In 1966, the TTC reconsidered its position regarding trolley bus service in Toronto. The opening of the Bloor-Danforth subway realigned a number of surface routes throughout the city, and the second generation of trolley buses was nearing the end of their lifespans, so such a review was in order. After some thought, the TTC decided that the trolley buses still had a major part to play in the surface network. Although a number of the trolley buses' components were aging, other components had a lot of life left in them, including the CGE traction motors and the controls. As there were no North American producers of trolley buses, and the cost of shipping new buses from Europe was prohibitive, the TTC considered rebuilding.
On May 2, 1967, two old vehicles were shipped from the system; 9020 to Winnipeg's Western Flyer Coach and 9144 to Robin-Nodwell in England. Only Western Flyer Coach finished the rebuilding (coach 9144 never returned and was scrapped in England in 1969, after Robin-Nodwell's contract was taken over by Flxible and then aborted). 9020 returned to Hillcrest on July 22, 1968. The bus was the first of the E-700A model (T8 class) of trolley buses.
The TTC spent a year running 9020 over 27,500 miles over four routes to fully test the prototype. It was then returned to Western Flyer for further modifications and returned, renumbered 9200, on August 6, 1970. Based on these tests, the TTC mapped out the rebuilding program for the rest of the fleet. It was decided that Western Flyer would produce a new chassis and body, with wheels, brakes, doors and suspension and Hillcrest would rebuild and reinstall the rest. The rebuilding program began in earnest on August 11, 1970, with Western Flyer receiving the first coach, and continued until April 26, 1972. The rebuilds were designed primarily for the Canadian Car and Foundry vehicles. For the 23 non-standard Marmon-Herringtons, components were salvaged from 23 vehicles from abandoned trolley bus fleets in Halifax and Cornwall (Cornwall supplied coach numbers 100-104, 106-108, 110-113 plus a 13th set of components while Halifax supplied coaches 204-05, 209, 217, 227, 246, 251, 263, 264 and 272 -- 13 coaches or components from Cornwall and 10 from Halifax). The equipment from the Robin-Nodwell coach unexpectedly returned to the TTC in November 1970.
The TTC was able to rebuild 152 trolley buses and put them back on the streets for another twenty years. 9213 was leased to Western Flyer for demonstration purposes on March 9, 1971. The vehicle then went on a North American tour, with stops planned for Milwaukee, Philadelphia (cancelled), Chicago, Dallas, Edmonton, Calgary and Hamilton. 9213 was returned on April 10 and was back in service on April 26.
Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, and by the early 1990s, the E700As were beginning to show their age. The TTC's ambivalence towards its trolley buses in the late 1980s revealed itself in the form of deferred maintenance, both to the vehicles and to the infrastructure. In the final years, reliability and customer service were harmed by this state of affairs. The TTC supplemented service using vehicles leased from Edmonton while the rebuilds were progressively retired, but this was too little, too late. Eventually, the decision came in late 1991 to cease trolley bus operation altogether. When the iron-clad lease on the Edmonton vehicles forced the TTC to reopen operation on the Annette and Bay routes, only the Edmonton rebuilds were fit to provide service. The other vehicles were placed into dead storage, and were either donated to museums, or sold for scrap.
The last Western Flyer trolley coach in revenue service was 9247, operated on the 6 Bay route and pulling into Lansdowne Garage at 2:52 a.m. on Sunday, January 19, 1992.
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One of the first Western Flyer rebuilt trolley buses is seen here being delivered to Hillcrest Shops circa July 1970. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild test coach 9020 pulls up to Annette Street on the short turn loop at Beresford, in service on the 4 ANNETTE bus. This image was taken between 1968 and 1970 and the photographer is unknown. The photo is from the Dave Shaw collection.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach prototype 9020 turns from Jane station onto westbound Bloor Street during its testing service between 1968 and 1970. It would soon be returned to the factory for further modifications and renumbered 9200. The photographer is unknown, and the photo is from the Dave Shaw collection.
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Rebuilt coach 9020 operates on the Ossington route during the late 1960s. Photo donated from the collection of Brad O'Brien.
