Text by James Bow.
See also:
When the Toronto Transportation Commission inherited the public transportation network of the city in 1921, it inherited a bit of a mess. With the Toronto Suburban Railway, various radial routes and the separate systems of the Toronto Civic Railway serving areas the Toronto Railway Company refused to serve before, work was needed to amalgamate the several systems into something seamless. Worse still, the TRC had skimped during its last days on the job, and so the TTC was expected to dramatically expand and improve service and at the same time dealing with aging equipment and infrastructure.
Between April 1921 and early 1923, the TTC turned to the Canadian Car and Foundry of Montreal to provide new cars for its service needs. The design, originated by a commissioner of the Cleveland Street Railway, Peter Witt (hence the name), offered a front entrance, centre exit, “Pay as You Enter” car for 2 man operation inside a steel body. The TTC were to get a modern vehicle offering large passenger capacity and able to haul a trailer. A total of 575 cars were ordered in all (350 motors, 225 trailers), and several variations came with each. Of these, 50 (2800-2898) were ordered from the Ottawa Car Company and 50 were from the Preston Car Company (Brills 2580-2678).
The Peter Witts ranged in size from 47 feet (Small Witts) to 51 feet, 10 inches (Large Witts) to 52 feet, 3 1/4 inches (the Brill Large Witts), and the trailers came in two door and three door versions. The streetcars were eight and a half feet wide, and due to the TRC’s narrow devil strip (the space between two sets of tracks) tracks had to be relaid in order to provide proper clearance. No problem, as much of Toronto’s street trackage had to be relaid anyway, due to its poor condition.
The Peter Witts were the workhorses of the fleet until 1938, with the appearance of the Presidents Conference Committee car. On September 7, 1952, after York Township requested that the TTC replace the Small Witts with PCCs, the operation of pay-as-you-enter Witts during normal hours ceased and the Witts were largely confined to rush hour tripper service. The large, two-man Witts continued to operate on the Bay and Yonge lines, however, for another two years, at which point the Yonge subway opened. Witt trains were the base fleet of the Yonge Streetcar route, and of course, the model took a big hit when its showcase route, Yonge, was abandoned due to the opening of the Yonge subway. A month before the subway opened, the Yonge service was cut back to Eglinton Avenue, to prepare North Yonge for the new 97 Yonge trolley bus route. The morning of March 30 started out normally for the Witts, as they trundled past throngs of people viewing the opening ceremonies, but after 1:30 p.m., the trains started to disappear, as the subway took over.
After the subway opened, many Witt cars and their trailers were rolled into the newly constructed Harbour Yard, on the south side of Harbour Street, between York and Bay. The new yard opened for use on September 5, 1951, featuring six tracks and a capacity of 36 Witt trains. The yard made up for capacity lost at Eglinton carhouse due to subway related construction and, on March 30, 1954, stored all of the Yonge line’s Witt trains while they awaited their fates at the hands of the scrap merchants.
Even with the loss of the Yonge Line and the shrinking size of the streetcar fleet, Witts hung on tenatiously for another nine years. The trailers were now surplus and were disposed with, but the venerable Witts were not… at least, not until February 28, 1963. On that day, with the opening of the University Subway, streetcars were removed from Bay Street (the Dupont route). After that, the Witts made only a few more appearances on Toronto’s streets, scheduled as extras on the Bathurst, Fort and Kingston Road Tripper runs, to make up for car shortages until March 7, 1963. Bill Hood noted in the March 1963 UCRS Newsletter that car 2890 made run 83 on Bathurst on March 7th, and this is known as the last peak hour Witt car. The very last time the Witts were used was for the opening game of the International League Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Stadium on April 24, 1963.
Several Witts were retained as spares until January 1, 1965, after which point they were officially retired, except for 2766, which was withdrawn on July 18, 1965, following its “last” fan trip. Railfans thought that this was the end, but there was a reprieve. The TTC retained Small Witt 2766 and brought it back into service in 1973 as part of a special ‘Belt Line Tour Tram’. Unfortunately, despite a lot of initial interest, this service was discontinued in 1975 due to lack of ridership, and Small Witt 2766 returned to occasional charter duty, where it remains to this day.
