Compiled by Pete Coulman
October 25, 1943
Service begins on a new route, operated by the Toronto Transportation Commission under contract to the Town of Leaside. Buses operate from the corner of Cleveland and Millwood via east on Millwood, north on Airdrie, east on Lea, south on Laird, southwest on Sutherland, north on Bayview, west on Davisville and then north on Millwood to Cleveland.
Buses operate from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 12 midnight on Saturday and from 2 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday and holidays, at 15 minute intervals throughout. Free transfers are made with the LEASIDE bus and, via LEASIDE, with the East York Township portion of the BROADVIEW bus. Initially, LEASIDE and EGLINTON WEST transfers are used until SOUTH LEASIDE transfers are printed.
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SOUTH LEASIDE |
CLEVELAND |
Monday to Friday, daytime | |
October 29, 1943
Monday to Friday evening service added to midnight. Sunday service extended to operate from 10:00 a.m. to midnight.
November 15, 1943
SOUTH LEASIDE transfers replace LEASIDE versions.
November 22, 1943
Service is revised to operate from Davisville and Mount Pleasant via east on Davisville, south on Bayview, northeast on Sutherland, east on Lea, north on Laird, west on McRae, west on Millwood, south on Bayview and west on Davisville, looping via south on Mount Pleasant, east on Balloil and north on a roadway located east of a parkette abutting Mount Pleasant Road.
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SOUTH LEASIDE |
GLENVALE |
Monday to Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to midnight | |
November 23, 1943
Transfers issued westboound west of Bayview to be punched “Special” and only valid on the LEASIDE route north of Leaside Station. Transfers issued east of Bayview to be valid on all sections of the LEASIDE route and for re-issue to the BROADVIEW bus. LEASIDE transfers issued south of Station and punched “Special” valid only to Bayview on the SOUTH LEASIDE route. Those issued north of Leaside Station are valid all the way to Mt. Pleasant.
September 4, 1945
Service extended west to Yonge Street along Davisville Avenue, looping via north on Yonge, east on Milwood and south on Acacia.
Also on this day, every second rush hour bus reverses its loop through Leaside, operating north on Bayview, east on Millwood, east on McRae, north on Laird, west on Lea, southwest on Sutherland and north on Bayview to Davisville.
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SOUTH LEASIDE |
Y O N G E |
Monday to Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to midnight | |
February 18, 1946
Every second bus reverses the loop through Leaside up to 12:30 a.m. Monday to Saturday, and up to 1 p.m. Sunday and holidays.
October 1, 1950
Fares are adjusted to 10 cents cash, 4 tickets for 25 cents for adults, 3 cents cash, 10 tickets for 25 cents for children, and 3 cents cash, 7 tickets for 25 cents for students.
May 1, 1953
Operation transferred to Gray Coach Lines.
July 5, 1953
Sunday and holiday operation discontinued.
January 15, 1954
Operation transferred back to the Toronto Transit Commission.
March 30, 1954
Coincident with the opening of the YONGE SUBWAY, the service is revised to operate out of Davisville station via east on Davisville, looping via north on Bayview, east and north on McRae, south on Laird, west on Lea, west on Sutherland and north on Bayview to Davisville, returning via west on Davisville to the subway. Every second bus reverses this loop.
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SOUTH LEASIDE |
SUBWAY |
Monday to Saturday, 18 hours a day | |
July 1, 1954
As part of a system-wide restructuring of services, SOUTH LEASIDE buses now operate out of St. Clair station via east on Pleasant, north on Avoca, east on St. Clair, north on Welland, east on Moore, north on Bayview, east on Sutherland, northwest on Millwood and northeast on McRae to loop via north on Randolph, east on Pankhurst and south on Laird to McRae, returning via the reverse route.
With the Toronto Transit Commission now responsible for all public transportation operations within Metropolitan Toronto, the fare structure is revised, with all of SOUTH LEASIDE operating within the central fare zone.
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SOUTH LEASIDE |
L A I R D |
Monday to Saturday, 18 hours a day | |
September 7, 1956
Route number 88 assigned.
