The Pre-War, Air-Electric PCC Cars (Classes A1-A5 and A10)

Text by James Bow

See also:

A History of Toronto’s Presidents’ Conference Committee Cars (the PCCs)
The All-Electric PCC Cars (Classes A6-A8), by P.C. Kohler
The Post-War Used PCC Fleet (Classes A9-A14), by P.C. Kohler
Red Rocket Renaissance: The A15 Class PCC Cars, by P.C. Kohler
VIDEO: The Last Air PCCS, by Richard Glaze (Also: Car 4600 Raw Footage)

Air PCCs

The Presidents’ Conference Committee cars that operated in Toronto can be organized into fifteen distinct classes, by date of order or, in the case of the A-15, rebuild, but these fifteen classes can be further organized into three classes, depending again on when they were built, and also by their primary source of braking power.

The first 290 streetcars to be purchased by the TTC (there were no cars 4140-4149), which arrived before Canada’s entry into the Second World War, are generally referred to as “air-electric” PCC cars. The “air” referred to the compressed air that was used to power the PCCs’ brakes and their doors (a standard technology of streetcars at the time). For readers more familiar with the PCCs that operated after the 1960s, the air-electric PCCs were immediately distinguishable by their less streamlined appearance (their windshields had a 12 degree slope) and separate windows for route and destination signs. The side windows were also larger, taking up space occupied by the later PCC’s standee windows.

Delivery and Promotion

The TTC put in an order for 140 air-electric PCCs in 1937 with the Canadian Car & Foundry company. CC&F licensed the design and purchased car body shells from the St. Louis Car Company. These shells were shipped to the CC&F’s factory in Montreal and mounted onto frames built on site. The first two of these, cars 4001 and 4002, where shipped by rail in the summer of 1938. They were unloaded at Hillcrest Shops on August 20, 1938 and put through rigorous testing before being accepted by the TTC. During this time, the cars were also shipped to the Canadian National Exhibition where they were put on display before thousands of curious onlookers. The TTC were proud of these new models, and wanted to tell Torontonians that the future had arrived. The cars were officially placed in public service on the ST. CLAIR line that September. Training runs for motormen began on September 8, followed by promotional free rides to the public on September 23. Full revenue service for these PCCs began on St. Clair the next day. By the end of the year, air-electric PCCs were serving patrons on BLOOR, DUNDAS and KING.

With the TTC satisfied with the cars that had arrived, the rest of the shipment continued, with car 4139 finishing up the order on November 23, 1938. With more aging streetcar equipment needing replacing, the TTC placed more orders with CC&F. The second batch of 50 (referred to as the A-2 class, numbered (4150-4199) began arriving in 1940.

By this time, however, the purchase of new PCCs was complicated by the Second World War. With wartime production tightly controlled by the Dominion War Commission, all purchases of streetcars had to be approved by the federal government. Although the government was mindful of the importance of Toronto’s streetcars to the war effort (in 1942, the war commission ordered a number of bus routes replaced by streetcar operations in order to protect the supply of gasoline and rubber), a number of PCCs that would have gone to Toronto were shipped off to Montreal and Vancouver instead.

Even so, another 100 air-electric PCC cars were shipped to Toronto, with class A-3 cars (4200-4259) arriving between 1941 and 1942, class A-4 cars (4260-4274) arriving between 1943 and 1944 and the A-5 cars (4275-4299) arriving between 1944 and 1945. Car 4299 represented the last new air-electric PCC to be purchased by the TTC.

Time Marches On

As the Second World War ended, and restrictions on production eased, the TTC again looked for more streetcars to replace the oldest cars in its fleet. However, in 1947, the PCC design had been updated, with electric motors replacing compressed air as the means for braking and door controls. Car 4300 was the first in the brand new class of sleeker, more modern all-electric PCCs. Time was marching on from the air-electric technology.

But a few more air-electric vehicles would be added to the fleet. In the early 1950s, as the TTC found the price of new all-electric PCCs to be too high for its budget, they noticed that a number of American cities were abandoning their streetcar networks, flooding the market with a large number of used PCCs, all with barely a few years of use behind them. In 1950, the TTC purchased 52 PCC cars from the Cincinnati Street Railway. A total of 27 of those cars (numbered 1100-1126) were air-electrics, built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1940. Car 1100 was a pre-production demonstrator. Classified as A-10 cars and numbered 4575 to 4601, these cars looked very like the other air-electric PCCs on the fleet, with larger windows and a less-streamlined appearance.