Technical Specifications (Large Witt, except where noted):
Fleet List (Peter Witts):
- 2300-2498 - Large Witt (CC&F) (Even Numbers Only), Hauled Trailers
- 2500-2578 - Large Witt (CC&F) (Even Numbers Only), Hauled Trailers
- 2580-2678 - Large Witt (Canadian Brills) (Even Numbers Only), Hauled Trailers
- 2700-2798 - Small Witt (CC&F) (Even Numbers Only)
- 2800-2898 - Small Witt (Ottawa Car Company) (Even Numbers Only)
- 2900-3018 - Large Witt (CC&F) (Even Numbers Only), Hauled Trailers
Fleet List (Trailers)
- 2301-2419 - 2-door (CC&F) (Odd Numbers Only)
- 2701-3029 - 3-door (CC&F) (Odd Numbers Only)
Features
- Seating: 58 (Large Witt), 51 (Small Witt), 60 (Trailer)
- Normal service usage: 113 passengers - 67,100 lbs
- ‘Crush’ load capacity: 140 passengers - 71,150 lbs
- Empty streetcar weight: 50,000 lbs
- Minimum horizontal curve radius: 10,973 mm (36’0)
- Minimum verticle curve radius - convex: 350 feet
- Minimum verticle curve radius - concave: 700 feet
- Motor rating: 4 x 50 HP one hour
- Braking rate: 1.6 m/s/s (3.6 MPHPS) in service, (3.8 MPHPS) in emergency
Peter Witt Cars Image Archive
An official blueprint of a TTC Small Peter Witt, circa 1946. | |
An official blueprint of a TTC large Peter Witt, circa 1946. | |
An official blueprint of a TTC Peter Witt 3-door trailer, circa 1946. | |
TTC Large Witt (CC&F-built) #2300 runs beside the QEW, on the way to Humber Loop, before the Gardiner rebuild, on April 22, 1956. Photo by J. William Hood. John Bromley Collection | |
TTC Canadian Car & Foundry-built Large Witt #2300 at Dufferin Loop, bearing a Montreal roll sign for a fan trip on April 22, 1956. Appropriately, the vehicle is now being preserved at the Canadian Railway Museum in Montreal. Photo by J. William Hood. John Bromley Collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2300 is looking a little worse for wear in its last days as the TTC training car, seen here at Hillcrest on December 26, 1962. The photographer is unknown and the photograph is from the Dave Shaw collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt cars #2302 and 2368 rest with other Witts at Russell carhouse on Christmas Day, 1960. The photographer is unknown and the photo is courtesy the Dave Shaw collection. | |
This image taken by the TTC shows Peter Witt trailer #2341 at Lansdowne Carhouse after service on the COLLEGE route in 1930. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2412 sits after repairs at Hillcrest Shops on November 22, 1928. Image courtesy the Toronto Archives. | |
TTC CC&F-built large Witt #2420 is seen here on a private charter at an unknown location in this August 1960 shot. The photographer is unknown. The photo came to us by way of Mike Filey. | |
TTC CC&F-built large Peter Witt car 2422 sits in St. Clair carhouse sometime in the 1950s. The photographer is unknown, and the image is from the Dave Shaw collection. | |
Despite the signs, large Witt 2424 is on Adelaide Street, during a 1970s charter. Photo donated from the collection of Brad O'Brien. | |
Large Witt 2424 on King Street. Photo donated from the collection of Brad O'Brien. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2424 turns from westbound Wellington to northbound York on a charter in this May 1977 shot by Richard Glaze. | |
TTC Large Witt #2428 heads eastbound on King, approaching Yonge, in KINGSTON ROAD service in this July 1952 shot. Construction at the right is for the entrance to the King subway station at the northwest corner. Photo courtesy the Al Chione collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2430 prepares for a new service day at the west end of Russell Carhouse in this 1953 shot by James Victor Salmon. Photo courtesy the Toronto Public Library. | |
TTC Canadian Car & Foundry-built large Witt 2452 heads southbound on Avenue Road from St. Clair Avenue in BAY service in this wintry 1952 shot by W.H. Coo. | |
Large Witt 2454 in Wychwood Carhouse in 1952. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey. | |
TTC Large Witt #2458 is seen here operating on BAY service on Bay Street south of Union Station in 1953. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2460 speeds southbound on Avenue Road, past De La Salle College, in BAY service. This photo was taken in 1953 by W.H. Coo. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2464 heads southbound on Bay Street, approaching Front Street in BAY service. This shot was taken circa March 1953 by Richard Glaze. | |