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TTC Western Flyer test rebuild trolley bus #9020 operates southbound on Keele in 89 WESTON ROAD service, approaching Annette in this shot, taken on August 19, 1969. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the T. Helwell collection.
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Rebuilt Coach 9200 rests at St. George Station during an Annette run. Picture by Alan Gryfe.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley bus #9200 has arrived from its rebuild and is undergoing testing at Hillcrest shops in this January 1971 shot. The photographer is unknown.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley-bus #9200 turns from westbound Yorkville south onto Bay, in service on the 6G "Bloor-Dundas" branch of 6 BAY. This photograph, taken on July 5, 1988 by Rob McMann, is from the Rob Hutchinson collection.
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Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach #9201 heads north on Yonge street during the last days of the Yonge 97 trolley bus route in this early 1970s shot. Photo donated from the collection of Brad O'Brien.
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Another Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach (#9202) in service on 97 YONGE, at Yonge and Bedford Park, one block north of Lawrence, on the west side of Yonge. Photo donated from the collection of Brad O'Brien.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9202 poses at Avon Loop in 89 WESTON service. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze during a charter held on April 25, 1971.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9206 in 89 WESTON service meets TTC GM "New Look" bus #2996 in 93 WOODBRIDGE service meet at Blondin Loop on Weston Road, just north of Highway 401. This photo was taken circa February 1971 by Richard Glaze.
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TTC Western Flyer trolley coach #9207 picks up passengers at Blondin loop at the north end of the 89 WESTON route. This photo was taken circa February 1971 by Richard Glaze.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9208 pulls off of Yonge Street to enter the north end of Eglinton Station's bus terminal in 97 YONGE service in this shot taken by Richard Glaze circa May 1971.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach #9209 picks up passengers at Ossington station, in service on 63 Ossington on April 11, 1971. Robert McMann took this photograph (facing east), and it comes to us courtesy the Rob Hutchinson collection.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9210 heads southbound on Oakwood in 63 OSSINGTON service, passing Holland Park Avenue. This shot was taken circa April 1971 by Richard Glaze.
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TTC Western Flyer trolley coach rebuild #9211 pulls out of Blondin Loop at the north end of the 89 WESTON route. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze circa February 1971.
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TTC Western Flyer-rebuilt trolley bus #9212 heads southbound on Oakwood approaching Rosemount in 63 OSSINGTON service, circa October 1971. Richard Glaze took this photograph.
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The Flyer Rebuilds attracted some attention from other transit agencies. Here, coach 9213 does some test running in Boston. Photo donated from the collection of Brad O'Brien.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley bus #9213 was loaned to the Hamilton Street Railway for testing ahead of the revitalization of their trolley bus fleet. Here we see coach 9213 operating westbound on Main Street, while an HSR trolley bus heads eastbound on Queenston Road, both along the KING route. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the John Knight collection.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9214 rests at Hillcrest after having undergone a fire. Richard Glaze caught this image circa May 1972.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach #9216 waits at the end of the line at Bedford Road, facing south towards Davenport. This 1985 scene was shot by John Calnan.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9217 heads southbound in service on the "63D Bloor" short turn of the 63 OSSINGTON route, on Oakwood Avenue, passing Highview, in this April 1971 shot. This photo is by Gerald Landau and is courtesy the Rob Hutchinson collection.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild coach #9218 sits in Lansdowne garage on March 17, 1971. Photo by C.G. Parsons, from the John Knight collection.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9220 sits alongside Marmon Harrington trolley coach #9115 at Lansdowne Garage on August 6, 1971. Photo by Harvey Naylor.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild #9225 poses at Bicknell Loop, possibly attending a ceremony promoting the launch of the trolley bus extension of the 63 OSSINGTON trolley bus. This July 1974 shot was taken by Richard Glaze.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9227 heads southbound on Oakwood Avenue, approaching Rosemount in 63 OSSINGTON service. Richard Glaze took this photograph circa October 1970.
