Compiled by Jeffrey Kay
Map by John Calnan
From Transfer Points, Vol. XXII, No. 4, May 1996
with additional information and materials from D.C. Bardeau and Peter Coulman, with thanks to Alan Gryfe
See Also
May 1st, 1934
A new route is inaugurated, operated from Davenport garage, and running from Melrose & Elm via Elm, Lawrence Avenue and Ronan to Snowdon, and return. The route is initially operated from Davenport Garage.
|
LAWRENCE |
MELROSE |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | |
A LAWRENCE transfer, circa 1951.
October 5th, 1936
Extra afternoon rush hour service added between Yonge Street and Melrose.
|
LAWRENCE |
MELROSE |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | |
|
LAWRENCE |
MELROSE |
Monday to Friday, afternoon rush hours only | |
December 7th, 1936
Extra morning rush hour service added between Yonge Street and Melrose.
April 1st,1938
Operations transferred to Eglinton garage.
February 10th, 1941
Rush hour short turn eliminated. Additional rush hour service provided on whole route and extended on Elm north from Melrose to Roe.
|
LAWRENCE |
MELROSE |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | |
|
LAWRENCE |
R O E |
Rush hours only, 6:00-8:56 a.m. & | |
February 24th, 1941
Saturday Roe extension operates until 7:00 p.m..
June 20th, 1942
Saturday afternoon extras run between Yonge Street and Roe.
|
LAWRENCE |
MELROSE |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | |
|
LAWRENCE |
R O E |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | |
|
LAWRENCE |
R O E |
Saturday, noon to 7 p.m. | |
November 1st, 1942
Service extended all day to Roe. Extra rush hour trips run between Yonge Street and Roe.
|
LAWRENCE |
R O E |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | |
|
LAWRENCE |
R O E |
Monday to Friday, rush hours | |
March 7, 1954
Concurrent with the launch of the NORTOWN trolley coach providing north-south service on Avenue Road and Mount Pleasant, service on LAWRENCE is revised, pulling buses off of Elm and Ronan. In the west end buses loop via north on Avenue Road, west on Glengarry and south on Grey and then head east on Lawrence to loop via south on Bayview, west on St. Leonards and north on Mildenhall.
In anticipation of the opening of the YONGE SUBWAY, peak period service on LAWRENCE is split at Yonge to operate to and from Eglinton station via Yonge street. Buses loop through the terminal, but don't drop off passengers in the station. On-street connections are made with the YONGE STREETCAR.
|
LAWRENCE |
AVENUE RD |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | |
|
LAWRENCE WEST |
AVENUE RD |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | |
|
LAWRENCE EAST |
BAYVIEW |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | |
March 30, 1954
With the opening of the YONGE SUBWAY at 1 p.m., peak period service on LAWRENCE entering Eglinton station serves Bay #2 at Eglinton.
July 1, 1954
Concurrent with a significant expansion to TTC transit service in the suburbs of Metropolitan Toronto, LAWRENCE service is extended west from Avenue Road via Lawrence to Lawrence Plaza at Bathurst Street. Buses loop in the parking lot on the southwest corner of Bathurst and Lawrence.
|
LAWRENCE |
BATHURST |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | |
|
LAWRENCE WEST |
BATHURST |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | |
|
LAWRENCE EAST |
BAYVIEW |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | |
June 29, 1955
In the west end, buses now loop via north on Bathurst, west on Covington and south on Brucewood to Lawrence, around the back of Lawrence Plaza.
September 7, 1956
All routes operating out of Eglinton garage are assigned route numbers. LAWRENCE is assigned route #52.
September 8, 1957
Service is extended west on Lawrence to Dufferin, looping via south on Corona, west on Cork and north on Dufferin. A Zone Boundary is established for Dufferin trips at Bathurst and Lawrence (which sees occasional short turns). A Central Zone fare is payable east of here, to Bayview or to Eglinton Station, as was the practice before this date. A "Zone 2" fare is payable for travel west of Bathurst.
|
LAWRENCE |
52 |
DUFFERIN |
|
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
|
LAWRENCE WEST |
52A |
BATHURST |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE EAST |
52B |
BAYVIEW |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE WEST |
52C |
DUFFERIN |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
NOTE: "EAST" and "WEST" monickers were dropped from the front rollsigns starting September 1958, but the "'A' WEST" and "'B' EAST" elements were retained on the side signs right up until 1965.