TTC CC&F-built Large Peter Witt #2470 heads southbound on Bay, crossing Front Street, its destination sign anticipating its subsequent run north. Note the planking on Front Street, part of the YONGE subway construction work. Note also the Gray Coach bus behind, serving the HIGH PARK COACH route. This photograph was taken on May 2, 1950, by Norman Rolfe and is courtesy John F. Bromley. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2486 heads westbound on St. Clair, crossing Wychwood on June 1, 1953. Photo courtesy Richard Glaze. | |
Large Witt 2494 trundles northbound on the BAY route. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2496 heads southbound on Avenue Road, passing Poplar Plains Crescent in service on BAY on March 18, 1954. This photo is by John F. Bromley. | |
TTC Canadian Car & Foundry-built Large Witt 2514 pulls a trailer into Eglinton Carhouse to pick up passengers in the truncated YONGE streetcar route in March 1954. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the John Knight collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt #2518 drops off passengers on Kingston Road, heading eastbound to Birchmount, in the summer of 1950. This photo is from the Al Chione collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt 2528 leads a trailer train southbound on Bathurst, passing A8-class all-electric PCC #4527. The train is stopped at the entrance to Hillcrest Shops. Photo courtesy the Richard Glaze collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt streetcar #2528 leads a trailer onto Wychwood Avenue from St. Clair. This chartered train was taken June 1, 1953, and is courtesy Richard Glaze. | |
TTC Canadian Car & Foundry-built large Witt #2534 hauls trailer #3029 through Eglinton carhouse as part of the truncated YONGE streetcar route in March 1954. Note the trolley bus wires in the background. The subway and the NORTOWN and YONGE trolley buses will soon open. Photo by W.H. Coo. | |
TTC Canadian Car and Foundry-built Peter Witt #2536 pulls trailer #2909 into Glen Echo terminal at the north end of the YONGE streetcar line in this 1953 shot. Photo by W.H. Coo. | |
TTC Canadian Car & Foundry large Witt #2542 leads a trailer through Eglinton carhouse in this March 1954 shot. The photographer is unknown. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2543 turns from Bay onto Queen's Quay, by the Ferry Docks, on May 30, 1953. Richard Glaze photo. | |
Large Witt 2548 waits at Eglinton Carhouse to go on the Yonge line. It is 1954 and the subway will soon be opening. Note the trolley buses stored in the left hand side of this picture. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey. | |
TTC CC&F-built large Peter Witt #2552 pulls out of Eglinton Carhouse with a trailer in YONGE streetcar service. This photograph was likely taken in March 1954, after service had been cut back from Glen Echo loop. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the Dave Shaw collection. | |
TTC Large Witt #2556 waits to enter service at St. Clair (Wychwood) carhouse, bearing a BAY route sign exposure, in this winter scene circa 1953. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Pat Lavallee. | |
TTC large Peter Witt #2556 and trailer turns from Dundas onto Church in YONGE service, in this July 1952 shot. This car is on a diversion around YONGE SUBWAY construction. Image courtesy the Al Chione collection. | |
A trailer-train led by TTC Large Witt #2558 pulls into Glen Echo loop on YONGE service in this October 1949 shot by Kelly Whittaker. This image is courtesy the Dave Shaw collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt #2568 emerges from beneath the railway tracks south of Union Station in BAY service. Richard Glaze captured this scene on May 31, 1953. | |
TTC Peter Witt #2570 and trailer head westbound on Front Street, about to cross Bay in YONGE service. Note the "ER" logo on the east end of the Dominion Public Building. The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II is just days away. This image, taken late May 1953, is courtesy Richard Glaze. | |
Witt Train led by Witt 2574, done up for the 'Last Car' run of the YONGE Line, prepares to leave Eglinton Carhouse for service on March 30, 1954, the date of the opening of the Yonge Subway. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey. | |
TTC Large Peter Witt #2576 and trailer operates eastbound on Alexandria approaching Church in this July 1952 shot, on temporary trackage installed to divert YONGE streetcars during subway construction. Image courtesy the Al Chione collection. | |