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Profile of Western Flyer rebuild coach #9229 at Lansdowne Garage. Photo taken July 11, 1984 by John J. Guion.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9230 turns from Yonge onto Wellington in service on a short turn of the 6 BAY bus circa January 1981. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9231 heads southbound on Dundas Street West, approaching Dundas West station in 40 JUNCTION service. This photograph was taken by C.G. Parsons on June 27, 1973 and is courtesy the John Knight collection.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley bus #9232 heads southbound on Oakwood Avenue, approaching St. Clair in 63 OSSINGTON service, circa September 1971. Photo by Richard Glaze.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley bus #9236 heads southbound on Ossington between College and Dundas, passing Canadian Car & Foundry trolley coach #9113, both in 63 OSSINGTON service. This shot was taken by Richard Glaze circa June 1971.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9236 crosses Lawrence Avenue West on Weston Road in 89 WESTON service, circa June 1971. Photo by Richard Glaze.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9240 prepares to pull out of Church Street onto Weston Road in 89 WESTON service. This photo was taken circa June 1971 by Richard Glaze.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9244 heads southbound on 6 BAY service, passing the Toronto Coach Terminal in this April 1977 shot by Richard Glaze.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9245 heads northbound on Western Road in 89 WESTON service, crossing Lawrence Avenue in this Richard Glaze shot, taken circa May 1971
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9246 heads westbound on Rogers Road, stopping at Keele on July 21, 1974, the first day of 63 OSSINGTON's "Rogers Road" service. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9247 heads southbound on Weston Road, crossing Lawrence Avenue in service on 89 WESTON. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze circa June 1971.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach 9249 heads westbound on Rogers Road, stopping at Keele Street in this early-to-mid 1980s shot. Photo by John Calnan.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9250 heads southbound along Weston Road crossing Little Avenue in 89 WESTON service. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze circa June 1971.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9251 pauses southbound on Oakwood, just north of St. Clair Avenue in 63 OSSINGTON service in this shot taken by Richard Glaze circa September 1973.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach Route 9252 sits in Runnymede Loop at the western end of the Junction line. This 1985 shot was taken by John Calnan.
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TTC Western Flyer rebiuld #9254 heads southbound on Bay in 6 BAY service, approaching Yorkville. This photo was taken circa September 1976 by Richard Glaze.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9256 prepares to enter service while in the Keele/Annette loop. This shot is looking southwest and was taken by Richard Glaze circa November 1971.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach 9258 heads south on Shaw, having just turned on from Queen on April 5, 1978. Photo by Robert McMann.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9260 heads northbound on Weston Road, crossing Lawrence Avenue West in 89 WESTON service. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze circa June 1971.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach #9265 pauses on Annette Road, facing eastbound, just east of Evelyn, bearing an exposure for a 97A YONGE short turn. As it is July 1974, and Yonge Street lost its trolley coaches over a year before, this picture is clearly from a charter. Gerald Landau took this photograph.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach #9266 heads northbound on Bay Street, passing Dundas, in this early 1980s shot. The photograph is by John Calnan.
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Brand new Western Flyer trolley coach #9268 shows itself off at the TTC's special 50th anniversary display at the Automotive Building of the Canadian National Exhibition. Richard Glaze caught this photo circa August 1971.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley bus #9269 turns from Annette onto Keele, dewiring in the process. The bus is on a charter. This photograph is courtesy the Charles Houser collection.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley bus #9270 has just left Eglinton West station and is heading west on Eglinton towards Marlee in 63 OSSINGTON service. This shot was taken by Harvey R. Naylor on May 14, 1983.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach #9271 heads northbound on Bay Street, approaching Albert, in this early-to-mid 1980s shot. This photo is by John Calnan.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach 9272 pauses eastbound on Dupont just west of Davenport, about to enter service on the 6 BAY route. This shot was taken by an unknown photographer circa January 1992, near the end of trolley bus service. The image is courtesy the B. Dalglish collection.
