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Canadian Urbanism Uncovered

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15 comments

  1. Great if brief glimpse near the end of the video of the platforms in the middle of Bloor Street east of Yonge where streetcars dropped off and took on subway riders before the Bloor line was built.

  2. I didn’t know they had ‘way out’ signs I like those better and the uniforms look sharp.. I am no fashion guru but the maroon jacket and grey slacks need an update:P

  4. Only took 12 minutes to get from Eglinton to Union back then? The new time travel chart says 15.

  5. That was unintentionally hilarious… Really!

    “Naturally, there are friendly ads to help you pass the time if you’re waiting for a train… but you may not have time to read them because the trains come so fast! About two and a half minutes apart!”

    “No smoking inside… but the trips are so short that chances are you don’t want to smoke!”

  6. oh yeah…big waste of money those subways. Thank GOODNESS we’re not building those any more!

  7. Trent: the reason is capacity. The line did not serve as many people back then as it does now. It means trips between each station were 1 minute 6 seconds. Now its 1 minute 20 seconds. Its amazing what a few extra seconds can add to a total trip, and something I think most TTC riders are oblivious too (thus those invasive stickers on doors asking riders not to hold them open for other riders).

  8. Thye Belfast built cars were heavy. Dim lighting inside. Peculiar odor inside, as I recall.

    Back then the stations were clean.

    No electronic tone when doors closed. Scream of the mouth-blown whistle by operator – often blasting ear, if in same car as you entered.

    Odd to some – try not to snicker at the voice over narration and long length of news item. It was a another time so should not be compared but for fun and understanding. (Says me in high tone…ha ha. I was there.)

    Better quality here (as stated above):
    http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-75-1099-6099/science_technology/subways_history/clip3

  9. Asher: Toronto continues to build subways. Definitely not at the rate we should have and likely not in the places most warranted, but our subway-building days aren’t over. In fact, MoveOntario 2020 will be funding two significant extensions to the Y-U-S line if the money ever comes from Flaherty.

    Also, if you are interested in subway expansions in T.O., I’d give a look at one of the quickest growing Facebook groups in these parts…

    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10757265438

  10. Some other trivia from 1954 can be noticed…
    – The need to validate your transfer by placing it into a stamping machine.
    – No benches on the station platforms. When the public later began to demand them, the TTC intitailly refused, the commissioner of the day intoning that people these days are sitting too much and require more exercise!

  11. Those are pretty cool token dispensers!

    I actually miss the whistles warnings.. The electronic chimes just do not compare..

  12. Don,

    The cars were built in Gloucester, England, by the Gloucester Carriage & Wagon Co., not Belfast.

  13. They weighed about as much as the Titanic, so maybe that’s part of the confusion. 😉

  14. Good Morning,
    I watch your news & ducumentary show. Last Wednesday night March 12 at 8:00pm there was a clip about the all restaurant who provide ” Nutrition & allergy guide”.How can I get copy of the clip. DVD, or CD.
    Thank you,

    Anisur