Canada's First Electric Railway Operation, 1884

In this 1884 shot courtesy the Toronto Archives, the Van Depoele Industrial Exhibition Electrical Railway has a full load of passengers heading to the Toronto Industrial Exhibition.

Another shot of the Industrial Exhibition Electrical Railway in service in 1884. Photo courtesy the Toronto Archives.

In this shot of the Industrial Exhibition Electrical Railway, the trolley pole is clearly in evidence. On other years, third rail power was used. Photo courtesy the Toronto Archives.

Gray Coach Exhibit, 1931

For the 1931 Exhibition season, the Toronto Transportation Commission set up an exhibit promoting its Gray Coach subsidiary, including a model of the Coach terminal then planned for the corner of Bay and Edward streets. Photo courtesy the Toronto Archives.

Equipment Display, 1933

Equipment old and new sits gathered, either to be put on display, or taken back to the TTC, in this September 3, 1933 shot, courtesy the Toronto Archives.

Heritage Equipment, 1934

A replica of Toronto Street Railway open streetcar #11 sits at Hillcrest, done up for future displays. Photo courtesy the Toronto Archives.

Thousands mobbed TTC air-electric PCC 4002 as it was unveiled to Exhibition attendees during the 1938 season. This shot, taken on September 5, 1938, shows people gawking at one of the first of the new generation of Toronto streetcars. Photo courtesy Library and Archives Canada.

Old TTC buses and older Toronto streetcar equipment is displayed for the 1948 Exhibition season. Photo courtesy Library and Archives Canada.

Toronto Subway Display, 1953

For the 1953 Exhibition season, the Toronto Transportation Commission put together a major display promoting the upcoming launch of the YONGE SUBWAY line, seven months away. Two (then) new subway cars, Gloucester series #5000 and 5001, were put on streetcar trucks and towed from Hillcrest Shops down Bathurst Street overnight in late August before the start of the CNE. From Exhibition Loop, they were towed over temporary tracks to the purpose-built display building. This photo is courtesy the Toronto Public Library.

In this image, workers set up the Gloucester subway car and subway station exhibit. Photo by James Victor Salmon, courtesy the Toronto Public Library.

From August 28 to September 12, 1953, while the Exhibition was open, millions of visitors flocked to view the new subway cars, inside and out. This photo is courtesy the Toronto Public Library.

The purpose-built display building was as an important an exhibit as the two subway cars themselves. It was designed as a mock subway station, showing would-be passengers how the new stations would look as well as teaching them how to use the turnstiles and transfer machines. Special souvenir transfers were given out. Photo taken by Strathy Smith, courtesy the Toronto Public Library.

The temporary station building appears to have used many of the materials that went into the original subway stations themselves, showing pride in the TTC's new, modern look. Photo taken by Strathy Smith, courtesy the Toronto Public Library.

In this shot, taken by Strathy Smith, a TTC worker shows curious onlookers how the new transfer machines work. Photo courtesy the Toronto Public Library.

From the station building area, passengers moved out onto the station platform, where Gloucester subway cars #5000 and 5001 waited. Photo taken by Strathy Smith, courtesy the Toronto Public Library.

Another view of the Exhibition subway platform. After the Exhibition closed, the Gloucester subway cars were moved overnight to Davisville yard via Bathurst, St. Clair and Yonge. Unfortunately, car #5001, leading the way, derailed on the temporary track connection between Yonge Street and the Yard. By the time it was derailed, car #5000 had to be stored at the loop at Lawton and Yonge so daytime streetcar service could operate. It stayed there, under watch, for the day, until it was moved into Davisville yard the next night without incident. Photo taken by Strathy Smith, courtesy the Toronto Public Library.

Another view of the whole TTC's subway display at the 1953 Canadian National Exhibition. Photo taken by Strathy Smith, courtesy the Toronto Public Library.

In this photograph taken by L. Swanson on September 19, 1953, the Gloucester subway cars are gone, and the temporary station building can be clearly seen, including the subway-like appearance of the platform walls.

University-Bloor-Danforth Subway Display, 1959

For the 1959 Exhibition season, the Toronto Transit Commission proudly displayed plans for the upcoming construction of the University and Bloor-Danforth subways. This display was brought indoors in one of the Exhibition's permanent buildings. Photo by Eric Trussler, courtesy the Toronto Archives.

Montrealer Car Display, 1962

For the 1962 season, the Toronto Transit Commission displayed its newest subway acquisition, 75-foot-long subway cars built by the Montreal Locomotive Works ahead of the opening of the UNIVERSITY SUBWAY. Photo by Eric Trussler, courtesy the Toronto Archives.

While this display was not as elaborate as the Gloucester display nine years previous, visitors could still tour both cars, which signs proudly proclaimed as the first subway cars to be built in Canada. Photo by Eric Trussler, courtesy the Toronto Archives.

As part of the Montrealer display in August 1962, the TTC also showed off a replica of the Toronto Street Railway horsecar #16, gussied up for the sponsor, radio station CKEY 580. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the John Knight collection.

TTC's Canada's Centennial Display, 1967

In celebration of Canada's 100th birthday, the TTC set up a display at the Exhibition depicting the evolution of public transit vehicles throughout Toronto's history. In this shot, by Eric Trussler, a working replica of the Toronto Street Railway omnibus (circa 1878) takes visitors on a short ride.

TTC bus #1 is seen here on display at the TTC's Canada Centennial Exhibition display. Photo by Eric Trussler, courtesy the Toronto Archives.

1971 was the 50th anniversary of the founding of the TTC, and the TTC celebrated at the Canadian National Exhibition with a major display featuring the latest Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach (#9268) and ex-TRC car #306. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze on September 1971.

TTC ex-TRC streetcar #306 is seen here on display at the TTC's 50th Anniversary display at the 1971 CNE. The streetcar is cited as an example of the class that first electrified streetcar service in Toronto. This shot was taken in late August 1971 by Richard Glaze.

In this August 1975 shot by Richard Glaze, TTC Peter Witt #2424 and CLRV mockup #4000 are in a tent to show off to visitors at the Canadian National Exhibition.

Beside the TTC display tent at the August 1975 Canadian National Exhibition, a Credit Valley Railroad Steam locomotive and GO Transit bus #1259 pose for carnival-goers. Photo by Richard Glaze.

In 1978, a display of Toronto transit historic vehicles included a replica of the Van Depoele electric train from 1884 which serviced the Exhibition. This shot was taken by L. Swanson on September 2, 1978.