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Western Flyer rebuild coach 9273 enters service after leaving Lansdowne garage. Photo taken July 11, 1984 by John J. Guion.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley bus 9274 rests at Lansdowne garage among other coaches and GM New Look bus #3922. The photograph is courtesy the Gilbert Ebling collection
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9275 crosses King Street West southbound on Bay in 6 BAY service. This shot was taken by Harvey R. Naylor on May 18, 1983.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9276 turns from northbound Oakwood to eastbound Eglinton in 63 OSSINGTON service on May 28, 1983. Photo by Harvey Naylor.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9277 heads westbound on Queen's Quay, having passed Cooper Street in 6 BAY service. This shot was taken by Richard Glaze circa September 1981.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach 9278 heads northbound on Oakwood Avenue, approaching Conway, in 63 OSSINGTON service. The day is July 10, 1974. The ROGERS ROAD streetcar following behind is on one of its last days of operation. Photo by Robert McMann, courtesy the Rob Hutchinson collection.
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Western Flyer rebuild coach 9280 about to turn onto Lansdowne Avenue after leaving Lansdowne garage. Photo taken July 11, 1984 by John J. Guion.
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Western Flyer rebuild coaches, including 9280, enter service from Lansdowne Garage. Photo taken July 11, 1984 by John J. Guion.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9281 turns onto Freeland Street from eastbound on Queens Quay East in 6 BAY service. This shot was taken by Richard Glaze circa September 1981.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9286 heads westbound on Annette, a few blocks west of Keele Street in 4 ANNETTE service. This photo was taken by John Calnan circa 1983.
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A charter attendee pulls the pole down on Peter Witt car 2424 to let TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach 9287 pass northbound on Shaw at Adelaide. Fellow Western Flyer rebuild coach #9289 approaches. This photo was taken on October 31, 1976 by Robert McMann and is courtesy the Rob Hutchinson collection.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach #9289 poses at Bicknell Loop, possibly along with a ceremony promoting the first day of the 63 OSSINGTON trolley bus extension. This July 1974 photograph was taken by Richard Graze.
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TTC Western Flyer trolley coach #9290 heads eastbound on Queen's Quay in 6 BAY service. Richard Glaze took this photo circa September 1976.
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Rebuilt trolley coach 9291 sits on a streetcar track at Wychwood Carhouse. It has suffered an accident and is in dead storage. Photo by Malcolm MacPherson.
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A shot from the inside of damaged trolley coach #9291. Photo by Malcolm MacPherson.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9292 pauses southbound on Lansdowne Avenue, just north of Wade, in 47 LANSDOWNE service. John Calnan took this photograph circa 1983.
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Western Flyer rebuild coach 9295 on Lake Shore near Freeland on July 11, 1984. Photo by John G. Guion.
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A portrait of Western Flyer rebuild coach 9298 at Lansdowne Garage. Photo taken July 11, 1984 by John J. Guion.
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Front view of Western Flyer rebuild coach 9298 outside of Lansdowne Garage. Photo taken July 11, 1984 by John J. Guion.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9301 rests at St. Clair Carhouse during a period of being surplus following the abandonment of the 97 YONGE route and before the launch of 6 BAY. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze circa May 1975.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9302 prepares to turn from Eglinton Avenue West into Eglinton West station on September 1, 1984. Photo by Harvey R. Naylor.
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Western Flyer rebuild coach 9303 at Lansdowne Garage on July 11, 1984. Photo by John G. Guion.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley bus #9303 heads southbound in 97 YONGE service, having passed Lawrence Avenue in this early 1970s shot by Mitchell Libby.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild coach #9305 heads east on Dupont Street, just east of Dundas, in service on 4 ANNETTE in this May 1982 shot. The photo is by T. Shepherd and is from the John Knight collection.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach 9309 heads north on Jane Street, after having left Jane subway station in service on 4 ANNETTE in this mid-1980s shot. Photo by John Calnan.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9313 waits for passengers at Eglinton West Station on the 63 OSSINGTON route in June 1980, while its diesel colleague, Western Flyer D800-class bus #7969, heads out of the station terminal along 32C EGLINTON WEST via Trethewey. Photo: Mitchell Libby.