December 29, 1957
Buses now stop at Bay 10 in Eglinton station. This larger bay, with four stopping locations, is now incorporated into the paid area at Eglinton station as the subway entrance near the Eglinton/Duplex intersection is opened.
December 5, 1960
Rush hour and midday weekday service is extended west from Dufferin to Caledonia, looping via south on Marianfeld, west on Playfair and north on Caledonia.
|
LAWRENCE |
52 |
DUFFERIN |
|
Monday to Friday, Evenings | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52A |
BATHURST |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52B |
BAYVIEW |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52D |
CALEDONIA |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52E |
CALEDONIA |
|
Monday to Friday, midday only | ||
June 26, 1961
Caledonia service is extended west to Culford (beyond Keele Street), looping clockwise through the service station on the southwest corner.
|
LAWRENCE |
52 |
DUFFERIN |
|
Monday to Friday, Evenings | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52A |
BATHURST |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52B |
BAYVIEW |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52F |
K E E L E |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52G |
K E E L E |
|
Monday to Friday, midday only | ||
October 10, 1961
Culford "Keele" service is extended to Weston Road, looping via north on Weston, east on John and south on South Station.
|
LAWRENCE |
52 |
DUFFERIN |
|
Monday to Friday, Evenings | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52A |
BATHURST |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52B |
BAYVIEW |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52D |
WESTON |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52E |
WESTON |
|
Monday to Friday, midday only | ||
September 3, 1962
Evening and weekend service is extended west from Dufferin to Weston Road, effectively eliminating the "52" branch.
May 21, 1963
Afternoon peak period buses from Eglinton station now run express northbound from the first stop north of the subway to Lawrence Avenue. Southbound buses continue to serve all stops on Yonge. Buses now load at Bay 1 at Eglinton station.
Northbound express service during morning peak periods started later, as noted on the pocket timetable issued on October 31, 1966.
September 3, 1963
Concurrent with a major reorganization of the TTC's suburban routes, weekday midday and Saturday midday service is extended west of Weston Road via west on Lawrence, south on Royal York, west on Trehorne and west on the Westway to Martin Grove, looping via west on Redgrave, north and east on Waterbury, and south on Martin Grove. This replaces the old 98 WESTWAY route. Service on the 52A branch (Bathurst-Subway) ended in the fall of 1963. It is believed that this change occurred with the major suburban expansion making the last day of operation for the old 52A branch Friday August 30, 1963.
|
LAWRENCE |
52 |
MARTIN GROVE |
|
Monday to Friday, midday | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52B |
BAYVIEW |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52C |
MARTIN GROVE |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52D |
WESTON |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52E |
WESTON |
|
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
September 16, 1963
Buses looping at Weston Road now run north on Weston Road and west and south on Little, providing a common eastbound stop at Weston Road for buses from Martin Grove and Weston Road short turn buses.
December 16, 1963
Peak period buses arriving at Eglinton station now pick-up and drop off at Bay #10.
September 7, 1965
Evening service is extended from Weston Road to Martin Grove, Mondays through Saturdays. The Weston Road branch continues as a short turn service during rush hours, weekday middays, Saturdays during the daytime, and as the main service through Sundays and holidays.
