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PCC 4600 (ex PCC 4505) at the Halton County Radial Railway. James Bow photo. |
by Peter C. Kohler
- A History of Toronto's Presidents' Conference Committee Cars (the PCCs)
- The Pre-War Air-Electric PCC Cars (Classes A1-A5), by James Bow
- The Post-War All-Electric PCC Cars (Classes A6-A8), by P.C. Kohler
- The Post-War Used PCC Cars (Classes A9-A14), by P.C. Kohler
The PCC's Last Gasp in Toronto
For half a century red and cream PCCs called JANE BLOOR and NEVILLE QUEEN had carried Torontonians to work and play, but by the mid 1980s the largest fleet of streamlined street cars in North America had dwindled to the 160 or so remaining units of the A-6, A-7 and A-8 classes of Canadian-built all-electrics. Last rebuilt in the early seventies, they were showing their age amid the shiny new CLRVs and ALRVs, but those Red (and now rusty) Rockets had earned a place in the hearts of Torontonians and in the city's streetscape in the same way that London's red double-deckers and San Francisco's cable cars do for those cities.
In reaffirmation of Toronto's love affair with its Red Rockets and to cater to a sudden upswing in ridership as well as the new Harbourfront LRT, a study was undertaken in late 1984 regarding a second PCC rebuilding program. The TTC approved the $70 million, two-kilometre Harbourfront LRT (Light Rail Transit) line on 30 October 1984. This would be the first new carline in Toronto in some 60 years and would serve the newly developed waterfront area. Although the Harbourfront LRT would eventually figure significantly in the future of the Toronto PCC, it was initially planned to assign 15 CLRVS or 10 ALRVs, but pressure was put on the TTC and the Metro Council to review its future equipment needs before disposing of the remaining PCC cars. There was also considerable lobbying to emulate other cities, notably San Francisco's Market Street line, in operating 'heritage' cars on Harbourfront which would derive much of its patronage from tourists.
A Call to Rebuild
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PCC 4610, seen here in its previous life as PCC 4541, was also purchased by the Vintage Electric Streetcar Co, and may be running in Kenosha... |
At the direction of the Metro Council, bids were requested in February 1985 from Urban Transportation Development Corp. (UTDC), Ontario Bus Industries (OBI) and Garrett Railroad Car & Equipment; the lowest tender coming from OBI. TTC's Chief General Manager Alf Savage told Toronto Star on 12 July that a second major rebuilding might be given to as many as 30 PCCs, sufficient to equip both the Harbourfront LRT and the proposed Spadina extension. This option would cost $15 million; 5 million less than purchasing a like number of CLRVs. The Commission decided on a test rebuilding of one A-8 by an outside source. Bids were received in November from UTDC and OBI with the former winning the $431,317 contract on 11 February 1986. Another A-8 would be rebuilt to the same specifications by TTC's own D.W. Harvey Shop as a cost comparison although the Commission had maintained it could not undertake the program with their existing resources.
Car 4512 left Hillcrest on 6 March 1986 for UTDC's Millhaven (Kingston) works while no. 4505, which had been idled after a 18 June 1984 collision, arrived at the D.W. Harvey Shop on 3 March.
As Good as New
The rebuilding was even more extensive than that done in the 'seventies. The body was essentially remanufactured with new side sills, bolsters, window posts, frame members and side skin replaced with new and in some cases heavier, steel. Only the roof was original. The underframe was slightly modified and certain areas reinforced. The trucks, motors and all electrical components were rebuilt and all wiring replaced. All the wiring between the front and middle of the car was relocated in a sealed conduit in the side sill instead of beneath the car floor. The new control rods featured Teflon spacer/guide blocks instead of rollers. Newly added features included the installation of side sill heaters, replacement of all fuses with circuit breakers and a new 32v. circuit and relays for the gang switch assembly. Inside, new CLRV style seating, paneling below the windows and flooring was installed.