Retirement and Shipment to Alexandria (and elsewhere)

As the TTC’s PCC fleet topped 744 (745 minus car 4063, which was scrapped in 1947), the YONGE subway opened and, with it, began the contraction of the Toronto streetcar network. As the PCCs were the newest cars in the fleet, they were initially safe from retirement. Instead, the TTC focused on the aging Peter Witt fleet. The last Witts were retired in 1963, however, and the opening of the BLOOR-DANFORTH subway caused an even greater contraction in the streetcar network. This time, the air-electric PCCs were on the chopping block.

Fortunately, the cars were still in good enough condition that the TTC were able to consider a number of offers to purchase the equipment. In 1968, the city of Alexandria, in Egypt, bought 140 air-electric PCCs, taken from every class on the TTC fleet. The TTC shipped these cars from where they had been resting in storage at Danforth carhouse to the Port of Toronto, where they were placed on cargo ships and sent across the Atlantic. Thirteen of these cars never entered service in Egypt, while the remainder were numbered from 901 to 1027 in random order. They survived extreme heat and sand, as well as attacks from the Arab-Israeli War in 1973. A number of these cars were converted into double-ended three-car trains and continued to serve Alexandria until their final retirement in 1984.

The other city interested in purchasing air-electric PCCs was Tampico, Mexico. In 1971, they placed an order for ten vehicles (A-3 cars 4226, 4228, 4247, and 4253 and A-10 cars 4586, 4589, 4593, 4597, and 4599) which were promptly sent. In preparation for this order, the TTC did experiment with cutting in left-side doors on some of the remaining air-electric PCCs it was keeping for scrap. It decided against making such modifications for the cars that Tempico received. The nine cars sent to Mexico continued to operate until that city’s streetcar network shut down on December 13, 1974.

All A-1 class PCCs were pulled from service the soon after the BLOOR-DANFORTH subway opened in 1966. Other retirements followed, with the A-4 and A-5 classes largely retired by 1970, the A-3 class in 1971 and the A-2 class in 1972. Tampico never sent payment for the tenth car in the order, A-10 class 4578, and so the TTC held it in dead storage until 1975, the last air-electric on TTC property.

Preserved Air Cars

As the air-electric class of PCCs were retired, the Ontario Electric Railway Historical Association, which operates the Halton County Radial Railway museum, asked the TTC to donate car 4000, the first of its class, and the first PCC to be built in Canada. The car had been retired from public service in 1963, but was still used by the commission as a training car. The TTC agreed to the OERHA’s request and, in 1969, the car arrived on museum property, where it served thousands of museum goers. In the late 1980s, as the 50th anniversary of PCC operation approached, the TTC and the OERHA agreed to restore PCC 4000 to its former glory, and then displayed the car at the Canadian National Exhibition in August 1988, recalling the arrival and public display of the first PCCs at the CNE in 1938 (and giving car 4000 a due that had gone to 4001 and 4002 back in the day). After this display, it was returned to the museum, where it remains a cherished piece of equipment to this day.

Also in 1969, A-1 class PCC 4138 was purchased by the Toronto Board of Education for use as a portable classroom at the Duke of York school on George Street. The car was delivered to the school mostly intact, including rollsigns, but likely in inoperable condition. After years of delighting students on site, it was sold by the Board of Education, likely to a scrapper.

Any remaining air-electric PCCs on the TTC property after 1969 were eventually sent to the scrap heap. No work cars were produced from decommissioned air-electric PCCs, and no other cars were preserved.