May 11, 1968
Buses rerouted to run both ways on the Westway between Royal York and Trehorne, eliminating service on Royal York and Trehorne. Also, concurrent with the extension of the BLOOR-DANFORTH SUBWAY to Islington and Warden, rollsigns are revised to show "EGLINTON STN" instead of just "SUBWAY".
|
LAWRENCE |
52 |
MARTIN GROVE |
|
Mondays to Saturdays, 18 hours a day | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52B |
BAYVIEW |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52C |
MARTIN GROVE |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52D |
WESTON |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52E |
WESTON |
|
Mondays to Fridays, midday | ||
April 27, 1969
In the east end, all service outside of rush hour is extended south on Bayview Avenue to Sunnybrook Hospital.
|
LAWRENCE |
52B |
BAYVIEW |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52C |
MARTIN GROVE |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52D |
WESTON |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52F |
WESTON |
|
Mondays to Fridays, midday | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52G |
MARTIN GROVE |
|
Mondays to Saturdays, 18 hours a day | ||
February 8, 1971
Some buses may be operating from Queensway Garage on this day. The Pocket Timetable on this date shows some early morning trips beginning eastbound trips from Kipling.
January 21, 1973
The zone fare system within the boundaries of Metropolitan Toronto is eliminated on this day. The zone boundary at Bathurst is removed.
March 31, 1973
Concurrent with the extension of the YONGE SUBWAY to York Mills station, LAWRENCE bus service is split at Lawrence station. Peak period service on Yonge Street to Eglinton Station ends.
In addition, a new "Ranee" service is added, operating from Lawrence station via west on Lawrence and north on Varna, looping via north on Varna, west on Ranee and south and east on Flemingdon, returning south on Varna and east on Lawrence to Lawrence station. This new branch replaces part of the 14 CHAPLIN route.
The pocket timetable on this date now shows that route signs for service to Weston Road now include "RD" as part of the western destination.
|
LAWRENCE |
52 |
MARTIN GROVE |
|
Mondays to Saturdays, 18 hours a day | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52A |
WESTON RD. |
|
Mondays to Saturdays, daytime | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52B |
R A N E E |
|
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52C |
BAYVIEW |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52D |
SUNNYBROOK |
|
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
August 15, 1973
Service east of Yonge Street is replaced by the revised 11 BAYVIEW and 28 DAVISVILLE routes.
February 9, 1976
A new rush hour service begins operation, from Lawrence station via west on Lawrence, north on Bathurst, west on Hotspur, west on Neptune, south on Ameer, east on Ranee, south on Bathurst, west on Covington, south on Brucewood and returning via east on Lawrence.
|
LAWRENCE |
52 |
MARTIN GROVE |
|
Monday to Saturday, 18 hours a day | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52A |
WESTON RD. |
|
Monday to Saturday, daytime | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52B |
R A N E E |
|
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52C |
NEPTUNE |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
January 28, 1978
Concurrent with the opening of the SPADINA SUBWAY, service is revised to operate in both directions through the newly opened Lawrence West stations. Service on the 52B and 52C branches are replaced by the new 109 RANEE route. A new branch is introduced operating from Lawrence West station to Culford, replacing the southern portion of the old 59 MAPLE LEAF route, looping via south on Culford, east on Flamborough, south on Keele, west on Gulliver and north on Culford.
|
LAWRENCE |
52 |
MARTIN GROVE |
|
Monday to Saturday, 18 hours a day | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52A |
WESTON RD. |
|
Monday to Saturday, daytime | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52B |
MARTIN GROVE |
|
Unscheduled short turns | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52C |
WESTON RD. |
|
Unscheduled short turns | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52D |
C U L F O R D |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours and midday | ||
April 14, 1980
The Weston Road looping is revised to operate via south on Weston Road, west on Bellevue, north on Hickory Tree and east on Lawrence.
September 5, 1982
Service from Eglinton garage ends and all buses operate out of Queensway Garage.
January 3, 1983
The midday short turn service to Weston Road is discontinued, with through service improved to Martin Grove. Weston Road service continues during rush hours, daytime on Saturdays, and providing the main service on Sundays and holidays.
February 12, 1983
Saturday short turn service to Weston Road is discontinued, with service improved to Martin Grove.
April 18, 1983
Afternoon peak period short turn service to Weston Road is discontinued, with all buses running through to Martin Grove.
