The Toronto and York Radial Railway was a
transit
Transit may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film
* ''Transit'' (1979 film), a 1979 Israeli film
* ''Transit'' (2005 film), a film produced by MTV and Staying-Alive about four people in countries in the world
* ''Transit'' (2006 film), a 2006 ...
operator providing services to the suburbs of
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
, Canada. It was a subsidiary of the
Toronto Railway Company
The Toronto Railway Company (TRC) was the operator of the streetcar system in Toronto between 1891 and 1921. It electrified the horsecar system it inherited from the Toronto Street Railway, the previous operator of streetcar service in Toronto. ...
. The company was created by merging four Toronto-area
interurban
The Interurban (or radial railway in Europe and Canada) is a type of electric railway, with streetcar-like electric self-propelled rail cars which run within and between cities or towns. They were very prevalent in North America between 1900 ...
operations. The company was part of the empire of railway entrepreneurs
Sir William Mackenzie
Sir William Mackenzie (October 17, 1849 – December 5, 1923) was a Canadian railway contractor and entrepreneur.
Born near Peterborough, Canada West (now Ontario), Mackenzie became a teacher and politician before entering business as the ow ...
and
Donald Mann
Sir Donald Daniel Mann (March 23, 1853 – November 10, 1934), who was also referred to as "Dan" or "D.D." before his knighthood, was a Canadian railway contractor and entrepreneur.
Biography
Born at Acton, Canada West, Mann studied as a Metho ...
which included the
Canadian Northern Railway
The Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) was a historic Canadian transcontinental railway. At its 1923 merger into the Canadian National Railway , the CNoR owned a main line between Quebec City and Vancouver via Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.
Man ...
and the parent Toronto Railway Company.
Lines
The table lists the 4 lines composing the T&YRR. Each line became a separate division of the T&YRR except for the Schomberg and Aurora which was a branch of the Metropolitan Division. Click on the predecessor company name for further details about each line. In 1904, the four predecessor companies were merged to form the Toronto and York Radial Railway.
Timeline
Pre-T&YRR era (1885–1904)
:''Events prior to the merger creating the T&YRR in 1904''
In 1885, the
Metropolitan Street Railway Company of Toronto (incorporated March 2, 1877, renamed Metropolitan Railway Company in 1897) started a horsecar line on Yonge Street.
[
On September 1890, electric service began on the Metropolitan line.][
On 16 July 16, 1892, the ]Toronto and Mimico Electric Railway and Light Company
The Toronto and Mimico Electric Railway and Light Company was incorporated in 1890, and operated the Mimico radial line in the Toronto area. The line started operation in 1892 as a short suburban line that later was extended to Port Credit. In 190 ...
(incorporated November 14, 1890) began initial service between Sunnyside (Toronto) and the Humber River.[
On July 1, 1893, the ]Toronto and Scarboro' Electric Railway, Light and Power Company
Toronto and Scarboro' Electric Railway, Light and Power Company was established in August 1892 to provide street railway service to the Upper Beaches district within the City of Toronto, Ontario and to the neighbouring Township of Scarborough. Exc ...
(incorporated August 18, 1892) started electric, radial operations.[
On July 5, 1893, the ]Toronto Railway Company
The Toronto Railway Company (TRC) was the operator of the streetcar system in Toronto between 1891 and 1921. It electrified the horsecar system it inherited from the Toronto Street Railway, the previous operator of streetcar service in Toronto. ...
acquired controlling interest in the Toronto and Mimico Electric Railway and Light Company
The Toronto and Mimico Electric Railway and Light Company was incorporated in 1890, and operated the Mimico radial line in the Toronto area. The line started operation in 1892 as a short suburban line that later was extended to Port Credit. In 190 ...