Reflecting their 'good as new' status, the rebuilt cars were renumbered as 4600s and assigned a new classification, A-15. A tribute to the Hillcrest Shop's staff, TTC's 'home' rebuilt PCC was delivered much quicker and cheaper than UTDC's. In September 1986, no. 4600 (ex no. 4505) emerged in CLRV livery of grey skirting, red body and letterboard and black window area and white roof and striping. Inside, the new colours were cream ceiling, brown to the window sill and wood-grained laminate below and low-lustre black was used in the operator's area. The rubber floor was light marbled grey and upholstery was orange-red. No. 4601, ex no. 4512, followed in service in February 1987.
Two years of successful operation and anticipating the need for a fleet of 225 double-truck cars and 52 ALRVS, TTC authorized on 19 April 1988 the rebuilding in its own shops of three more A-8s (nos. 4500, 4537 and 4548) at a total cost of $1.4 million.
Amid plans for the construction of the long debated Spadina line which was anticipated to increase fleet requirements by 1997 to 236 double-truck cars and 52 ALRVs, TTC opted against purchasing 35 new cars and instead would rebuild six additional PCCs over the next three years pending final approval of the Spadina project. Approval of the additional 18 PCC cars came on 29 November 1988, for a total of 23.
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4500 class Rebuilding Program | ||
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New Number |
Former Number |
Year Outshopped |
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4600 |
4505 |
1986 |
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4601 |
4512 |
1987 |
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4602 |
4537 |
1989 |
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4603 |
4548 |
1989 |
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4604* |
4500 |
1989 |
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4605* |
4549 |
1989 |
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4606 |
4528 |
1989 |
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4607 |
4536 |
1990 |
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4608 |
4544 |
1990 |
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4609 |
4526 |
1990 |
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4610 |
4541 |
1990 |
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4611 |
4540 |
1990 |
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4612 |
4543 |
1990 |
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4613 |
4503 |
1991 |
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4614 |
4509 |
1991 |
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4615 |
4518 |
1991 |
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4616 |
4515 |
1991 |
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4617 |
4539 |
1992 |
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4618 |
4501 |
1992 |
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* - officially so numbered by TTC but retaining | ||
A Venerable Fleet
At the same time, TTC faced the need to re-equip its Tour Tram service which had been in operation, in varying guises and with some gaps, since 1973 using restored Peter Witt cars. However, the increasing maintenance costs associated with such venerable equipment, led to the decision to withdraw Witts no. 2424 and 2766 at the end of the 1987 season. Replacement mooted included replica cars using PCC trucks and controls, the rebuilding of a post-war all-electric to resemble an A-1 air-electric or restoring an all-electric car to 'as delivered' condition and livery. It was decided that the most economic and efficient course was the latter and the two 'bookends' of the A-8 class, nos. 4500 and 4549, would be rebuilt with the other PCCs, but restored to original condition. Designated as A-15(H) (Historic), they were only rebuilt cars to retain their original numbers, although officially listed as nos. 4604 and 4605.
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PCC 4607 in service on Queen's Quay, when the Harbourfront LRT still ran PCCs. Photo by Brad O'Brien. |
Finally, on 27 February 1989, to the delight of traditionalists, TTC decided that all of the rebuilt PCCs would, unlike the pilot cars, be painted in their original TTC wine red and cream and carry the old TTC monogram. The first PCC so outshopped from Hillcrest was no. 4602 (ex-4537) on 21 May 1989 followed by the lead 'historic' car, no. 4500 which emerged on 14 July looking truly resplendent in 'as delivered' condition. This included refitting of the original large hooded dash lights, retention of the old style stop lights and inside, the authentic seats were kept and reupholstered. The original two-tone blue interior livery was recreated and only the revised operator's area and a few minor details betrayed the car's modernized A-15 status. No. 4500 entered Tour Tram service on 18 July and no. 4549 left the shop on 7 December. Cars 4600 and 4601 were repainted in the red and cream on October 14 and June 22, 1992 respectively.