TTC Large Witt #2578 proceeds south on Bay Street towards the Ferry Docks. Old City Hall (then the current City Hall) stands in the background. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey. | |
TTC Brill-built Peter Witt car #2586 rumbles southbound on Bay Street, passing Harbour Yard towards Queen's Quay in BAY service on May 30, 1953. Richard Glaze photo. | |
TTC Peter Witt #2588 heads northbound on Bay, about to pass under the Bay underpass on May 31, 1953. Photo by Richard Glaze. | |
TTC Brill-built Peter Witt car #2616 turns on Bay Street's short jog, southbound at Queen Street in BAY service. This shot was taken by Richard Glaze circa March 1953. The buildings behind would all be demolished for Toronto's new City Hall just over ten years later. | |
TTC Brill-built Peter Witt car #2616 heads northbound on Bay Street, crossing Front in BAY service on May 30, 1953. Photo by Richard Glaze. | |
TTC Brill-built Peter Witt car #2626 heads south on Bay through Toronto's downtown, in service on the BAY route circa 1953. The presence of the Union Jacks suggests that Victoria Day is around the corner. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2632 undergoes scrapping at George Street Yard in this March 1953 shot by James Victor Salmon. Image courtesy the Toronto Public Library. | |
Witt Car # 2640 heads west on St Clair in 1953 in service on the BAY route, where today the ramp to St. Clair West Station is now located. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey. | |
TTC Brill-built Peter Witt car #2642 heads southbound on Bay, about to cross Front Street, in the fall of 1950. This photograph is from the Al Chione collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2644 sits in the disassembly track at George Street's scrap yards on May 30, 1953. Photo by Richard Glaze. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2660 heads northbound on Bay Street, from the Ferry Docks, passing another Peter Witt in BAY service. This shot was taken by Richard Glaze on May 30, 1953. | |
Brill Witt 2668 is seen here at Long Branch loop on a fan charter. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey. | |
TTC Canadian Car & Foundry-built small Witt #2700 rests at Hillcrest among some buses and other Peter Witts in this 1952 shot. This photograph is by W.H. Coo. | |
TTC Canadian Car & Foundry Small Witt #2700 heads eastbound on King Street, crossing University Avenue in KINGSTON ROAD service, while passing TTC air-electric PCC 4234. This photograph is courtesy the Charles Houser collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt car 2702 turns from southbound Roncesvalles onto westbound Queen Street, among air-electric PCCs and another Witt car in this shot of the Roncesvalles/Queen/King intersection looking north. This shot, circa 1944, was taken by Hugh "Bud" Martin and is courtesy his son John. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2714 sits with Witts 2884 and 2416 at Russell Carhouse on May 30, 1953. Photo by Richard Glaze. | |
Small Witt #2720 turns from Bedford Loop on the site of St. George Station, likely on a fan charter. The bus terminal, under construction, can just be seen behind and on the streetcar's right. Photo donated from the collection of Curt Frey. | |
TTC Small Witt #2728 heads eastbound across a temporary bridge built over the Don River while the City of Toronto worked on the Queen Street bridge over the Don. This photo was taken on August 16, 1963 by Robert McMann and is courtesy the John Knight collection. | |
Small Witt #2736 operates on Queen Street westbound in QUEEN service. Note the all-electric and air-electric PCCs behind it. Photo by Peter Lambert, donated by Curt Frey. | |
TTC CC&F-built Small Witt #2742 pauses on James Street, about to turn west onto Louisa, in City Hall loop on June 29, 1963. The Witt is on a private charter. This photo is courtesy the Howard Wayt collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2744 heads eastbound on Queen Street East, approaching Russell Carhouse in KINGSTON ROAD service. The date and the photographer is unknown. | |
TTC Peter Witt cars 2894 and 2766 head eastbound on College, passing St. George Street in this 1982 shot taken by Tony Newman. | |