Interesting Air-Electric PCC Trivia

TTC A-1 class PCC car 4063 has the dubious honour of being the first PCC car on the TTC fleet to be scrapped. In 1947, the car cut through an open switch at the entrance to Lansdowne Carhouse and smashed into the north wall of the facility. The building received considerable damage, but PCC 4063 was declared unrepairable, and soon shipped off the property. The second PCC to be scrapped was car 4052 in 1962, again due to collision damage.
A-1 class PCCs purchased by Alexandria: 4002, 4005-7, 4011, 4022-3, 4026-7, 4034, 4036-7, 4043, 4049, 4056, 4068-70, 4082, 4087, 4090, 4093-5, 4099, 4101, 4103, 4108, 4111, 4113-6, 4118, 4121, 4126-7, 4131, 4134
A-2 class PCCs purchased by Alexandria: 4151, 4155-7, 4160, 4162, 4164, 4167, 4169-70, 4172, 4174, 4178, 4181, 4183-5, 4188, 4190, 4192-6
A-3 class PCCs purchased by Alexandria: 4200-2, 4205, 4209-13, 4217-8, 4221-5, 4229, 4231-3, 4235-6, 4238-40, 4242, 4244, 4248-51, 4254, 4255-6, 4258
A-4 class PCCs purchased by Alexandria: 4260, 4262-8, 4270, 4272-4
A-5 class PCCs purchased by Alexandria: 4276-83, 4287-8, 4293, 4295, 4297-9
A-10 class PCCs purchased by Alexandria: 4575-7, 4579-85, 4587-8, 4590-2, 4598

NEXT: The Post-War, All-Electric PCC Cars (Classes A6-A8).