.[
On July 10, 1893, the ]Toronto and Mimico Electric Railway and Light Company
The Toronto and Mimico Electric Railway and Light Company was incorporated in 1890, and operated the Mimico radial line in the Toronto area. The line started operation in 1892 as a short suburban line that later was extended to Port Credit. In 190 ...
extended service from Humber River to Mimico Creek, and further to Etobicoke Creek (Long Branch) on September 29, 1893.[
On March 6, 1895, the ]Toronto Railway Company
The Toronto Railway Company (TRC) was the operator of the streetcar system in Toronto between 1891 and 1921. It electrified the horsecar system it inherited from the Toronto Street Railway, the previous operator of streetcar service in Toronto. ...
acquired controlling interest in the Toronto and Scarboro' Electric Railway, Light and Power Company
Toronto and Scarboro' Electric Railway, Light and Power Company was established in August 1892 to provide street railway service to the Upper Beaches district within the City of Toronto, Ontario and to the neighbouring Township of Scarborough. Exc ...
.[
By 1899, the Metropolitan line was extended to Aurora and Newmarket.][
In 1903, ]Toronto and Mimico Electric Railway and Light Company
The Toronto and Mimico Electric Railway and Light Company was incorporated in 1890, and operated the Mimico radial line in the Toronto area. The line started operation in 1892 as a short suburban line that later was extended to Port Credit. In 190 ...
changed its name to the Toronto and Mimico Railway Company.[
]
Mackenzie & Mann era (1904–1921)
:''Events when the T&YRR was under the control of William Mackenzie and Donald Mann
Sir Donald Daniel Mann (March 23, 1853 – November 10, 1934), who was also referred to as "Dan" or "D.D." before his knighthood, was a Canadian railway contractor and entrepreneur.
Biography
Born at Acton, Canada West, Mann studied as a Metho ...
''
On August 1, 1904, the T&YRR merged four rail operations, converting them into three T&YRR divisions, with the Metropolitan Division having a branch line:[
* ]Metropolitan Street Railway
The New York Railways Company operated street railways in Manhattan, New York City, United States between 1911 and 1925. The company went into receivership in 1919 and control was passed to the New York Railways Corporation in 1925 after which a ...
to become the T&YRR Metropolitan Division
* Schomberg and Aurora Railway to become the Schomberg and Aurora Branch of the Metropolitan Division
* Toronto and Scarboro' Electric Railway, Light and Power Company
Toronto and Scarboro' Electric Railway, Light and Power Company was established in August 1892 to provide street railway service to the Upper Beaches district within the City of Toronto, Ontario and to the neighbouring Township of Scarborough. Exc ...
to become the T&YRR Scarboro Division
* Toronto and Mimico Electric Railway and Light Company
The Toronto and Mimico Electric Railway and Light Company was incorporated in 1890, and operated the Mimico radial line in the Toronto area. The line started operation in 1892 as a short suburban line that later was extended to Port Credit. In 190 ...
to become the T&YRR Mimico Division
In 1904, regular passenger service started on the Schomberg and Aurora Branch of the T&YRR's Metropolitan Division. At this time, the line operated with steam trains.[
On December 24, 1905, the Mimico line was extended from Long Branch to Port Credit.][
On June 1, 1907, the T&YRR opened a extension of the Metropolitan line from Newmarket to Jackson's Point.][
On January 1, 1909, the T&YRR opened a extension of the Metropolitan line from Jackson's Point to Sutton.][
On June 25, 1915, a City of Toronto work team ripped up the tracks of the Metropolitan Line along Yonge Street from the ]CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure consisting of chest compressions often combined with artificial ventilation in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore sponta ...
crosstown line north to Farnham Avenue. This was a result of a dispute between the city led by Mayor Tommy Church
Thomas Langton "Tommy" Church (1873 – February 7, 1950) was a Canadian politician.