Witt 2766 was shot at Hillcrest, after the latest round of rehabilitation, on June 18, 2003, before it and 4500 and 4116 headed out to the King Edward Hotel's 100th birthday celebration. Photograph courtesy the TTC. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2770 is seen through a streetcar windscreen heading westbound on Queen, crossing McCaul on the way to Sunnyside loop. This photo was taken late May 1953, courtesy Richard Glaze. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2772 operates eastbound in rush hour service on KINGSTON ROAD tripper service on August 27, 1962, on King Street near Bay. This photograph is by John F. Bromley. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2778, on a fan trip, sits in the tail tracks on Davenport Road east of Dovercourt while an in-service HARBORD car turns south onto Dovercourt Road on May 31, 1964. The tail tracks in this shot are all that remain of the DAVENPORT streetcar route, running east to Bathurst. Photo by R. McMann, from the John Knight collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt streetcar #2778 poses with others in Trolleyville's collection beside Columbia Leader Drug in Olmstead Falls, Ohio circa May 1975. Trolleyville's property was sold in 2009, and the equipment was dispersed. Witt #2778 eventually found its way to the Northern Ohio Railroad Museum. Richard Glaze took this photo. | |
TTC Small Witt streetcar #2778 passing a station at Trolleyville, Ohio, USA, circa May 1975. Richard Glaze took this photograph. | |
TTC Small Witt #2778 heads along the track at Trolleyville, Ohio, USA. Richard Glaze took this photo circa May 1975. | |
TTC Small Peter Witt #2814 (built by the Ottawa Car Company) rests at St. Clair carhouse in this early 1950s shot. The photograph is by W.H. Coo and is courtesy the Dave Shaw collection. | |
TTC small Peter Witt cars 2818 and 2874 can be seen in the dead storage tracks at the west side of Russell Carhouse. This photo was taken by Harvey Naylor looking north from Eastern Avenue circa November 1962. | |
TTC Ottawa Car Company Small Peter Witt #2822 heads north on McCaul Street past Baldwin, on a CARLTON short turn, circa 1963. The photographer is unknown. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2822 waits in the tail track of Bicknell loop, facing eastward on Rogers Road. The car is on a railfan excursion on June 2, 1966. The photographer is unknown. | |
Ottawa Car Company Small Witt 2834 rests at Wychwood Carhouse in this 1958 scene. Photo by Peter Lambert, donated by Curt Frey. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2840 rests next to air-electric PCC 4152 at St. Clair Division in this mid-1950s shot. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the Dave Shaw collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2840 heads north on Church, approaching Adelaide Street on what is likely a fantrip excursion. The year is circa 1960, and the photographer is unknown. | |
TTC Witt trailer #2849 brings up the rear of a Witt train operating northbound on Yonge Street in YONGE service, past Davisville Yards on March 27, 1954. This photo was taken by Harvey Naylor. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2850 heads eastbound on King Street, heading towards Queen Street on a fantrip excursion (the roll signs are the giveaway, as is the ad for the Upper Canada Railway Society) on December 9, 1962. The photographer is unknown. | |
TTC Small Peter Witt #2850 pulls into the tail track on Kingston Road, east of Victoria Park, for a UCRS charter recalling the service that extended east to Birchmount until July 1954. This shot was taken circa December 1962 by Harvey Naylor. | |
Small Witt 2852 (one of 50 built by the Ottawa Car Company) rests with comrade 2892 and others at Wychwood Carhouse in 1958. Photo by Peter Lambert, donated by Curt Frey. | |
TTC Ottawa Car Company Small Peter Witt #2858 turns from Victoria onto Richmond in this shot taken by Robert McMann on April 21, 1963. The car is on excursion service for the Upper Canada Railway Society. This image is courtesy John F. Bromley's Flickr Stream. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2860 is on King Street, facing westbound in KING-EXHIBITION, at Bay, in late summer 1950. Thanks to Robert Lubinski for correcting us regarding the location of this shot. This photo is from the Al Chione collection. | |
Richard Glaze catches westbound Peter Witt car #2864 heading westbound in Training Car service on St. Clair Avenue East, just west of Mount Pleasant. An A9-class ex-Cincinnati all-electric PCC car heads southbound. Richard Glaze took this photograph on near the end of May 1953. | |
