Compiled by John F. Bromley
See Also
The FERRY streetcar was a temporary operation established to connect downtown Toronto to the city’s Ferry Docks while work continued on the train viaducts around Union Station. With no service possible on Bay Street south of Front, a temporary railway bridge was built across the railway tracks to access the waterfront.
May 22, 1926
TTC operation begins. Streetcars operate daily from Bay and Queen via east on Queen, south on Yonge, west on Front, south on a railway bridge and private right-of-way to Ferry Loop #1, returning via private right-of-way, the railway bridge, west on Front and north on Bay to Queen.
The reference to ‘Railway Bridge’ indicates the substantial but temporary bridge over the railway tracks south of Front and east of Bay, ending at Lake St, with a dogleg turn at the south end, used by both streetcars and road traffic alike.
Ferry Loop #1 was on the landfill directly in front of the Ferry Docks west of Bay, and was in use prior to the completion of the Queen’s Quay roadway (over which it was partially located). Ferry Loop #1 was, shortly afterwards, replaced by Ferry Loop #2, which was located on the northeast corner of Queen’s Quay and York, west of the former site of Ferry Loop #1.
November 1, 1926
A Monday-to-Saturday stub car service begins, operating from the crossover just south of Front Street via the Railway Bridge and private right-of-way to Ferry Loop #1, returning to the Front crossover. Sunday service discontinued following the operation on October 31, 1926, for the winter months.
April 4, 1927
Sunday service reinstated, operating over the daily route from Queen and Bay. No change to the Monday-to-Saturday stub car.
May 21, 1927
Daily service operates from Bay and Queen via east on Queen, south on Yonge, west on Front, south on the Railway Bridge and via Lake Street and private right-of-way to Ferry Loop #1, returning via private right-of-way, Lake, Bay, Railway Bridge, Front and Bay to Queen.
June 3, 1927
Ferry Loop #1 closed, replaced by Ferry Loop #2, changing the daily route to operate from Bay and Queen via \Queen, Yonge, Front, Railway Bridge, Bay and Queen’s Quay to Ferry Loop #2, returning via Queen’s Quay, Bay, Railway Bridge, Front and Bay to Queen.
August 1, 1927
Last day of operation. After this date, BAY streetcars serve the Ferry Docks.
Ferry Streetcar Image Archive
|
This drawing shows the evolution of service to Toronto's Ferry Docks between 1925 and 1930, while work continued on Union Station. This image is courtesy John F. Bromley. |
|
TTC ex-TRC streetcar #1414 is seen here at the First Ferry Loop at the foot of Bay Street in FERRY service. This shot was taken circa June 1926 and is courtesy of the collections of James Salmon and John F. Bromley. |
|
A TTC ex-TRC A-1 class streetcar operates in FERRY service on the temporary bridge below Front Street east of Bay Street. This shot was taken on Jun e18, 1926 and is from the collection of James Salmon and John F. Bromley. |
|
TTC ex-TRC car #1296 heads southbound on Yonge at Richmond in FERRY service. This image, donated by John F. Bromley, was taken by the TTC (Negative 4377) and is from the OERHA collection. |
|
TTC ex-Civic Railway streetcar #2126 is seen in FERRY service northbound on private right-of-way (which would later be Bay Street) at Lake Street, circa January 1927. This image is courtesy of the collections of James Salmon and John F. Bromley. (Slide 2-14) |
|
An ex-Toronto Civic Railway car (class 2120-2126) is seen here at the first Ferry Loop on April 28, 1927. This image is courtesy of the collection of John F. Bromley (THC #7349) |
|
TTC ex-TRC streetcar #1412 prepares to leave the temporary railway bridge at Lake Street, southbound in FERRY service on May 27, 1927. This photo is courtesy the John F. Bromley collection (THC #7366) |
|
An enlargement of the image of TTC ex-TRC streetcar #1412 at the south end of the temporary railway bridge leading to the Ferry Docks. This image was taken on May 27, 1927, and is courtesy of the John F. Bromley collection (THC #7366) |
|
A TTC ex-TRC streetcar lays over at Ferry Loop #1 on May 27, 1927. This photo is courtesy of the John F. Bromley collection (THC Photo # unknown) |
|
TTC ex-TRC streetcar #1410 lays over at Ferry Loop #1 on May 31, 1927. This photo is courtesy of the collections of John F. Bromley and the OERHA. |
|
This image captures TTC ex-TRC streetcar #1412 passing construction on streetcar tracks in Bay Street. This view is looking north on Bay towards Lake Street on June 2, 1927. This TTC image (#4951) is courtesy of the John F. Bromley collection. |
|
TTC ex-TRC #1412 departs Ferry Loop heading eastbound on Queen's Quay from York Street. This TTC photo is courtesy of the John F. Bromley collection (TTC #5048) |
|
TTC ex-TRC streetcar #1414 heads westbound on Queen's Quay, passing the Canada Steamship Lines building west of Bay Street on June 3, 1927. This image is courtesy of the John F. Bromley collection (THC #7388) |
|
A view of Ferry Loop #2 under construction at the corner of Queen's Quay and York This shot, taken for the TTC, is courtesy of the John F. Bromley collection (TTC #4975). |
|
A view of a 1400-class ex-TRC streetcar operating northbound on new tracks that would eventually be found beneath Bay Street, just north of Queen's Quay. This shot was taken on June 3, 1927, the first day of the tracks being in service. This image is courtesy of the John F. Bromley collection (NAC #PA-136423 or #PA-136417 in another record). |
|
TTC ex-TRC streetcars #1410 and 1412 are seen operating on Queen's Quay on June 28, 1927. This shot was taken for the TTC and is courtesy of the John F. Bromley collection (TTC #5049) |
|
A view of two ex-TRC 1400-class streetcars at the corner of Bay and Queen's Quay, looking southeast from the Toronto Harbour Commission Building. This shot was taken for the TTC on June 30, 1927 and is courtesy the John F. Bromley collection (THC #7406). |
|
A view of an ex-TRC 1400-class streetcar operating eastbound on Queen's Quay just west of Bay Street. This shot was taken from the Toronto Harbour Commission building on July 14, 1927, and is courtesy of the John F. Bromley collection. |
|
A map detailing all of the Ferry Loops (and surrounding trackage) made between 1926 and 1961, as it appeared in the July 1961 issue of the UCRS Newsletter. At the time, work was taking place on the final Ferry Loop, which would be abandoned five years later. |