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S O U T H |
88 |
L A I R D |
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Monday to Saturday, 18 hours a day | ||
June 25, 1965
With the discontinuation of the 81 THORNCLIFFE PARK route, service on 88 SOUTH LEASIDE is extended to compensate. During rush hours and midday, Monday to Friday, buses follow the regular route from St. Clair station to Sutherland Drive and Millwood Road and then either operate via southeast on Millwood, east on Overlea to Thorncliffe Park Drive, looping clockwise around Thorncliffe Park Drive until noon, and counter-clockwise after noon, returning via the reverse route, or continuing over the regular route to Laird Drive and Pankhurst Boulevard. During weekday evenings, weekends and holidays (including Sundays), all buses operate to Laird and Pankhurst.
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S O U T H |
88 |
L A I R D |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
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S O U T H |
88B |
THORNCLIFFE PK. |
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Monday to Friday, rush hours and midday | ||
February 26, 1966
Service extended from Thorncliffe Park to Flemingdon Park, with buses continuing via east on Overlea and north on Don Mills, looping via east on Gateway Boulevard, north and east on Grenoble Drive, north on Deauville Lane and west on St. Dennis to Don Mills, returning via the reverse route. Service on Thorncliffe Park is replaced by the re-established 81 THORNCLIFFE PARK route.
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S O U T H |
88 |
L A I R D |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
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S O U T H |
88B |
FLEMINGDON PK. |
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Monday to Friday, rush hours and midday | ||
December 9, 1968
Service on the Flemingdon Park branch is altered to serve the industrial area northeast of the Don Mills/Eglinton intersection. Buses follow the regular route to Don Mills road and then operate via north on Don Mills to loop via east, south and west on Wynford Drive, west on St. Dennis Drive, south on Deauville Lane, west on Grenoble Drive and south and west on Gateway Blvd to Don Mills, returning south on Don Mills to its regular route. Buses operate via this looping until the 2:52 p.m. departure from St. Clair station, at which point the looping is reversed.
No change in destination signs, although window cards are used with one side saying “VIA DON MILLS & WYNFORD DR.” and the other saying “VIA OVERLEA & GATEWAY BLVD.”
This change puts part of 88 SOUTH LEASIDE into Zone 2’s fare area. The zone boundaries are at the Don Mills/Eglinton intersection and at the intersection of St. Dennis Drive and Deauville Lane.
August 15, 1973
Weekday evening and all day Saturday service provided on the Flemingdon Park branch. Buses operate every 30 minutes during these times.
March 30, 1975
Coincident with the inauguration of the 100 FLEMINGDON PARK route, service on the 88A SOUTH LEASIDE branch is eliminated, and the route is altered to serve the Leaside Industrial Area. Service on the 88 SOUTH LEASIDE bus now operates from St. Clair station via the regular route to Millwood and Sutherland, at which point every second bus operates clockwise via northwest on Millwood, east on McRae to Laird, and then east on Wicksteed, south on Beth, west on Overlea and northwest on Millwood to Sutherland. The other buses follow this loop counter-clockwise. Service operates 18 hours a day, 7 days a week. This service replaces the 56B LEASIDE rush hour branch.
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SOUTH LEASIDE |
88 |
THORNCLIFFE |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
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SOUTH LEASIDE |
88A |
THORNCLIFFE |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
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A 88 SOUTH LEASIDE transfer, circa 1985. |
June 22, 1986
Buses are rerouted both ways via Brentcliffe, Vanderhoof and Leslie at all times in order to serve the new Wilket Creek Business Park. Service on Wicksteed between Brentcliffe and Leslie discontinued. No change in destination signs.
February 8, 1987
Due to low ridership east of Laird, a new Monday to Saturday evening and all-day Sunday and holiday service is established, with buses operating to Laird only, looping via Millwood, McRae, Laird, Southvale and Millwood.
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SOUTH LEASIDE |
88 |
THORNCLIFFE |
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Monday to Saturday, daytime | ||
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SOUTH LEASIDE |
88A |
THORNCLIFFE |
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Monday to Saturday, daytime | ||
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S O U T H |
88B |
L A I R D |
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Monday to Saturday, evenings | ||
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An 88 SOUTH LEASIDE transfer, circa 1991. |
January 4, 1993
Davenport garage closes and route re-assigned to Old Eglinton garage.
