With the ongoing chatter about the late delivery of new streetcars from the Bombardier people it reminds me of what was going on exactly 40 years ago this coming Friday.
That story began back in 1972 when the TTC agreed with most of the recommendations put forward by a small group of streetcar “enthusiasts” (we called ourselves the “Streetcars for Toronto Committee” – see Google).
The commission staff had recommended (and not without reason) that the TTC’s entire fleet of streetcars (some rebuilt, others purchased second-hand, but all pretty well worn out) be replaced by hundreds of new diesel buses.
However, as pointed out in the “Streetcars for Toronto” document, for a variety of reasons, the streetcar was not the “dinosaur” as some transit experts had claimed and rather than forsaking the streetcar totally, we suggested the fleet be replaced by a new generation of yet-to be developed “light rail vehicles,” aka modern streetcars.
Once the TTC commissioners agreed with that suggestion, the decision was made to look for a replacement vehicle.
The ensuing story is much too long to fit this column. Suffice it to say, that without an acceptable vehicle on the market, TTC engineers and the province’s newly-created Urban Transportation Development Corporation worked together to create what would become known as the Canadian Light Rail Vehicle (CLRV).
To take advantage of the expertise afforded by a company that had been in the rail car development business for years, the Swiss Industrial Company was given a contract to build 10 (later reduced to six) new streetcars. The first one of which, #4002 (and one that is still in service) arrived on TTC property 40 years ago this week, on Dec. 29, 1977. A total of 196 of these “replacement” vehicles would eventually enter revenue service.
The photos accompanying this column offer views of the heyday of two of the first of these cars and the sad ending for one.
The first of the TTCâs new Canadian light rail vehicles arrived at the commission’s Hillcrest property on Dec. 29, 1977. Subsequently numbered CLRV 4002, it was one of six “prototype” vehicles manufactured at the SIG factory in Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland. Between 1979 and 1982, a total of 190 similar CLRVs (with some modifications and upgrades) were built at the Hawker Siddeley Canada plant in Thunder Bay. This facility is now the home of Bombardier where the TTC’s newest streetcars (described as Flexity Outlook vehicles) are being built. I was on hand to “welcome” the first CLRV but what I remember most was how cold the day was. Tripping the shutter on my 35mm film camera (long before I could afford a digital camera) was a real challenge.
Following the arrival of CLRV 4002 almost exactly 40 years ago this week, the next five Swiss cars were to arrive at Hillcrest over the next six months. One of those new arrivals was numbered 4000. This vehicle, which was one of the first of the new models to enter regular revenue service, met a sad and rather ignominious end earlier this month when it was loaded on a trailer and hauled off to a scrap yard in Hamilton.
During a mid-1970s European vacation, my wife and I visited Switzerland and the SIG factory in Neuhausen am Rheinfall. It was in this facility that the first of the TTC’s new CLRVs were being assembled.
On Sept. 29, 1980, this parade of TTC vehicles (Peter Witt 2894, PCC 4546 and CLRV 4000) made its way west along The Queensway to join the official ceremonies for CLRV introduction on the 507 LONG BRANCH route.
CLRV 4000 was front and centre at the official introduction of the new CLRVs into revenue service on 507 LONG BRANCH Sept. 29, 1980. Here, Etobicoke Mayor Dennis Flynn does the ribbon cutting honours as the vehicles enter “his” community. Looking on are (left) TTC Chairman Julian Porter and (right) Ontario’s Minister of Transportation and Communications James Snow and in the background, TTC Chief General Manager Michael Warren.
As part of the province’s bi-centennial salute, CLRV 4000 was given a special and colourful paint scheme. The year 1784 was chosen as the “birth” of the province (and not without an argument) as it was in this year that approximately 250 United Empire Loyalists established the first “permanent” European settlement in Adolphustown Township.
Good luck, Andy. Torontonians will remember you for your dedication and for what you’ve done to improve OUR TTC.
See more at: torontosun.com/author/mike-filey