January 5, 1987
"Culford" looping revised to provide a new service into the Sheffield industrial area and closer service to Northwestern Hospital and the Baker Health Clinic. 52D buses now loop via south on Benton, west on Colville, south on Sheffield, west on Ingram and Gulliver, north on Culford, and east on Lawrence. Buses reverse this looping after 3 p.m. Service is no longer provided on Flamborough between Culford and Keele.
September 8, 1987
Morning peak period short turn service to Weston Road is discontinued, with all buses running through to Martin Grove. Buses operate to Weston Road (the "52A" branch) only on Sundays and holidays.
November 22, 1987
Sunday service is extended from Weston Road to Martin Grove, effectively ending the 52A "Weston Road" branch.
|
LAWRENCE |
52 |
MARTIN GROVE |
|
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52D |
C U L F O R D |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours and midday | ||
November 17, 1988
Operation of this route is transferred from Queensway Garage to the new Arrow Road Garage.
February 6, 1989
Culford service is extended east from Lawrence West station to Lawrence Station.
LAWRENCE | 52 | MARTIN GROVE |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
LAWRENCE | 52E | C U L F O R D |
Monday to Friday, rush hours and midday | ||
March 29, 1992
The bulk of the route's buses are transferred back to Queensway Garage, although buses serving the 52E "Culford" branch continue to operate out of Arrow Road Garage.
January 3, 1993
All buses now operate out of Wilson Garage
May 9, 1993
Concurrent with the discontinuation of the 314 DUFFERIN/BATHURST NIGHT service after 5:30 a.m. on Sundays, a new 52A branch begins operation from 5:30 until about 9 a.m., Sunday mornings, running from Yonge Street to Dufferin, looping in the west end via north and east on Apex and south on Dufferin.
LAWRENCE | 52 | MARTIN GROVE |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52A |
DUFFERIN |
|
Early Sunday Mornings, until 9 a.m. | ||
|
LAWRENCE |
52E |
C U L F O R D |
|
Monday to Friday, rush hours and midday | ||
February 12, 1994
Last day of operation. Service renamed and revised the following day as 52 LAWRENCE WEST, avoiding confusion with the 54 LAWRENCE EAST.
52 Lawrence Image Archive
|
In 1953, initial plans for the North Toronto trolley bus network to connect to the YONGE subway to open the following year initially called for separate ELGINTON and LAWRENCE trolley bus routes. Although trolley bus wires were strong on Lawrence from Yonge to Mount Pleasant, the LAWRENCE bus remained diesel, and NORTOWN, replacing EGLINTON, extended further north instead. Image courtesy Rob Pineault. |
|
TTC GM New Look bus #3519 heads westbound on Lawrence Avenue, after crossing Avenue Road in 52 LAWRENCE service in this 1972 shot by Leonard Jacks. |
|
A notice of the extension of the 52 LAWRENCE bus route, as it appeared in the TTC's "Coupler" magazine, July 1956. |
|
Official TTC O&N Notice describing the extension of 52 LAWRENCE service to Sunnybrook Hospital on April 27, 1969. |
|
A TTC notice alerting operators of an extension of 52 LAWRENCE service to Keele Street, effective Monday, June 26, 1961. |
|
British Leyland demonstrator bus #501 operates in service on the LAWRENCE bus route at Lawrence and Yonge in this 1951 shot. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the Rob Pineault collection. |
|
TTC bus #591 is posed for a photograph with a LAWRNCE rollsign on February 24, 1937. Photo from the City of Toronto Archives. |
|
TTC bus #1719 is also posed on Lawrence between Mount Pleasant and Bayview on July 13, 1956, this one with a LAWRENCE (EAST) rollsign. Photo courtesy the Toronto Public Library. |
|
TTC bus #1732 is posed on Lawrence between Mount Pleasant and Bayview on July 13, 1956 with a LAWRENCE (WEST) rollsign. This is TTC LIBRARY PHOTO #19758 |
|
TTC Flyer D-800B bus #8221 heads westbound in 52 LAWRENCE service, approaching Dufferin, passing the Craven Foundation Automobile Museum at 760 Lawrence Avenue West, in this July 1978 shot. The photographer is unknown. |
