Text by James Bow. Photos by Richard Glaze
On Sunday, June 13, 1976, Robert McMann chartered the TTC’s A14-class ex-Kansas City all-electric PCC for a tour of the system. PCC 4779 had the distinction of being the highest numbered streetcar in the fleet (until ALRV 4900), and possibly the last PCC to arrive on TTC property. Bought from the Kansas City Public Service in 1957, the vehicle was reaching the end of its service life by the mid-1970s, which may have been one reason for the charter. The ex-Kansas City class were often favoured due to their distinctive appearance (extra-large windows and a single extra-wide rollsign that kept the cars largely confined to the routes of St. Clair division.
Another feature of this charter was a series of photoshoots around Mount Pleasant, given that streetcar service was due to be pulled from Mount Pleasant Road later that month.
PCC 4779 toured the city for over six hours, and Richard Glaze was there to take a number of photographs. He also supplied a vintage Kansas City rollsign for use at a number of places on the run.
Thanks to Steve Munro for supplying information about this charter.
Ex-Kansas City PCC 4779 July 1976 Charter Image Archive
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PCC #4779 heads westbound on St. Clair, crossing Earlscourt, bound for Townsley Loop. |
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The first major photostop on the charter was Townsley Loop. Richard Glaze caught this shot. |
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TTC A14-class ex-Kansas City PCC #4779 pulls out of Townsley loop and prepares to head eastbound on St. Clair. Photo by Richard Glaze. |
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After Townsley Loop, PCC #4779 turned south on Lansdowne to pay a visit to Earlscourt Loop. |
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PCC #4779 heads eastbound on College Street, pausing eastbound at St. George, bearing a classic "Country Club" Kansas City rollsign exposure. |
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After College Street, PCC 4779 headed southbound on McCaul for a quick photostop at Dundas Street. |
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After Dundas and McCaul, PCC 4779 headed eastbound on Dundas and southbound on Church, pausing southbound by a Church at Shuter Street. |
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After the stop on Church Street, PCC 4779 jogged west on Richmond for a quick photoshop southbound on Victoria facing Adelaide. |
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After leaving the downtown, PCC 4779 headed east. Visiting the east end of the city wouldn't be complete with a stop at Bingham Loop. |
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Here, PCC 4779 pauses westbound on College at Bay, showing off one of Richard Glaze's Kansas City rollsign exposures. |
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Heading west on College, PCC 4779 paused at Spadina Avenue where this shot was taken with another Kansas City exposure. |
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After returning from downtown, PCC 4779 returned to St. Clair Carhouse for a lunch break and a switch in rollsigns. It's seen here at the west end of the carhouse with another Kansas City exposure. |
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After a lunch break at St. Clair carhouse, riders got back onboard and PCC 4779 headed east and north to Mount Pleasant Loop, where this shot was taken. |
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After Mount Pleasant Loop, 4779 returned south on Mount Pleasant, and was shot here crossing Davisville. |
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After pulling through St. Clair Station, PCC 4779 returned east on St. Clair and pulled into Moore Park Loop. Richard Glaze captured this shot among the greenery. |
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PCC 4779 prepares to leave Moore Park loop for a run west on St. Clair and south on Bathurst to the Exhibition. |
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Different charters often used Kansas City or Philadelphia rollsigns on the ex-Kansas City cars. Here's a late night shot of PCC 4779 at Russell Carhouse taken by Richard Glaze circa June 1976. |