February 13, 1994
The Monday to Saturday 88/88A looping at Thorncliffe is expanded. Starting on this day, buses run from St Clair Station over the regular route to Millwood and Sutherland, then loop via Millwood, McRae, Wicksteed, Brentcliffe, Vanderhoof, Leslie, Wicksteed, Beth Nealson, Thorncliffe Park Drive, Overlea and Millwood to Sutherland and return, augmenting 81 THORNCLIFFE PARK service on Thorncliffe Park Drive. 88 buses loop clockwise via Wicksteed, 88A buses loop counterclockwise via Overlea.
Evening and all-day Sunday and holiday service is revised. Buses on the 88B branch operate both ways between St. Clair station and Thorncliffe via east on Pleasant, north on Avoca, east on St. Clair, north on Welland, east on Moore, north on Bayview, east on Sutherland, southeast on Millwood Drive and east on Overlea, looping via Thorncliffe Park Drive, clockwise until 3 p.m. on Sundays, and counter-clockwise at all other times. Buses on the 88C branch follow the regular route to Sutherland and Millwood and loop via Millwood, McRae, Laird and Millwood.
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SOUTH LEASIDE |
88 |
THORNCLIFFE PK |
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Monday to Saturday, daytime | ||
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SOUTH LEASIDE |
88A |
THORNCLIFFE PK |
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Monday to Saturday, daytime | ||
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S O U T H |
88B |
THORNCLIFFE PK |
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Monday to Saturday, evenings | ||
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S O U T H |
88C |
L A I R D |
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Monday to Saturday, evenings | ||
September 6, 1994
Service removed from Brentcliffe, Vanderhoof and Leslie. Buses resume old route via Wicksteed.
February 14, 2000
Service made accessible through the use of the New Flyer D40LF low-floor vehicles.
March 31, 2002
Buses on the 88 SOUTH LEASIDE moved to the New Eglinton Garage on Comstock Road.
February 16, 2003
Buses are again rerouted both ways via Brentcliffe, Vanderhoof and Leslie during rush hours and midday, Monday to Saturday, to serve the Wilket creek Business Park. Service on Wicksteed between Brentcliffe and Leslie discontinued.
EASTBOUND |
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WESTBOUND |
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88 |
SOUTH LEASIDE |
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TO ST CLAIR STN |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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88 |
SOUTH LEASIDE |
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TO THORNCLIFFE PARK |
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Monday to Saturday daytime |
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88A |
SOUTH LEASIDE |
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TO THORNCLIFFE PARK |
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Monday to Saturday daytime |
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88B |
SOUTH LEASIDE |
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TO THORNCLIFFE PARK |
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Monday to Saturday, evenings |
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88C |
SOUTH LEASIDE |
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TO LAIRD |
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Monday to Saturday, evenings |
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February 13, 2005
Eastbound buses on Wicksteed are rerouted to avoid a left turn at a railway crossing. All 88 buses (St. Clair Station to Thorncliffe via Wicksteed) operate via east on McRae Drive, north on Laird, east on Vanderhoof, south on Leslie and east on Wicksteed. No change to the westbound routings.
December 3, 2007
With rail service removed at the railway crossing, the eastbound diversion is discontinued, with all eastbound buses operating via east on Wicksteed, north on Brentcliffe and east on Vanderhoof.
November 23, 2008
As part of the TTC’s Ridership Growth Strategy, service east on Laird Drive via Wicksteed, Vanderhoof and Beth Nealson is increased to operate at intervals of 30 minutes or better seven days a week, whenever the subway is open, effectively ending the 88B and 88C branches.
At the same time, route operations have been shifted from Eglinton to Wilson garage as a result of the opening of Mount Dennis garage.
EASTBOUND |
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WESTBOUND |
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88 |
SOUTH LEASIDE |
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TO ST CLAIR STN |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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88 |
SOUTH LEASIDE |
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TO THORNCLIFFE PARK |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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88A |
SOUTH LEASIDE |
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TO THORNCLIFFE PARK |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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June 22, 2014
As part of a system-wide reorganization of route branch designations, buses operating on the clockwise “Via Wicksteed” branch are redesignated 88B.