Harbourfront Operation
Fittingly, the A-15s inaugurated the 1.3-mile Harbourfront LRT (route 604, later 510), the first new street car line in Toronto in 60 years. On a trial run, no. 4500 was first on the new trackage on 23 May 1990 followed the next day by yet unrebuilt no. 4518. No. 4603 was the third car to ply the route on 16 June in company with CLRV no. 4114 and ALRV no. 4251. The official opening day on the 22nd saw, in order, nos. 4500, 4549, 4609, 4601, 4602, 4603, 4606, 4608 and 4607 in service. After three days of free travel, the route opened to revenue operation on the 25th. Initially, because of safety exit problems, cars did not stop at Queens Quay underground station (the only underground stop after Union Station) and instead used a temporary surface stop immediately after leaving the subway ramp.
The future looked bright for a handful of beautifully rebuilt PCCs to carry the Red Rocket tradition into the 21st century. In addition to the four cars usually required to hold down the Harbourfront LRT (from Roncesvalles Division), other A-15s, based from Russell and Roncesvalles Divisions, were employed as rush hour trippers on the Dundas, Carlton, King and Kingston Road routes. Nos. 4500 and 4549 rotated on the summertime 'Tour Tram' service and charters.
The Rebuilding Stops
Cuts in service and an edict passed by the Metro Toronto government in 1991 that all future transit vehicles had to be handicapped accessible, abruptly halted the A-15 rebuilding program at the commission meeting of August 21, 1991.
The last rebuilt PCC, no. 4618, was outshopped on 31 March 1992 and entered tripper service on Kingston Road on 3 April. The following month the last remaining unrebuilt PCCs were withdrawn and it was left to the A-15s to continue the Red Rocket tradition. Only 19 cars had been rebuilt and the other candidates (nos. 4524, 4529, 4530 and 4546) remained in rusty limbo at St. Clair carhouse, retained for future rebuild. These, however, were not among the 15 A-6, 10 A-7 and four A-8s authorised for disposal in 1991.
In another blow to the future of PCCs in Toronto, residents near the Spadina Ave. loop of the Harbourfront LRT complained about the characteristic 'squeal' of PCC wheels. In reply, TTC test operated a ALRV on the route for five days in spring 1993. However, there were concerns about extracting an articulated vehicle from the subway tunnel after a more prolonged test operation from 14 August to 19 September. After flange lubricators had been installed at Spadina, the PCCs were back by 20 September. But in October 1994 CLRVS finally replaced the A-15s which were thereafter restricted mainly to rush hour trippers on the King, Dundas and Carlton routes and occasional base service at the request of operators. With a surplus of cars as ridership continued its downward spiral, only four A-15s were normally in service on any given weekday. On a more encouraging note, the Tour Tram service was revised from 9 July-October after a two year hiatus with no. 4500 and 4549 used in rotation.
The Fall of Toronto's PCCs
At the 23 November 1995 Commission meeting the momentous decision was made to retire the entire PCC fleet except for nos. 4500 and 4549 which would be retained for tour and charter use and nos. W30 and W31, the rail grinding train. The reasons for the sudden demise of the PCC Car in Toronto after 57 years were; 1) declining ridership, 2) sufficient CLRVs and ALRVs to maintain existing routes and the new Spadina Ave. line and 3) economy of having a standardised fleet without maintaining a separate spare parts inventory for just 19 cars.
So it's time to say FAREWELL to an old friend. One who has proved us all with work. One who has served us well for almost sixty years. One who has brought a smile to many a young face and a few older ones. One who has taken us to the Ex, the Island ferries and more when were kids ourselves. One who has taken us all to our grandparents for Sunday dinner. One who will be never matched in style, charm or service. THANK YOU for the memories, the service and so much more. GOOD BYE.