Ottawa-built Small Peter Witt car 2868 heads east on Riverdale Street, about to turn north onto Pape Avenue in this October 1963 shot. This fantrip was snapped by Harvey Naylor, and is courtesy the John Knight collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt trailers #2885, #2839 and #2831 wait to be put in service at Eglinton carhouse in this 1949 shot. The photographer is unknown. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2890 boards passengers at Christie Loop in service on DUPONT on September 11, 1959. The photographer is unknown. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2890 heads northbound on Bay Street, crossing Wellington, in service on the DUPONT route on August 27, 1962. Photo by John F. Bromley. | |
Small Witt 2894 operates in service on King Street through Parkdale. Photo donated from the Brad O'Brien collection. | |
Small Witt 2894 during its BELT LINE tour tram days (mid 1970s) is seen here at Wychwood carhouse. Photo donated from the Brad O'Brien collection. | |
At the Halton County Railway Museum, Small Witt 2894 poses while waiting for passengers. This autumn 1989 scene was shot by James Bow. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2894 heads southbound on Spadina approaching Nassau in charter service, passing a GM New Look in 77 SPADINA service. Photo taken by Richard Glaze circa April 1975. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2894 heads eastbound on King, crossing Victoria Street. Richard Glaze took this photo circa July 1976. | |
Patrons wait out a thunderstorm while Witt 2894 stands by. This 1995 shot was taken by Sam McLauchlan and appeared on the alt.binaries.pictures.rail archive. | |
Snapped by Robert Newhouser, Peter Witt #2894 turns into Gunns Loop from St.Clair Avenue West. Chartered in July 1984, the car is followed by PCC #4545 in its 'Old Blue' livery and ALRV #4900. Photo courtesy Yury Maller. | |
TTC Small Witt #2898 was preserved by the Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven, Connecticut, where this shot was taken on June 18, 1977. Image courtesy the Charles Houser collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt #2904 leads a trailer southbound on Yonge, having crossed Adelaide and approaching King in this 1953 shot by Peter Lambert. Photo courtesy the Pat Lavallee collection. | |
Photographer W.H. Coo focused on Peter Witt trailer #2909, coupled behind Witt 2536 at Eglinton carhouse. The date of this photograph is unknown. | |
TTC Large Peter Witt #2912 pulls a trailer southbound on Yonge, approaching Keewatin in YONGE service. This shot was taken on May 30, 1953, by Richard Glaze. | |
TTC Peter Witt trailer #2915 brings up the rear of a YONGE train heading northbound at Adelaide in this 1952 shot by Peter Lambert. This image is courtesy the Pat Lavallee Collection. | |
TTC CC&F-built large Witt #2916 leads a trailer train southbound on Yonge near Wellington in this winter scene. This circa 1953 photo is by Julian Bernard, donated by Pat Lavallee. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2922 leads trailer #2965 in service on YONGE, just past the Victoria Hotel in this early 1950s shot. The photograph is by W.H. Coo. | |
TTC Large Peter Witt #2928 leaves Eglinton Carhouse for a southbound run on the YONGE streetcar line, towing Peter Witt trailer #2767. This 1953 photograph was taken on a cold day by W.H. Coo. | |
Large Witt 2932 trundles east along Front Street. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey. | |
TTC Large Witt #2936 pulls a trailer in YONGE service, while on diversion for subway construction in this July 1952 shot. Photo courtesy the Al Chione collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2962 sits paired with Peter Witt trailer 2937 resting for the day at Harbour Yard in YONGE service. This 1953 shot was taken by W.H. Coo. | |
TTC CC&F-built large Witt 2940 leads a trailer southbound on Yonge past Mount Pleasant Cemetary. The TTC's Davisville subway yard is under construction in this circa 1952 shot. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Pat Lavallee. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2946 faces the end of its life at the scrap yard on George Street in this August 1953 shot by James Victor Salmon. Image courtesy the Toronto Public Library. | |
TTC CC&F Large Witt #2948 pulls a trailer southbound on Yonge Street, approaching Front in this early 1954 shot by Julian Bernard. Photo courtesy the Curt Frey/Pat Lavallee collection. | |
Witt 2954 leads a trailer train through a downtown sidestreet during a temporary diversion caused by Yonge subway construction. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey. | |
TTC Peter Witt 3-door trailer #2955 sits at the end of the line, the George Street Scrapyard, being taken apart in this 1954 shot. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the Dave Shaw collection. | |
