THE WAY WE WERE: CLRV streetcars celebrate their 40th

Mike Filey
Published Sep 29, 2018  •  1 minute read
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When the TTC decided to reverse its 1972 decision to abandon the use of streetcars (a reassessment made in large measure as a result of a report put forward by a small citizens’ committee that documented reasons for retaining the electric streetcar in its equipment fleet), it was apparent that if the commission was to remain a “streetcar city” a vehicle that would meet the TTC’s unique needs would have to be developed since no acceptable “off the shelf” vehicles existed. A “mock up” of what that new car might look like was built and displayed at the 1975 edition of the CNE. After the fair was over, it was relocated to the TTC’s Hillcrest shops on Bathurst St. for further refinement and evaluation.
When the TTC decided to reverse its 1972 decision to abandon the use of streetcars (a reassessment made in large measure as a result of a report put forward by a small citizens’ committee that documented reasons for retaining the electric streetcar in its equipment fleet), it was apparent that if the commission was to remain a “streetcar city” a vehicle that would meet the TTC’s unique needs would have to be developed since no acceptable “off the shelf” vehicles existed. A “mock up” of what that new car might look like was built and displayed at the 1975 edition of the CNE. After the fair was over, it was relocated to the TTC’s Hillcrest shops on Bathurst St. for further refinement and evaluation.

Dear reader, before you say to yourself, “Hey, Filey, what’s this? Another column about Toronto streetcars? You did one last week!”

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To be sure, you are absolutely right. I did, but in my defence, I have no control over anniversaries. so while last Sunday was the day 80 years ago the first of the TTC’s new President’s Conference Committee (PCC) model streetcars made their debut, today marks the 39th anniversary of the day that the PCC’s successor, the Canadian Light Rail Vehicle (CLRV), made its debut.

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To ensure that the TTC’s requirements for a new streetcar be met, and with the concurrence of the Metropolitan Toronto government, the Province of Ontario, through its newly created Ontario Transportation Development Commission (later Urban Development Commission – UTDC), contracted with the Swiss Industrial Company (SIG) to build 10 (later reduced to six) vehicles to specifications drawn up by the TTC. In this photo, which I obtained during a tour of SIG’s European factory in the fall of 1976, work progresses on the outer shells of the first two of our city’s new vehicles, now identified as Canadian Light Rail Vehicles (CLRVs).
To ensure that the TTC’s requirements for a new streetcar be met, and with the concurrence of the Metropolitan Toronto government, the Province of Ontario, through its newly created Ontario Transportation Development Commission (later Urban Development Commission – UTDC), contracted with the Swiss Industrial Company (SIG) to build 10 (later reduced to six) vehicles to specifications drawn up by the TTC. In this photo, which I obtained during a tour of SIG’s European factory in the fall of 1976, work progresses on the outer shells of the first two of our city’s new vehicles, now identified as Canadian Light Rail Vehicles (CLRVs).

Just to refresh your memory, last Sunday’s column described the first of those new PCCs wowing the crowds gathered at the corner of St. Clair and Wychwood Aves. on Sept. 23, 1938. Then exactly one week plus 39 years later, (which happens to be 39 years ago today) the commission’s new CLRVs entered service for the first time, wowing TTC customers waiting for the streetcar on Lake Shore Blvd., W.

The photographs that accompany this column provide a brief visual timeline that depicts the evolution and arrival of our new CLRVs.

The first of the six Swiss-built CLRVs (#s 4000 – 4005) arrived on the TTC’s Hillcrest property on an extremely cold Dec. 29, 1977. The remaining vehicles in the order (#4010 – 4199) were built at the Thunder Bay, Ont. factory of Hawker Siddeley Canada (now a Bombardier facility where the TTC’s newest light rail vehicles are being built) with the very last vehicle in the 190 vehicle order arriving in Toronto in late 1981.
The first of the six Swiss-built CLRVs (#s 4000 – 4005) arrived on the TTC’s Hillcrest property on an extremely cold Dec. 29, 1977. The remaining vehicles in the order (#4010 – 4199) were built at the Thunder Bay, Ont. factory of Hawker Siddeley Canada (now a Bombardier facility where the TTC’s newest light rail vehicles are being built) with the very last vehicle in the 190 vehicle order arriving in Toronto in late 1981.
A public welcoming party for the new vehicles was held on Sept. 29, 1979 at the TTC’s Humber Loop. Here, Etobicoke mayor, the late Dennis Flynn, cuts the obligatory ribbon while Ontario Minister of Transportation and Communications James Snow (left) and TTC Chairman Julian Porter look on. The new vehicles entered regular service on the Long Branch route the following day.
A public welcoming party for the new vehicles was held on Sept. 29, 1979 at the TTC’s Humber Loop. Here, Etobicoke mayor, the late Dennis Flynn, cuts the obligatory ribbon while Ontario Minister of Transportation and Communications James Snow (left) and TTC Chairman Julian Porter look on. The new vehicles entered regular service on the Long Branch route the following day.
To celebrate the 40 years that the CLRV has been in service fans of the Canadian-designed, Swiss-built vehicle held a special city tour on board #4002. The date of that citizen-funded event was Dec. 30, 2017 and took place exactly 40 years and one day after #4002 arrived on TTC property. This vehicle is still in service. (Photo courtesy Robert Lubinski)
To celebrate the 40 years that the CLRV has been in service fans of the Canadian-designed, Swiss-built vehicle held a special city tour on board #4002. The date of that citizen-funded event was Dec. 30, 2017 and took place exactly 40 years and one day after #4002 arrived on TTC property. This vehicle is still in service. (Photo courtesy Robert Lubinski)

See also: torontosun.com/author/mike-filey

mfiley@postmedia.com

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