--The Rocket Report, December 1995
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PCC 4618 is seen here at the Halton County Radial Railway though the windows of CTA 48. James Bow photo. |
Capping five days of nostalgic farewells, specially decorated nos. 4601 and 4600 made the ceremonial last run on 7 December 1995 along Queen St. from Russell Carhouse to Roncesvalles under police motorcycle escort and back to Russell via King St. Later no. 4600 made a final charter trip from Russell to Bingham, St. Clair, Bathurst, King and Harbourfront. The next day, with the announcement 'Queen, Queensway, Roncesvalles, final stop for PCCs', operator Frank Hood concluded the last scheduled PCC run in Toronto when he guided Carlton line short-turn car 4611 into Roncesvalles depot at 9:31 p.m. On 29 January 1996 most of the cars were shifted to Wychwood Carhouse; a few inoperable cars remained at Roncesvalles.
In January 1996 the TTC donated nos. 4600 and 4618 to the Halton County Radial Railway Museum and no. 4612 to the Edmonton Radial Railway Society. Thanks to the efforts of Tom Twigge of the Halton County Radial Museum, the remaining Red Rockets have largely been preserved in various North American museums and heritage trolley operations. Mr. Twigge organised a consortium of trolley museums to make a joint bid which was accepted by TTC in March. In early April, nos. 4602 (Trolleyville, Ohio USA) and 4603 (National Capital Trolley Museum, Maryland USA) were the first to leave the property and by summer, all of the A-15s save nos. 4500 and 4549 had gone to their new owners.
The Disposition of the TTC's A15 PCC Cars
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4600 | |
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4601 | |
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4602 | |
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4603 | |
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4604[4500] |
Toronto Transit Commission, Ontario |
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4605[4549] |
Toronto Transit Commission, Ontario |
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4606 |
Vintage Electric Streetcar Co, Pennsylvania |
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4607 |
Initially Phoenix Transit System, Arizona, |
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4608 | |
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4609 |
Vintage Electric Streetcar Co., Pennsylvania |
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4610 |
Vintage Electric Streetcar Co., Pennsylvania |
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4611 | |
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4612 | |
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4613 | |
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4614 | |
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4615 |
Vintage Electric Streetcar Co., Pennsylvania |
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4616 |
Vintage Electric Streetcar Co., Pennsylvania |
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4617 |
East Troy Electric Railway, Wisconsin |
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4618 |
The largest number of these cars currently operate in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Cars 4606, 4609, 4610, 4615 and 4616 were purchased on behalf of the city around the year 2000, rebuilt and put in service on a new downtown circulator route connecting the Metra station with the shore of Lake Michigan. Unrebuilt TTC PCC 4529 was also purchased for parts salvage. To celebrate the heritage of the PCC across North America, Kenosha refurbished and repainted its cars in a number of classic liveries, including Chicago's "Green Hornet" for 4606, Pittsburg's livery for 4609, Johnstown for 4615 and Cincinnati for 4616. The TTC livery was maintained and spruced up for 4610.
Kenosha's ex-TTC cars are still in operation, and were joined by two more PCCs in 2012. In August 2011, the East Troy Electric Railway museum decided to shed TTC 4617 and SEPTA 2185 from its collection. Member (at the time) John DeLamater purchased both PCC cars and donated them to Kenosha. TTC 4617 entered service in the spring of 2012, still in its TTC livery. In late 2013, it was taken out of service for body service and restoration, and re-entered service on September 12, 2015, repainted into San Francisco Municipal Railway colours.
Today, these museum cars and most importantly, nos. 4500 and 4549 still on TTC metals, remind us of the almost 60 years when Red Rockets signed JANE BLOOR and NEVILLE QUEEN ruled the streets of North America's most livable city.
