 986 SCARBOROUGH EXPRESS.
WESTBOUND |
|
EASTBOUND |
||
86 |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
|
|
TO KENNEDY STN |
|
|||
7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
||||
|
|
|
86A |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
TO TORONTO ZOO |
|||
Monday to Friday, rush hours and midday |
||||
|
|
|
86B |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
TO HIGHLAND CREEK |
|||
Monday to Friday, rush hours only |
||||
|
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|
86C |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
TO SHEPPARD |
|||
7 days a week, evenings |
||||
|
|
|
86D |
SCARBOROUGH |
|
TO BEECHGROVE |
|||
Monday to Friday, rush hours and midday |
||||
June 29, 2020
With the temporary suspension of the 986 SCARBOROUGH EXPRESS, service on the 86B “Highland Creek” branch is improved by adding midday, afternoon and early evening service until 10pm. No changes to other branches.
86 Scarborough Image Archive
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TTC Twin 23-R Coach #589 sits at Davenport Garage on February 4, 1937, after being damaged in service on the SCARBORO route. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the Rob Pineault collection. |
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An unnumbered TTC Gray Coach bus poses bearing a SCARBORO rollsign exposure on July 25, 1944. This TTC photo is taken from the Pete Coulman collection. |
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TTC GM Old Look #933 leaves Birchmount loop in service on SCARBORO while a Peter Witt trailer train, led by car #2488, serving KINGSTON ROAD look on. Another Witt trailer train is in the background. This TTC photo, taken on March 21, 1946, is from the Pete Coulman collection. |
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A TTC operators' map of the SCARBORO bus route, effective July 1, 1954. |
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TTC GM TG-3608 "Old Look" #939 poses at Hillcrest shops, bearing a SCARBORO rollsign, in this early-to-mid 1950s shot. This photo is courtesy the Toronto Archives. |
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A TTC GM Old Look bus (number unknown), repainted for Christmas, is posed in front of the Princes Gates on December 16, 1956, bearing an 86 SCARBORO rollsign exposure. This TTC photo was donated from the Pete Coulman collection. |
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TTC Twin 41-S bus #1700 poses at a garage for a photo on April 3, 1957, bearing an 86 SCARBOROUGH rollsign. This TTC photo was donated from the Pete Coulman collection. |
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The first page of the TTC's Orders and Notice, effective January 1, 1958, featuring a map of the SCARBORO bus operations on that date. |
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The second page of the TTC's Orders and Notice for January 1, 1958, showing the operations and fare collection procedures of the SCARBORO bus. |
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The outside page of the TTC's official timetable of 86 SCARBORO operations, effective May 1960. |
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The inside page of the TTC's timetable of 86 SCARBORO operations, effective May 1960. |
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A page from the September 1961 edition of the TTC's Headlights, highlighting the service changes to 73 SOUTH DUFFERIN, 96A WILSON and 86E SCARBOROUGH. |
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The outer page of the TTC's official timetable of 86 SCARBORO operations, effective April 1, 1965. |
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The inside of the TTC's official timetable of 86 SCARBORO operations, effective April 1, 1965. |
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TTC GM New Look bus (number unclear) operates in service on 86 SCARBORO in this 1967 photograph. The image was taken by TTC staff photographer S. McConnell. |
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TTC GM New Look buses #2908 and 3764 heads westbound on St. Clair Avenue East, crossing the Kingston subdivision in 86 SCARBOROUGH service circa August 1973. Photo by Richard Glaze. |
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A TTC advertisement promoting the 86 SCARBORO, 85 SHEPPARD EAST and 13 ROUGE HILL's upcoming service to the Toronto Zoo. |
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The front page of the TTC's timetable of 86 SCARBOROUGH operations, effective October 13, 1974. |
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The inside page of the TTC's 86 SCARBOROUGH timetable, effective October 13, 1974. |
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TTC GM New Look bus #7765 heads eastbound on St. Clair, approaching Brimley. Richard Glaze took this photograph circa October 1976. |
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TTG GM "New Look" bus #7387 heads westbound on St. Clair Avenue, crossing Brimley with comrades while in 86B SCARBORO service. Richard Glaze took this photograph in May 1977. |
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TTC GM New Look #8068 heads westbound on St. Clair Avenue East, crossing Brimley in 86 SCARBORO service in this May 1977 shot by Richard Glaze. |
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TTC GM New Look #7119 poses at Birchmount Garage, bearing an 86 SCARBORO exposure, in this July 1977 shot by Bob Hussey. Photo courtesy the Pete Coulman collection. |
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TTC GM New Look bus #8695 lays over at the Metro Zoo parking lot while in service on 86 SCARBOROUGH in the early-to-mid 1980s. This photograph is by John Calnan. |
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TTC GM New Look bus #8292 lays over at Kennedy station in between runs on 86 SCARBOROUGH in this mid-1980s photograph by John Calnan. |
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This image shows a section of rollsign displaying 86 SCARBOROUGH exposures, circa 1985. Here we see the tricolour SCARBORO coexisting with the all-black SCARBOROUGH. Photo courtesy Joseph Chemerys of the Rollsign Gallery. |
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TTC GM New Looks #8961 and #8924 lay over at Kennedy station, signed for 57 MIDLAND and 86 SCARBORO respectively. This early-to-mid 1980s photograph is by John Calnan. |
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TTC GM New Look rebuild bus #2010 seen departing Kennedy Station on South Service Road West and Transway Crescent operating on the 86A SCARBOROUGH service in January 1998. Photo taken by Jeff Bentley. |
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The official TTC map of 86 SCARBOROUGH operations, effective January 5, 2014. |
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On the afternoon of February 25, 2014, at the intersection of Lawrence and Morningside, TTC Orion VII buses 7517 and 7547 meet, in service on 86 SCARBOROUGH ("Beechwood" branch) and 116 MORNINGSIDE respectively. Photo by James Bow. |
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TTC Orion VII bus #7421 lays over at Kennedy station in service on the 86E SCARBOROUGH EXPRESS route on the afternoon of April 11, 2017. Photo by James Bow. |
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TTC Orion VII 7883 lays over at Kennedy Station in 86 SCARBOROUGH service. Once a normal sight on this route, however further retirement of these buses have made these sightings on this route very rare by this date. Photo taken on May 7th, 2018 by Marcus Danchuk. |
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The TTC advertisement on the Toronto Star shown on the Thursday, November 20, 1980 edition shows major changes related to the Kennedy station opening affecting the routes 9 BELLAMY, 20 CLIFFSIDE, 21 BRIMLEY, 34 EGLINTON EAST, 43 KENNEDY, 57 MIDLAND, 69 WARDEN SOUTH, 86 SCARBORO, 102 MARKHAM ROAD, 113 DANFORTH, and 114 KINGSTON ROAD EAST. |