PCC - Air Electric Image Archive

	TTC air-electric PCCs 4106, 4057 and 4007 sit outside at Lansdowne Carhouse alongside a snow sweeper and a trolley coach on March 11, 1966, just days after the BLOOR-DANFORTH SUBWAY opened. Although the PCC cars look ready to run, they are in storage, thanks to the mass of streetcar abandonments two weeks before. Note the strips of wood affixed to each of the front doors to prevent people from forcing the doors open. Thanks to Robert Lubinski for his corrections. Photo by John F. Bromley, courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4000 rests at the Halton County west barn alongside Montreal & Southern Counties car #107 and London & Port Stanley locomotive #45, circa June 1976. Photo by Richard Glaze.
	Canada's first PCC, 4000, rounds Halton County Railway Museum's east loop during the 2000 Fall Extravaganza. Photo by Robert King.
	Air-electric PCC 4001 sits with partners at Connaught Carhouse waiting to enter service. Photo by Peter Lambert, donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC air-electric #4002 departs Parkside Loop, heading east on Lake Shore Road in QUEEN service (Lake Shore Boulevard is to the right of this picture), passing air-electric #4003, about to enter Parkside Loop for its run to Neville. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze on July 5, 1954.
	Original Toronto air-electric PCC 4003 poses alongside used air-electrics 4575 and 4600 (both ex-Cincinnati, built by the St. Louis Car Company between 1939 and 1940) at Russell Carhouse on October 24, 1954. Photo by John F. Bromley.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4004 sits on one of the tracks at Russell Carhouse on May 30, 1953. Photo by Richard Glaze.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4004 heads eastbound on Queen approaching Lansdowne in QUEEN service, July 5, 1954. Photo by Richard Glaze.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4007 lays over in front of Russell Carhouse on June 1, 1953. Photo by Richard Glaze.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4007 pauses at Roncesvalles, eastbound in service on the QUEEN streetcar. The Gray Coach terminal is in the background. Image courtesy the Al Chione collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4009 sits among Peter Witts at Russell Carhouse in this July 1953 shot by James Victor Salmon. Image courtesy the Toronto Public Library.
	Passing airs! TTC A1-class air-electric #4010 passes A10-class ex-Cincinnati air-electric PCC #4600 on the Queensway, in this September 1958 shot, looking west. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	Air-electric PCC 4017 prepares to turn from Church Street onto Queen Street. Photo by Peter Lambert, donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4018 pays a visit to the Sherbourne/Front area, seen southbound on Sherbourne, on a UCRS charter on April 18, 1961. This photo is by Neil McArten and the image is courtesy the Rob Pineault collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4018 pauses for photographs on a UCRS charter on George Street, southbound at Front, on April 18, 1961. The crossover behind was previously used by snowplows. This photo is by Neil McArten and is courtesy the Rob Pineault collection.
	TTC A1-class air-electric PCC #4019 heads westbound on Kingston Road, having left Birchmount Loop in KINGSTON ROAD-COXWELL service on June 12, 1954. This photograph was taken by Harvey R. Naylor.
	Richard Glaze shoots out from the front of a streetcar as he trails westbound Peter Witt car #2738 as air-electric PCC #4022 heads eastbound on Queen Street at Logan on May 31, 1953.
	Air-electric PCC 4024 being turned into scrap. Photo donated by Don Ross.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4025 pulls up to a 4700-series PCC, northbound on Dufferin approaching King Street, likely in Exhibition service as this is a September 1960 shot. The photographer is unknown, and the image is courtesy the Bill Nixon collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4028 heads eastbound on Queen, crossing Yonge Street on August 3, 1958. Image courtesy the Al Chione collection.
	TTC Air-electric PCC #4031 turns into Neville Loop in this early 1950s shot, years before 1967 when the loop was rebuilt to handle longer QUEEN trains. Photo donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4032 pauses at Sunnyside Loop in QUEEN service on May 31, 1953. Richard Glaze photo.
	TTC A-1 class air-electric PCC #4033 heads northbound on Dufferin approaching King Street in service on the KINGSTON ROAD streetcar, on May 30, 1961. John F. Bromley took this photograph using a Voigtlander 120 size camera. The photo comes to us from the Dave Shaw collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4036 has just left Humber Loop and is proceeding east along the Queensway on July 8, 1962. Image courtesy the Al Chione collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4039 heads westbound on King Street approaching Roncesvalles in KING service. Photo taken by Richard Glaze on May 31, 1953.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4041 zips along the private right-of-way near Humber Loop. Photo donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4042 leads a convoy of other air-electrics eastbound on King Street crossing Bathurst on September 6, 1965 (Labour Day). The car is in KINGSTON RD-EXHIBITION service. The photograph is by Robert McMann and is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4044, on a charter, is being backed through the crossover at the northern end of the tracks on Spadina Avenue at Bloor Street on February 28, 1965. The photographer is unknown.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4044 prepares to turn from Albert Street northbound onto Bay in service on the DUNDAS streetcar on February 28, 1965. You can see the remnants of the tangent track along Albert Street, dating from when City Hall loop was also served by tracks coming south on Elizabeth Street. The photographer is unknown.