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This picture shows Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach 9314, approaching Dundas West Station on May 27, 1982. As there is no passengers in the vehicle, chances are it runs to Lansdowne Garage. Photo courtesy Werner Schedlbauer.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9314 heads southbound on Yonge towards Glen Grove in 97 YONGE service in this May 1972 shot by Richard Glaze.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt coach #9315 turns from King Street onto Shaw in 63 OSSINGTON service, followed by a PCC in 504 KING service. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the John Knight collection.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley coach #9316 stops at Lansdowne and Queen at the south end of the 47 LANSDOWNE route in this mid-1980s shot. Photo by John Calnan.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild coach #9317 rests outside Lansdowne Garage in this early 1980s shot by John Calnan.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9318 pulls into Eglinton West Station in service on 63 OSSINGTON. Harvey Naylor took this photograph on May 14, 1983.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9319 heads southbound on Bay Street, passing Grenville in 6 BAY service. This shot was taken by Harvey Naylor on April 28, 1983.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach 9324 enters service from Bicknell Loop at the western end of the Rogers Road branch of the 63 OSSINGTON trolley bus in this 1984 shot. Photo by John Calnan.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild coach #9325 pokes out from beneath the Albion Road overpass at the northern end of the 89 WESTON bus. This mid-1980s shot was taken by John Calnan.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9326 heads southbound on Ossington Avenue, approaching Manchester Avenue on July 10, 1986. This photo is by Bill Wightman and is courtesy the Rob Hutchinson collection.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9327 prepares to depart St. Clair Station in service on 74 MOUNT PLEASANT. This shot, looking north onto St. Clair Avenue East was taken by Harvey Naylor on May 27, 1978.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley bus 9329 heads westbound on Eglinton, passing Northern Secondary School at Mount Pleasant and Roehampton, southbound in 61 NORTOWN service in this early 1970s shot by Mitchell Libby.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild coach #9331 departs Glen Echo loop for the run back to Eglinton station on 97 YONGE in February 1973. Just one month later, the subway would open to York Mills and the trolley buses would be replaced by diesel. Photo by T. Shepherd, from the John Knight collection.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild coach #9334 sleeps late at night in Lansdowne Garage. Photo taken July 11, 1984 by John J. Guion.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild trolley bus #9337 heads northbound in 97 YONGE service, having passed Glengrove, in this early 1970s shot by Mitchell Libby.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild coach #9339 pulls into Eglinton station in service on 97 YONGE in this February 1973 shot. The extension to York Mills was just weeks away. Photo by T. Shepherd, from the John Knight collection.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9344 prepares to turn from southbound Mount Pleasant to westbound Eglinton in 61 NORTOWN service. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze circa June 1971.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley bus #9348 pulls into one of the bays at Eglinton station in 61 NORTOWN service. Richard Glaze took this photograph on April 29, 1972.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley bus #9350 prepares to leave Roe loop at the northwestern end of the 61 NORTOWN route in this early 1970s shot by Mitchell Libby.
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TTC Western Flyer rebuild #9350 cruises southbound on Avenue Road, just passing Otter Loop, along the 61 NORTOWN route in May 1972. Photo: Mitchell Libby.
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Witt 2766 at Earlscourt loop beside Flyer rebuild trolley bus 9321. Photo donated from the Brad O'Brien collection.
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Poles down, a Western Flyer rebuild is towed away at the Eglinton station bus terminal. Photo by R. Hill; donated by Kenneth Josephson.
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Full moon through a trolley coach diamond. Photo taken July 9, 1984 by John J. Guion.
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Nighttime shot near Lansdowne Garage on July 9, 1984. Photo by John G. Guion.
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An up-close shot of one of a trolley bus' trolley poles. Photo by John G. Guion.
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On July 11, 1984, another Western Flyer coach glides by in silhouette beneath the wire, with the CN Tower in the background. Photo by John G. Guion.
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Another shot of the trolley pole, showing the grove that the wire slips through. Photo by John G. Guion.
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Roger DuPuis captured this shot of abandoned Toronto and Hamilton trolley buses resting on the grounds of the Halton County Railway Museum.
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A Western Flyer rebuilt trolley bus prepares to leave Glen Echo loop in service on the 97 YONGE trolley coach. Photo by Mitchell Libby.
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