EASTBOUND |
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WESTBOUND |
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88 |
SOUTH LEASIDE |
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TO ST CLAIR STN |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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88A |
SOUTH LEASIDE |
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TO THORNCLIFFE PARK |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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88B |
SOUTH LEASIDE |
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TO THORNCLIFFE PARK |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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September 2, 2018
The end of the line terminus location on this route will be adjusted from Beth Nealson Drive and Wicksteed Avenue to Thorncliffe Park Drive south of Overlea Boulevard for the 88A branch, and from Beth Nealson Drive and Wicksteed Avenue to southbound far side of Overlea Boulevard for the 88B branch. No change to destination signs or service levels.
March 28, 2021
With the opening of McNicoll garage, service on this route is transferred from Wilson garage to Eglinton garage.
88 South Leaside Image Archive
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TTC GM New Look bus #7740 heads eastbound on St Clair, crossing Mount Pleasant, in 88 SOUTH LEASIDE service in this July 1976 shot by Richard Glaze. |
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TTC GM New Look bus #3565 heads westbound on St. Clair, having passed Mount Pleasant, while A8-class PCC 4527 heads eastbound in MOUNT PLEASANT service. This photograph was taken by J.Bryce Lee on July 22, 1976. |
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A TTC announcement detailing the routing rearrangements that took place on March 30, 1975 when the 100 FLEMINGDON PARK bus replaced a portion of 88 SOUTH LEASIDE. Image donated by Peter Coulman. |
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A scan of an Orders and Notice for March 30, 1954 (the opening day of the Yonge subway), detailing route operations into the subway for AVENUE ROAD, DAVISVILLE and SOUTH LEASIDE routes. |
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An official map of the TTC's 88 SOUTH LEASIDE operations, effective January 2, 2015. |
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An official map of the TTC's SOUTH LEASIDE operations at its inauguration on October 25, 1943. Item donated by Pete Coulman. |
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An official map of the TTC's SOUTH LEASIDE operations, effective July 1, 1954, when the TTC took over the operation of all transit services within Metropolitan Toronto. Item donated by Pete Coulman. |
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An official map of the TTC's 88 SOUTH LEASIDE operations, effective January 1, 1958. Item donated by Pete Coulman. |
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An official TTC timetable describing SOUTH LEASIDE operations on the day of its inauguration, October 25, 1943. Item donated by Pete Coulman. |
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The front of an official TTC timetable describing 88 SOUTH LEASIDE operations effective June 27, 1965. Item donated by Pete Coulman. |
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The front of an official TTC timetable of 88 SOUTH LEASIDE operations, effective June 23, 1969. Item donated by Pete Coulman. |
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The front of the TTC's official timetable of 88 SOUTH LEASIDE operations, effective March 30, 1975. Item donated by Pete Coulman. |
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TTC GM TDH-4512 "Old Look" bus pauses at St. Clair station, in service on 88 SOUTH LEASIDE in this June 1957 shot taken by the TTC. |
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TTC GM TDH 5304 New Look bus #3172 heads westbound on St. Clair, crossing Clifton Road and passing the Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in this early 1970s shot. The bus is in service on 88 SOUTH LEASIDE. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the Pete Coulman collection. |
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A lot is happening in this shot behind Hillcrest shops in this 1972 scene taken by M. Berenro. The yellow buses are new Western Flyer trolley bus bodies, shipped ahead of the installation of trolley poles and a proper TTC paint scheme. In the bottom left corner, TTC GM New Look #3337 is seen bearing an 88A SOUTH LEASIDE "Flemingdon Park" rollsign. Photo donated by Pete Coulman. |
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TTC Orion VII bus #7774 sits at Birchmount and Steeles on June 7, 2017, but takes the time to test out other displays on its rollsign. Marcus Danchuk took this photograph of a 88 SOUTH LEASIDE display. |
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TTC GM New Look bus #8330 operates westbound on St. Clair, approaching Mount Pleasant in service on 88 SOUTH LEASIDE in this July 1986 shot. Photo by Tom Twigge, courtesy the Pete Coulman collection. |
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Passengers rush as TTC Orion VII bus #8394 picks up people at St. Clair station's bus terminal, preparing for a run on 88 SOUTH LEASIDE on October 6, 2013. Photograph by James Bow. |
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Larry Batzakis shot this view of Orion V #9432 serving the 88 SOUTH LEASIDE route on August 19, 2015. Buses dropped off and picked up passengers on Pleasant Boulevard outside of St. Clair Station's lower bus loop while TTC contractors rebuilt the loop. |