After serving as Mayor of Toronto from 1915 to 1921, he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1921 election as a Conservative from the riding ...
and the T&YRR. Mayor Church complained about the "inadequate services provided by the Mackenzie-Mann traction companies" which included the Toronto Railway Company as well as the T&YRR. This was the first contraction of the T&YRR, albeit only long.[
In 1916, electrification of the Schomberg and Aurora Branch was completed.][
In 1921, a plebiscite approved the purchase by the City of Toronto of the ]Toronto Railway Company
The Toronto Railway Company (TRC) was the operator of the streetcar system in Toronto between 1891 and 1921. It electrified the horsecar system it inherited from the Toronto Street Railway, the previous operator of streetcar service in Toronto. ...
and the T&YRR.[ The ]Toronto Transportation Commission
Toronto Transportation Commission (TTC) was the public transit operator in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, beginning in 1921. It operated buses, streetcars and the island ferries. The system was renamed the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in 1954.
H ...
was to operate all radial lines within the city limits.[
On September 1, 1921, the TTC took over operation of all streetcar operations in the city, and shortly after took control those portions of the Scarboro and Mimico radial within the city limits.][
By fall, 1921, the TTC took over the portion of the Metropolitan line on Yonge Street south of Glen Echo Road (at the city limit).][
]
Hydro Electric era (1922–1927)
:''Events when the T&YRR was managed by Hydro-Electric Railways
Hydro-Electric Railways, a subsidiary of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario (HEPC or HEPCO), was an operator of radial railways in the province of Ontario, Canada. Its parent agency, the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, would ...
''
In August, 1922, the City of Toronto formally acquired the T&YRR lines.[
On November 1, 1922, operation of the T&YRR was taken over by Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario and run as the ]Hydro-Electric Railways
Hydro-Electric Railways, a subsidiary of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario (HEPC or HEPCO), was an operator of radial railways in the province of Ontario, Canada. Its parent agency, the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, would ...
: Toronto and York Division.[ Hydro made improvements to both the Metropolitan and ]Mimico
Mimico is a neighbourhood (and a former municipality) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, being located in the south-west area of Toronto on Lake Ontario. It is in the south-east corner of the former Township (and later, City) of Etobicoke, and was an in ...
lines.[
At the end of 1923, the T&YRR under Hydro management had a deficit. The City blamed Hydro mismanagement. Hydro blamed the TTC's acquisition of the profitable portions of the radial lines within the city limits.][
By 1925, Toronto City Council felt that integrating the radials within TTC operations would produce efficiency by avoiding duplication of carhouses and shops, by allowing the transfer of vehicles between radial and city lines to meet passenger demand, and by having firmer control over expenditures.][
]
TTC era (1927–1948)
:''Events when the TTC operated the T&YRR lines''
On January 12, 1927, the Toronto Transportation Commission
Toronto Transportation Commission (TTC) was the public transit operator in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, beginning in 1921. It operated buses, streetcars and the island ferries. The system was renamed the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in 1954.
H ...
started operating the T&YRR lines under contract with operations being the responsibility of the TTC's new Radial Department.[ Along with 3 radial lines, the TTC acquired 54 double-ended radial cars.][ The TTC now operated the second largest electric railway in North America with of lines.][
In June 1927, the Schomberg line was closed.][
On March 16, 1930, the TTC closed the Metropolitan line.][
On July 17, 1930, the TTC reopened a portion of the defunct Lake Shore line between Richmond Hill and Toronto as the ]North Yonge Railways
The North Yonge Railways was a radial railway line operated by the Toronto Transportation Commission from 1930 to 1948 between Glen Echo (Toronto) and Richmond Hill. The line was created by reopening the southern portion of the TTC's Lake Simcoe ...
. This line was owned by area municipalities and operated under contract by the TTC.[
On February 9, 1935, the Long Branch-Port Credit radial service ended.][
On June 25, 1936, the ]Scarborough Scarborough or Scarboro may refer to:
People
* Scarborough (surname)
* Earl of Scarbrough
Places Australia
* Scarborough, Western Australia, suburb of Perth
* Scarborough, New South Wales, suburb of Wollongong
* Scarborough, Queensland, su ...
radial service ended.[
On October 9, 1948, service was terminated on the ]North Yonge Railways
The North Yonge Railways was a radial railway line operated by the Toronto Transportation Commission from 1930 to 1948 between Glen Echo (Toronto) and Richmond Hill. The line was created by reopening the southern portion of the TTC's Lake Simcoe ...
