by James Bow
Following the decision, early in 2013, to focus on upgrading the Toronto subway fleet with new Toronto Rocket cars, the TTC set about retiring its remaining Hawker Siddeley class “chopper control” cars. The H-5 series had seen their last run on June 14, 2013, leaving the 1986-built H-6 class cars operating on the Bloor-Danforth line. These trains were retired over 2014, as arriving Rocket cars displaced T-1 cars on the Yonge-University-Spadina line. Finally, on June 20, 2014, the TTC arranged a special farewell run to officially commemorate the retirement of this class of subway car.
At 10 a.m. on Friday morning, the TTC moved an H6 train consisting of cars 5898-5899, 5909-5908 and 5859-5858 out of Greenwood Yard and into Greenwood station, where it was greeted by a sizeable crowd of railfans waiting to pay their respects. The head of communications at the TTC, Brad Ross, was on board the train, along with a number of TTC drivers and mechanics, to ensure the final trip ran flawlessly, and to meet the press. A television crew from CityTV was there to record the journey, and interview passengers.
The train operated in service from Greenwood to Kennedy, then from Kennedy to Kipling, then back to Kennedy before officially going out of service for the last time at around 12:30 p.m. Fast-thinking railfans were able to jump aboard the service train departing immediately ahead of the H-6 train’s deadhead run to Greenwood, and thus were able to capture its last appearance at Greenwood station as it pulled into the yard, ending not just the H-6 class of subway car, but the entire Hawker-Siddeley era.
Last H6 Run Image Archive
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The last H-6 train pulls eastbound into Greenwood station from Greenwood yard, while railfans wait to greet it. Photo by James Bow. |
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The last H-6 train was dressed up for its run, with signs like this placed in every car to tell riders (some of whom weren't railfans) of the momentous nature of this run. Photo by James Bow. |
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While the first and last cars of the last H6 train were full with railfans and TTC personnel, the middle cars, like 5899, offered quiet repose... at least, until the passengers started arriving. Photo by James Bow. |
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At Kennedy station, crowds gathered in the platform to snap pictures of one of the last terminal layovers for the H-6 train. Photo by James Bow. |
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The rear-view (moments before, a front view) of H-6 car 5898, with a sign in its window announcing the last run. Photo by James Bow. |
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On board H-6 car 5898, TTC mechanics share memories with a television crew from City TV. Photo by James Bow. |
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At Kipling station, the last H-6 train poses briefly for photographs. This would be the last time the train would visit the station in service. Photo by James Bow. |
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A passenger sits in H-6 subway car 5898 at Kipling station, wondering what all the commotion is about. Photo by James Bow |
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Returning to Kennedy station, the driver of the last H6 train declares the train "out of service, and decommissioned. All unauthorized personnel depart the train, which closes its doors to passengers for the last time. Photo by James Bow. |