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4044 heads southbound on Dovercourt, crossing Hallam Street on February 28, 1965. Given its EARLSCOURT rollsign exposure, and its presence on City Hall loop on the same day (see the photo immediately above), it is likely that this streetcar is on a charter. The photographer is unknown.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4044 pauses at High Park Loop. Photo by P. Lambert, donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4045 heads eastbound on Queen, approaching Connaught in KINGSTON ROAD service in this mid-1950s shot. The photographer is unknown.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4048 operates westbound on King at Bay in this early 1950s shot. The photograph is by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey and rescanned by Pat Lavallee.
	Air-electric PCC 4050 stops at Connaught Avenue on Queen East. Photo by P. Lambert, donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4055 heads westbound on Queen, approaching Lansdowne, in QUEEN service on July 5, 1954. Photo by Richard Glaze.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4061 operates westbound on Kingston Road, crossing Main Street on April 3, 1965, in service on KINGSTON ROAD-COXWELL. This photo is by John F. Bromley.
	TTC's least photographed PCC could be #4063. This was retired after it went into an open switch outside of Lansdowne carhouse and rammed into the carhouse wall while on Lansdowne night car duty. This photo was taken in January 1947 by WC Bailey. The car was scrapped and Lansdowne became a trolleybus route later that year. Photo donated by Rob Hutchinson.
	Air-electric PCC 4066 crosses Dupont Street, southbound on Dovercourt on a Harbord run. Photo donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC PCC air-electric cars 4066, 4001 and ex-Cincinnati air-electric PCC #4601 lead the lines at Russell Carhouse on May 30, 1965. This photo was taken by Barker Gummere and is courtesy the John Bromley collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4068 lays over at Danforth Carhouse in this 1946 shot by Bill Hood. While the narrow devilstrip between the tracks along the Rosedale bridge kept Witt and PCC cars off of SHERBOURNE in regular service, PCCs did operate on SHERBOURNE tripper service, and Rosedale loop was a possible short turn service. This image is courtesy the Leonard Jacks collection.
	A1-class all-electric TTC PCC #4074 waits with two others in an Oshawa scrapyard. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze, circa May 1969.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4075 sits in High Park loop on June 26, 1944. The photographer is unknown and the image is from the Dave Shaw collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4077 passes another air-electric as it heads towards Humber Loop on the Lakeshore private right-of-way, in the years before the Gardiner Expressway and the Queensway extension was built. Photo by Peter Lambert, donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4088 pulls onto Queen Street East in this shot looking east towards Neville loop. Picture by Julian Bernard, donated from the Curt Frey Collection.
	TTC air electric PCC #4094 trundles east to Bay on Louisa, about to enter City Hall loop at the eastern end of the DUNDAS streetcar line. The old Toronto Armoury building can be seen in the background. The photo is circa 1955. The photographer is unknown.
	Air-electric PCC 4099 prepares to leave Long Branch loop, in service on the LONG BRANCH streetcar. Photo donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC air-electric PCCs 4100 and 4152 sit with other surplus air-electric PCCs awaiting disposition at Danforth Carhouse in August 1966. GM New Looks show the site transitioning to a bus garage. The photo was taken circa August 1966 by Richard Glaze.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4101 pulls up to Queen Street and the Gray Coach terminal, southbound on Roncesvalles in KING service on July 7, 1962. Photo courtesy the Al Chione collection.
	Later that day, air-electric PCC 4101 was operating in QUEEN service, eastbound on the Queensway at Ellis. Photo courtesy the Al Chione collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4102 turns from King onto westbound Queen at Roncesvalles, in service on the QUEEN route on July 10, 1965. Photo by R. McMann, courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC Air-electric PCC 4103 on private right-of-way near Humber Loop in pre-Gardiner days. Photo donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4110 sits in dead storage at Hillcrest Shops alongside London & Port Stanley passenger car #8. The L&PS car would find its way to the Halton County Radial Railway museum where it still operates today. Air-electric PCC 4110 is bound for the scrapheap. Photo from the Howard Wayt collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4111 heads southbound on Broadview, having left Broadview station loop in KING service in this late February 1966 shot. The BLOOR-DANFORTH subway is just about to open. J. Freyseng snapped this photograph, which comes to us courtesy of the John Knight collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4126 heads westbound on King, crossing Sumach Street in KING service on September 19, 1964. The photographer is John F. Bromley and the photo is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC all-electric PCC #4131 pulls through Vincent Loop, possibly on a charter, during the last day of the loop's operation, February 15, 1966. This photo was taken by Robert McMann and is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC air-electric PCCs 4133 and 4201 sit awaiting the call to service at Roncesvalles carhouse on May 12, 1965. This image was taken by Robert McMann and is courtesy John F. Bromley's Flickr Stream.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4134 pauses at Parkside Loop in QUEEN service on May 31, 1953. Richard Glaze photo.