PCC - A-15 Image Archive
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TTC A-15 rebuilt PCC #4500 poses alongsiede ALRV #4229 at Roncesvalles. This shot, looking south toward the Queensway, was taken by James Bow on December 5, 1999. |
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TTC A8-class PCC, post-rebuild, poses with Peter Witt car #2766 and CLRV #4000 during a triple-header charter at Woodbine station. This shot was taken by Jeff Bentley on September 5, 2004. |
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TTC rebuilt A-15 class PCC #4500 is seen here posing on Ossington Avenue during an autumn 1999 charter. James Bow took this photo. |
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TTC rebuilt A15 class PCC #4500 moves out of Neville Park loop during a fan charter in the autumn of 1999. James Bow took this photo. |
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TTC rebuilt A-15 class PCC 4500 poses for fans at Woodbine Loop during an autumn 1999 charter. James Bow took this photo. |
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While walking on Gould Street in the late afternoon of November 27, 2005, Alex Soloviev was lucky enough to catch TTC A15-class PCC #4549 during a training run, heading southbound on Church through the Ryerson campus. |
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TTC rebuilt A-15 class PCC #4549 is seen preparing to leave High Park Loop in 1999 during a fan charter. CLRV 4003 is in the background. Photo by James Bow. |
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TTC rebuilt A-15 class PCC #4549 on a fan charter pauses at Woodbine Loop in the twilight of this December 2000 scene. Photo by James Bow. |
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TTC rebuilt A-15 class PCC #4549 pulls out from a station stop below the South Kingsway and heads eastbound along the Queensway private right-of-way during a December 2000 charter. Photo by James Bow. |
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An unidentified PCC undergoes rebuilding at Hillcrest Shops to join the A15 class. The photographer is unknown. |
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TTC A15-rebuild PCC #4600 visits CNE loop, bearing its short-lived CLRV paint scheme on June 12, 1988. Photo courtesy the Gregory J. Sommers collection. |
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Rebuilt TTC A15-class PCC 4600 poses in glorious sunshine outside of Rockwood station at the Halton County Radial Railway. Photo by Mike. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4601 (ex PCC 4512), seen at the Michigan Transit Museum in the year 2000. Tom Jankowski photo. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4602, seen here in its former life as A8-class all-electric PCC #4537 running southbound on Yonge Street, during a day in 1952 when the ST. CLAIR streetcar was on diversion due the construction of the Yonge subway. Photo by J. Bernard, donated by Curt Frey. 4602 can now be found at Trolleyville, Ohio. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4603 is seen here at the National Capital Trolley Museum in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. Photo by P.C. Kohler. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4604, restored to its 1951 condition and maintaining its original number, #4500, poses at Exhibition loop during a 1998 charter. James Bow photo. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4605, maintaining its original A8-class number #4549, poses for a charter at Spadina station in 1999. Photo by James Bow. |
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TTC A15-rebuilt class PCC #4606 is almost through its rebuild process, sporting a new coat of paint at Hillcrest shops. The photographer is unknown. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4606 turns from southbound Spadina to eastbound Queen's Quay in 604 HARBOURFRONT service, with the Canada Malting Company silos prominent in the distance. This photograph was taken by Ted Wickson. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4606 is seen here in the garage at Kenosha, Wisconsin. It, along with a handful of other ex-Toronto PCCs provide service on the city's new harbourfront circulator. PCC 4606 has been repainted in Chicago colours, but retains its Toronto number and rollsign. Photo by Tom Jankowski. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4607 rests at Spadina/Queen's Quay loop in 604 HARBOURFRONT service alongside GM New Look bus #8791 in 77 SPADINA service in this early 1990s shot. The photographer is unknown. |
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Another view of former TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4607 at the Arizona Street Railway Museum. Photo by Robert Lubinski. |
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Former TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4607 now resides as a static display at the Arizona Street Railway Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo by Robert Lubinski. |