TTC CC&F Large Witt #2962 turns from eastbound on Wellington to northbound on Yonge, possibly due to subway construction-related diversions. W.H. Coo took this photograph in the early 1950s, and the image is courtesy the Dave Shaw collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2962 departs Glen Echo terminal on weekend service on the YONGE route (daylight and no trailers). This photograph is by Julian Bernard and was donated by Pat Lavallee. | |
TTC Large Witt #2962 leads a train southbound on Yonge Street at Wellington in this 1953 shot. This photo was taken by Peter Lambert and is courtesy the Pat Lavallee Collection. | |
TTC Large Witt @2966 leads a trailer southbound in YONGE service around King Street in this 1952 shot. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the Curt Frey/Pat Lavallee collection. | |
An interior view of TTC Peter Witt 3-Door trailer 2967 in the late 1940s, early 1950s. The photographer is unknown. | |
TTC CC&F-built large Witt 2970 leads a trailer southbound on Yonge Street, approaching Davisville, in this circa 1953 shot. This photo was donated by Pat Lavallee. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2974 leads a trailer to pick up passengers at Eglinton carhouse for a shortened run to Union Station in this March 1954 shot. Photo by Julian Bernard, from the Pat Lavallee collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt #2974 leads a train at Glen Echo Loop, picking up passengers before its run downtown on May 30, 1953. Photo by Richard Glaze. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2974 pauses at Glen Echo loop in YONGE service while A7-class PCC #4470 pays a visit during a charter. This shot was taken May 31, 1953, by Richard Glaze. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2980 sits with an unknown trailer at Eglinton Carhouse in this late 1940s, early 1950s shot by W.H. Coo. Image is courtesy the Dave Shaw collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2990 leads trailer #3015, as well as another Witt train, westbound on Front Street in front of Union Station in this early 1950s shot. The photographer is unknown and the image is from the Dave Shaw collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2992 leads a trailer through Eglinton carhouse loop to pick up passengers for a shortened trip south to Union Station in this March 1954 shot. Photo by Julian Bernard, from the Curt Frey Collection. | |
TTC Large Witt #2994 pulls Peter Witt trailer #2923 out of Eglinton carhouse in this March 1954 shot by W.H. Coo. | |
TTC Large Witt #2998 heads northbound on Yonge Street, north of Glen Grove on May 30, 1953. Richard Glaze caught this photograph out of the front window of a streetcar following PCC #4470 heading southbound. | |
TTC Large Witt #3010 leads a trailer into Glen Echo Loop, passing Peter Witt train led by #2528 on a charter. Richard Glaze took this photo on May 30, 1953. | |
TTC Peter Witt #3012 leads its trailer eastbound on Front Street, about to cross York in YONGE service, May 30, 1953. Photo by Richard Glaze. | |
TTC Peter Witt 3-door trailer #3013 rests at Eglinton carhouse among other trailers in this early 1950s shot. The photographer is unknown. The photo is from the Dave Shaw collection. | |
The last TTC Peter Witt in the fleet, #3018, poses with associated trailer at Eglinton Carhouse on May 23, 1936. The car has experimental dash lighting on the front. This would be the only application of this type, before it was replaced by the final version (thanks to John F. Bromley for this information). The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the John Knight collection. | |
TTC Peter Witt car #2526 leads three-door trailer #3027 southbound on Yonge from Glen Echo in YONGE service on March 6, 1954. This would be one of the last streetcar trips to depart Glen Echo Loop as the service was cut back to Eglinton ahead of the opening of the YONGE SUBWAY. Photo by Harvey Naylor. | |
Two of the HCRY's Witts pass each other at the western entrance to the Museum in this Autumn 1989 shot. Picture by James Bow. |
Special thanks to John Bromley and Ray Corley for correcting the information on this web page.
References
- Bromley, John F., and Jack May Fifty Years of Progressive Transit, Electric Railroaders’ Association, New York (New York), 1978.
- Corley, Ray F., The Witt Car: Peter Witt Design, The Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto (Ontario), February 1988.
- Partridge, Larry, Mind the Doors, Please, The Boston Mills Press, Erin ON, 1983.