	TTC air electric PCC 4136 heads westbound on Queen Street, crossing over the Don River in this late 1950s shot. The photographer is unknown and the image is from the Dave Shaw collection.
	An interior shot of an A1-class Air Electric PCC operating on King Street. This photo was taken by L. Swanson on December 19, 1955 and is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC A2-class air-electric PCC #4156 pulls through the newly-renovated Ferry Loop at Queen's Quay on January 27, 1962. Photo by Harvey R. Naylor.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4185 kicks up dust as it passes air-electric PCC #4157 northbound on McCaul, passing Elm Street on September 6, 1965. These cars appear to be on a diversion of the HARBOURD route. Photo by John F. Bromley.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4158 along with a compatriot, waits as workers prepare paving with a rail vibrator on Bay Street at Grosvenor on September 30, 1955. This shot was taken by L. Swanson, facing north, and the image is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4158 precedes an all-electric cousin eastbound on Bloor Street, approaching Bay during Santa Claus Parade service on November 13, 1965. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC A2-class all-electric PCC #4161 heads westbound on St. Clair, approaching Dufferin in ST. CLAIR service on March 7, 1954. Photo by Harvey R. Naylor.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4168 sits at St. Clair carhouse on February 28, 1963. The photographer is unknown and the image is from the Dave Shaw collection.
	TTC A2 class air-electric PCC 4168 picks up passengers at Coxwell loop at Queen Street, in service on COXWELL in this September 1965 shot. The photo is by L. Swanson and is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4170 pulls past the dump spur at Avon Loop in service on ST. CLAIR on February 6, 1966, just three weeks before the Avon rush hour service was eliminated. Photo by John F. Bromley.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4170 passes through Vincent Loop in KING service on a snowy February 6, 1966. This photograph was taken on John F. Bromley and is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4173 turns out of Vincent Loop in this August 1963 shot. The photographer is unknown.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4174 sits in the yard tracks of St. Clair carhouse on May 20, 1961. The photographer is unknown, and the image is courtesy Dave Shaw.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4175 waits at St. Clair carhouse alongside air-electric companion 4182 on July 17, 1960. The photographer is unknown, but the image is from the Dave Shaw collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4182 heads southbound on McCaul, about to cross Elm Street on September 6, 1965. The car may be on a diversion on the HARBORD streetcar route. This photograph was taken by John F. Bromley and comes to us courtesy the Howard Wayt collection.
	Air Electric A-2 class PCC #4188 is about to turn from westbound Danforth Avenue onto southbound Broadview Avenue on January 29, 1966. The photo is by R. McMann and is from the John Knight Collection.
	Air-electric PCC 4189 prepares to depart Lipton Loop for a westbound Harbord run. The date is February 21, 1965. Photo by Joseph Testagrose.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4193 prepares to enter KING service from Danforth carhouse on July 16, 1965. This shot was taken by John F. Bromley, looking southeast across the Danforth-Coxwell intersection. This image is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4196 turns from westbound King onto southbound Bathurst in KING-EXHIBITION (via Parliament) service on August 22, 1964. This photograph was taken by John F. Bromley and is courtesy the Bill Nixon collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4198 operates northbound on Bathurst, about to cross Davenport Road, in FORT service on the afternoon of February 25, 1966, the last day FORT and BATHURST cars operated north of Bloor in regular service. Photo by Robert McMann, courtesy the Rob Hutchinson collection.
	A shot of the interior of PCC #4199 on the streets of Toronto. The photographer is unknown and this image dates from April 1967.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4199 heads westbound on St. Clair Avenue East, passing Inglewood, in service on the ST. CLAIR streetcar on September 29, 1968. John F. Bromley took this photograph.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4208 prepares to pull out of Ferry Loop onto York Street in this August 1960 shot. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the Howard Wayt collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4209 operates southbound on KINGSTON ROAD-COXWELL service, about to cross Dundas Street in this February 1966 shot. The line, like the COXWELL streetcar, is just days away from ending as the BLOOR-DANFORTH subway is set to open at the end of the month. The photograph is by R. McMann and is from the John Knight collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4213 prepares to turn from southbound Victoria onto eastbound Adelaide in KING-EXHIBITION service on August 21, 1967. This photo was taken by Edward Wickson and is courtesy the Richard Glaze collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4216 rests in pretty dire condition at Hillcrest Shops on October 15, 1966, alongside A13-class ex-Birmingham all-electric PCC 4712. The air electric PCC is likely bound for the scrapheap, but it has been pulled aside so the TTC can do a test cut and mock-up installation of left-side doors ahead of a possible sale of air-electric cars to Tampico, Mexico. The photographer is unknown.