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TTC A15 class rebuilt PCC 4608 heads eastbound on Queen's Quay, approaching Simcoe, on June 19, 1990, on a private charter. The photographer is unknown. |
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TTC A-15 class rebuilt PCC #4608 operates through High Park loop in service on 506 CARLTON on December 3, 1995. This photograph is by R. Lubinski. |
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PCC 4608 (was PCC 4544) is shown here at the Tucson trolley museum, awaiting rebuilding. For more information about the museum, click to Old Pueblo Trolley, Arizona. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC 4609 operates in service on 504 KING, eastbound approaching Bay Street on November 15, 1995. Photo by Robert Lubinski. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4609 was purchased by the Vintage Electric Railway Company and now resides in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where it provides service on their Harbourpark Streetcar Circulator. Click here for more information about this project. |
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TTC A15-class rebuild #4610 is seen here in its previous life as A8-class all-electric PCC #4541 operating in BATHURST service, eastbound on Adelaide at York in this September 1959 shot. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the John Knight collection. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC 4610 operates in Kenosha. Andrew Barton snapped this picture in the summer of 2010, and it is used in accordance with his Creative Commons License. |
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Andrew Barton snapped this image of Kenosha ex-TTC PCC 4610 crossing a street in downtown Kenosha, in front of the Mayer Drugs building in August 2010. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4611, the last PCC to operate in revenue service on the TTC (seen here at Queen's Quay and Bay), is now at the Halton County Radial Railway. Photo by Brad O'Brien. |
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A-15 class rebuilt PCCs 4611 and 4618 await restoration outside Yard 3 at the Halton County Radial Railway, circa 2005. Photo by Mike. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4612 is seen here at the Edmonton Radial Railway. Photo courtesy Adam Reymon. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4613 is shown here undergoing restoration at the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority in Dallas, Texas. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4614 is shown here being delivered to the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority in Dallas, Texas. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4615 is seen here in its previous life as TTC A8-class all-electric PCC #4518 in BAY service. The car is now running in Kenosha, Wisconsin. This photograph is by Julian Bernard and is donated from the Curt Frey collection. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4616 is seen here in its previous life as A8-class all-electric PCC #4515, turning through Exhibition Loop. The car was purchased by the Vintage Electric Railway Company and may now be running in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Photo donated from the Curt Frey collection. |
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TTC A15-class rebuilt PCC #4617 is seen here posed alongside a far older streetcar at the East Troy Railroad Museum. |
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Former TTC Presidents Conference Committee (PCC) car #4617 starts its journey from East Troy to Kenosha, Wisconsin on Tuesday, October 11, 2011. Photo by streetcarbrad. |
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PCC 4600 passes PCC 4618, both now at the Halton County Railway Museum. PCC 4600 operates regularly over the one-mile-long woodland route, while PCC 4618 (on the left) has been converted into a café serving ice cream. Photo taken in August 2010 by James Bow. |
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Bill Volkmer caught this excellent shot of a rebuilt A-15 PCC looping in Union Station during the glory days of the Harbourfront LRT. This photograph was borrowed from Dave's Railpix Site. |
References
- Bromley, John F., and Jack May Fifty Years of Progressive Transit, Electric Railroaders' Association, New York (New York), 1978.
- Bromley, John F., 'Toronto Streetcar & Radial Loop History', Transfer Points, March 1999, p4-10, Toronto Transportation Society, Toronto (Ontario).
- Carlson, Steven B., and Fred W. Schneider III PCC: The Car that Fought Back, Glendale: Interurban Press, 1980.
- Corley, Raymond F., Vehicle Handbook, Toronto: Toronto Transit Commission, 1988.
- Kashin, Seymour and Harre Demero. An American Original: The PCC Car, Glendale: Interurban Press, 1980.
- Partridge, Larry, Mind the Doors, Please, The Boston Mills Press, Erin (Ontario), 1983.
- Schneider, Fred W. III, and Stephen P. Carlson PCC From Coast to Coast, Glendale: Interurban Press, 1986.