, the last surviving Toronto radial.[
]
Track gauge
Both Toronto gauge
Toronto-gauge railways are tram and rapid transit lines built to Toronto gauge, a broad gauge of . This is wider than standard gauge of which is by far the most common track gauge in Canada. The gauge is unique to the Greater Toronto Area an ...
and standard gauge were used. The T&Y radial lines did not use a common gauge until the TTC took over the operation of the surviving lines in 1927 in order to connect the radial lines to the Toronto streetcar system
The Toronto streetcar system is a network of nine streetcar routes in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). It is the busiest light-rail system in North America. The network is concentrated primarily in D ...
.
The Metropolitan radial line started off with Toronto gauge in 1885, but switched to standard gauge after the Metropolitan Street Railway Company received provincial permission in 1895 to use any gauge it pleased. Standard gauge allowed the Metropolitan to exchange freight cars with steam railways.[ When the TTC took over the line in 1927, it converted the line to Toronto gauge but built a short section of four-rail, dual-gauge track in Aurora to deliver freight cars to a factory there.][
The Mimico radial line used Toronto gauge until 1922 when the Hydro-Electric Railways converted the line to standard gauge. When the TTC took over the line in 1927, it converted the line back to Toronto gauge.][
The Scarboro radial line used only Toronto gauge throughout its years of operations.
The Schomberg and Aurora line used only standard gauge throughout its years of operations.
]
Electrical system
The system initially used 550 volts DC and later 600v DC, allowing the system to run into Toronto (the Toronto network runs at 600v DC).
Comments
Unlike the city systems, the radial (interurban) operators used larger rail cars.
Radial routes ceased due to introduction of inter-urban buses and new highways that allowed for better access to many areas served by rail service.
Rail service returned to some of the communities served by the T&YRR by regional rail service of GO Transit
GO Transit is a regional public transit system serving the Greater Golden Horseshoe region of Ontario, Canada. With its hub at Union Station in Toronto, GO Transit's green-and-white trains and buses serve a population of more than seven millio ...
in the 1970s.
External links
*
*
Streetcar, Suburban and Interurban Map 1926
1926 plan of electric rail transit in Toronto and Guelph areas by Roman Fomin published by Transit Toronto. Large PDF.
Other Toronto area lines controlled by Sir William Mackenzie
* Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto Railway
* Toronto Suburban Railway
The Toronto Suburban Railway was a Canadian electric railway operator with local routes in west Toronto, and a radial (interurban) route to Guelph.
History
Corporate Timeline
The Weston, High Park and Toronto Street Railway Company was incor ...
* Toronto Railway Company
The Toronto Railway Company (TRC) was the operator of the streetcar system in Toronto between 1891 and 1921. It electrified the horsecar system it inherited from the Toronto Street Railway, the previous operator of streetcar service in Toronto. ...
See also
* List of Ontario railways
The following railways operate in the Canadian province of Ontario.
Common freight carriers
* Barrie Collingwood Railway (BCRY)
* Canadian National Railway (CN) including subsidiaries Algoma Central Railway (AC), Grand Trunk Western Railroad (GT ...
* List of defunct Canadian railways
Most transportation historians date the history of Canada's railways as beginning on February 25, 1832, with the incorporation of British North America's first steam-powered railway, the Champlain and St. Lawrence Railroad. This line opened for tr ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toronto York Radial Railway
Hydro-Electric Railways
Rail transport in the Greater Toronto Area
Transit agencies in Ontario
Defunct Ontario railways
Interurban railways in Ontario
4 ft 10⅞ in gauge railways
1904 establishments in Ontario
1948 disestablishments in Ontario
Electric railways in Canada
Standard gauge railways in Canada
History of rail transport in the Regional Municipality of York