	A TTC air-electric PCC picks up passengers at Vaughan Loop at the north end of the BATHURST streetcar line, while a suburban bus lays over. This TTC photo taken circa 1950 is courtesy John Calnan's collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4220 heads westbound on Queen, about to cross Bathurst, on November 21, 1944. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4225 loops through Humber Loop, heading back eastbound in QUEEN service. The date is unknown and the photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the Charles Houser collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4226 approaches Victoria Park and Bingham Loop, eastbound, in service on the KINGSTON ROAD streetcar on July 7, 1968. The photographer is J.J. Buckley and the image is courtesy the John F. Bromley collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4226 rests overnight at Wychwood Carhouse circa June 1965. Photo by Richard Glaze.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4226 pauses northbound on Coxwell Avenue at Eastwood during a charter. Richard Glaze took this photograph circa August 1965.
	While on a night charter, TTC air-electric PCC #4226 pauses at Coxwell loop in this shot taken Richard Glaze circa August 1965.
	While on a night charter, air-electric PCC #4226 lays over at Woodbine Loop in this shot taken by Richard Glaze circa August 1965.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4228 turns from Church onto Front, in service on the CHURCH streetcar. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC air-electrics #4228 and ex-Cincinnati A-10 class #4589 are loaded up onto flat cars at Hillcrest shops, bound for Tampico, Mexico circa June 1971. Photo by Richard Glaze.
	Air-electric PCC 4236 enters passes the traffic office of Roncesvalles carhouse. Photographer unknown.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4236 heads eastbound on Dundas Street, approaching McCaul, in HARBORD service. The photographer of this July 1962 scene is unknown.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4238 heads north on Carlaw Avenue, approaching Simpson, in the last days of HARBORD service in February 1966. The photographer is unknown and the image is from the John Knight collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4243 operates in LONG BRANCH service eastbound on Lake Shore Boulevard at Third Street. Richard Glaze snapped this shot from behind the front wheel of another PCC on July 5, 1954.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4245 heads westbound on Danforth Avenue, about to cross Guest Street, in service on CARLTON in this early 1950s shot. This photo was donated by Pat Lavallee.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4245 operates westbound on St. Clair Avenue, passing an all-electric cousin. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4247 heads westbound on Queen, crossing Yonge, while an eastbound all-electric PCC heads eastbound. This shot was taken circa July 1970 by Richard Glaze.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4248 picks up passengers eastbound on St. Clair at Wychwood. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze on June 1, 1953.
	The sun sets on TTC air-electric PCC 4250 as it waits at Polson Quay to be delivered to Alexandria, Egypt on July 22, 1968. The photograph is by Robert McMann and comes courtesy the John F. Bromley collection.
	TTC A2-class air-electric PCC #4253 pulls through Bicknell loop, in service on the ROGERS ROAD streetcar in this February 1971 shot, courtesy the Charles Houser collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4253 heads westbound on Queen in QUEEN service, approaching Connaught. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze circa June 1971.
	TTC all electric PCC #4253 heads southbound on Kingston Road in KINGSTON ROAD service, passing Dundas Street East on June 21, 1971. The photographer is unknown.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4253 lays over at Russell Carhosue in this July 1971 shot. The photographer is unknown.
	Air-electric PCC 4255 crosses King Street on its way to Parliament Loop. Photo donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4260 turns from northbound Yonge onto westbound Eglinton, on a diversion of the ST. CLAIR streetcar. Construction work on St. Clair subway station has temporarily closed the tracks on Mount Pleasant and St. Clair Avenue East, and ST. CLAIR PCCs are running north on Yonge and looping through Eglinton carhouse and yard before returning south on Yonge Street and west on St. Clair. Photo by Julian Bernard donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC #4261 heads westbound on Kingston Road, passing Elmer in KINGSTON ROAD service in July 1969 shot taken by Richard Glaze.
	TTC Air-electric PCC #4264 operates with a St. Clair rollsign on Yonge Street south of Berwick. The year is 1952 and subway tunnel construction on St. Clair Avenue east of Yonge Street has diverted traffic. The Firestone dealership in this shot is still in place as of 2013. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4265 heads southbound on Spadina Avenue, crossing Sussex, while on diversion for the HARBORD route in this January 1966 shot taken by John F. Bromley.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4270 poses for charter photographers in the spur at the end of Keele loop, just north of St. Clair Avenue West, on February 5, 1967. The photograph is by John F. Bromley.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4272 turns from southbound Carlaw onto westbound Gerrard in HARBORD service, passing A6-class all-electric PCC 4354 on April 5, 1964. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4275 prepares to turn from southbound Bingham onto westbound Kingston Road in KINGSTON ROAD service, taken circa July 1969 by Richard Glaze.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4280 travels through downtown Toronto. The date and photographer is unknown.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4281 heads eastbound on Danforth, crossing Euston, in service on the KING TRIPPER on August 22, 1964. Note the window sign showing that this car has travelled "via Parliament". This photo was taken by R. McMann and is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4290 crosses Bay Street westbound on Dundas in HARBORD service on August 8, 1964. Ten years later, the buildings behind would be demolished for the Eaton's Centre. Photo by Robert McMann, courtesy the John F. Bromley collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4295 heads westbound on Bloor Street, approaching Spadina, on March 27, 1965, likely as part of a railfan excursion. Photo by R. McMann, from the John Knight collection.
	Air-electric PCC 4295 sits facing east on Wellington, about to turn north onto Church Street in this May 1954 shot. Note the sign on the overhead wires, saying, "Motormen must not operate past each other on these curves". Note also the "BUS STOP". Conversion to bus operation was imminent. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC air-electric PCC 4296 operates northbound on Carlaw Avenue, approaching Langley, in HARBORD service, in this early 1950s scene. The photographer is unknown and the photo is from the Dave Shaw collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4297 heads northbound on Parliament heading towards King Street, having just left Parliament Loop (seen left). Rush hour Witts can be seen plying King Street in this April 1962 shot. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the Charles Houser collection.
	TTC A10-class ex-Cincinnati air-electric PCC #4575 rests behind A10 comrade #4591 in the snow at Russell Carhouse on February 28, 1965. Photo by John F. Bromley.
	TTC A10-class ex-Cincinnati air-electric PCC #4576 pulls into Wolseley loop, signed for in FORT service. The date was July 15, 1966, and the car is out for an evening and night charter. Eric Binns snapped this photograph.
	TTC A10-class ex-Cincinnati air-electric PCC #4578 passes comrade #4597 on Kingston Road at Glen Stewart Crescent on May 13, 1968. This shot, by Robert McMann, is looking east. Photo courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC A10-class ex-Cincinnati air-electric PCC #4580 rests northbound on Victoria Street, just south of Queen, in this September 1966 shot. This photograph is by L. Swanson and is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC A10 class ex-Cincinnati air-electric PCC #4583 turns from southbound Church onto westbound Wellington while construction on a new TD bank building on the corner takes place. Almost 50 years later, the building is now a Pizzay Pizza, and the corner has been built up significantly. Photo by John F. Bromley.
	TTC A10-class ex-Cincinnati air-electric PCC #4586 pulls up behind TTC air-electric PCC #4094 while another air-electric prepares to pull into Dufferin Loop, all in CNE service in this September 1960 shot. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the Bill Nixon collection.
	TTC A-10 ex-Cincinnati air-electric PCC #4589 lays over at the end of Hillside Wye on a fantrip. This photograph, by R. McMann, was taken on July 12, 1970. The photo is from the John Knight collection.
	TTC A-10 class ex-Cincinnati air-electric PCC #4594 turns from Adelaide onto southbound Church in service on the KING-EXHIBITION route on August 27, 1966. Photo courtesy the Howard Wayt collection.
	TTC A10-class ex-Cincinnati air-electric PCC 4597 is seen here, parked at Russell Carhouse on December 17, 1966. The photograph is by John F. Bromley.
	Ex-Cincinnati PCC 4599 turns from Church Street onto Wellington. Note the larger than usual windows indicating that this is an air-electric car, rather than the all-electrics the TTC was buying at the time. Note also the stub tracks beneath the wheels of the streetcar. These are the remains of the switches that connected Wellington's streetcar tracks with Front. Photo donated by Curt Frey.
	TTC A10-class ex-Cincinnati air-electric PCC #4600 sits alongside A10 comrade #4576 at Russell carhouse at the end of the day on September 16, 1965. Photo by John F. Bromley.
	TTC ex-Cincinnati air-electric A-10 PCC 4601 loops through Park loop at the north end of High Park, on a route diversion for DUNDAS on December 18, 1965. Photo by R. McMann, from the John Knight collection.
	Ex-Cincinnati air-electric PCC 4601 (not the later A-15 rebuild) crosses Church Street westbound on King. Note the air-electric PCC in the foreground. Photo by P. Lambert, donated by Curt Frey.
	An unidentified air-electric PCC streetcar heads east on Lakeshore Road, passing the on-ramp onto the Queen Elizabeth Way, years before the construction of the Gardiner Expressway. The photographer is W.H.Coo and the photo is from the Dave Shaw collection.
	After being in storage at Danforth Carhouse, retired air-electric PCCs were trucked out to Polson Quay, ready to be shipped to Alexandria, Egypt. John F. Bromley took this photograph, along with other railfans saying goodbye to the venerable vehicles.
	Ex-TTC air-electric PCCs operate in Alexandria, Egypt as #310, 311 and 312 on January 31, 1976. This photo is courtesy the John F. Bromley collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4206 heads into Vincent Loop during construction of the BLOOR-DANFORTH subway. This photograph was taken by Robert McMann on May 18, 1964, and is courtesy the John Knight collection.
	TTC air-electric PCC #4234 sits next to A11-class ex-Cleveland all-electric PCC #4661 and air-electric PCC #4084 rests at the Oshawa scrap yard circa May 1969. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze.

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.
“TTC Air Cars:.” Toronto PCC Cars: Class Notes for TTC Air Cars. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 July 2014.

Transit Toronto

Public Transit in the GTA, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Search Transit Toronto