TTC non-Fishbowl Fleet Nostalgia

[Downsview 108]

3 hours ago, Tom1122 said:

They even showed the Gloucester's lights flickering off and on.

Caught that. Man that used to scare the hell out of me.

[Wayside Observer]

17 hours ago, Downsview 108 said:

Some of you older farts long-suffering with insomnia like me may remember this Global TV late night filler show. This episode has some nice video of the Spadina line and a ride on an H1. You can see the old "Arc-En-Ciel" neon light piece working at the beginning. There is also a Gloucester train ride around the 28 minute mark.

 

10 hours ago, Tom1122 said:

They even showed the Gloucester's lights flickering off and on.

Damn!  That's a find.  The Arc-En-Ciel "working" - a heck of a good chunk of it's out near the camera and you can see more sections actually functioning towards the back.  Wasn't there a proposal out a few years ago to get it working again but using LEDs instead of neon tubes (Wayside Observer sad)?  Is that a four car train of H1s in that one shot stopping short of the end of the platform?

Yay for the Gloucester lights blinking out on the third rail gap.  That was a short flash too, the gap south of Lawrence West where the switches for the middle track between LW and Glencairn was pretty short and enough south of the station that the train had a bit of speed even in the lead car.  It wasn't hitting the gap in the third rail and a slow, starting up from a standstill pace.  If you were in the lead car of a G train that had adverse signals ahead of it in rush hour or were in one of the places where there was a break in third rail coverage right after a station, you'd get a nice long blink into gloom and the air compressor or MG set depending on which car you happened to be on would try to stall out.  Then a moment later it'd all be over and everything on board would spring back to life.  I really miss that.  And dropping the windows open and hearing the running sounds of the train.  And everything about those cars (Wayside Observer sad).

I also loved the shots of the Yonge St. strip near Dundas too.  The combination of seedyness yet ghost town emptiness after hours is a combination that doesn't exist in Toronto anymore.

[Downsview 108]

1 hour ago, Wayside Observer said:

 

Damn!  That's a find.  The Arc-En-Ciel "working" - a heck of a good chunk of it's out near the camera and you can see more sections actually functioning towards the back.  Wasn't there a proposal out a few years ago to get it working again but using LEDs instead of neon tubes (Wayside Observer sad)?  Is that a four car train of H1s in that one shot stopping short of the end of the platform?

Yay for the Gloucester lights blinking out on the third rail gap.  That was a short flash too, the gap south of Lawrence West where the switches for the middle track between LW and Glencairn was pretty short and enough south of the station that the train had a bit of speed even in the lead car.  It wasn't hitting the gap in the third rail and a slow, starting up from a standstill pace.  If you were in the lead car of a G train that had adverse signals ahead of it in rush hour or were in one of the places where there was a break in third rail coverage right after a station, you'd get a nice long blink into gloom and the air compressor or MG set depending on which car you happened to be on would try to stall out.  Then a moment later it'd all be over and everything on board would spring back to life.  I really miss that.  And dropping the windows open and hearing the running sounds of the train.  And everything about those cars (Wayside Observer sad).

I also loved the shots of the Yonge St. strip near Dundas too.  The combination of seedyness yet ghost town emptiness after hours is a combination that doesn't exist in Toronto anymore.

There's more episodes on that account of the original program if you want to have your heart break some more. I miss the Spadina subway like that at night when the line was completely dead. I remember once in 1991 my family and I caught an empty H1 car from Dundas all the way to Wilson! It's crazy, the H1 cars were only 21 year old when that was shot. Most of the t1s are that age or older. I dunno about any plans to reintroduce the Arc-En-Ciel. I thought they took that out in 1995 after a long time of it being disabled. I also noticed the short blink on the G train. The Spadina line was my home line back in the day and I don't remember riding those at night, so I wouldn't really notice the lights going out. But damn, sure brought back a lot of memories. Toronto will never be the same.

[2044]

 

There appeared to be some progress when I was around Yorkdale Stn last year. There was definitely something being set up in the glass ceiling.

[Downsview 108]

Woah, I stand corrected then!

[splendidwizardplayer]

Lets hope that it will not get faded like the last time they did that type of thing at Yorkdale.

[Wayside Observer]

13 hours ago, Downsview 108 said:

There's more episodes on that account of the original program if you want to have your heart break some more. I miss the Spadina subway like that at night when the line was completely dead. I remember once in 1991 my family and I caught an empty H1 car from Dundas all the way to Wilson! It's crazy, the H1 cars were only 21 year old when that was shot. Most of the t1s are that age or older. I dunno about any plans to reintroduce the Arc-En-Ciel. I thought they took that out in 1995 after a long time of it being disabled. I also noticed the short blink on the G train. The Spadina line was my home line back in the day and I don't remember riding those at night, so I wouldn't really notice the lights going out. But damn, sure brought back a lot of memories. Toronto will never be the same.

I'm actually watching one of the new 2019 episodes that has a walk north from Yonge & Eglinton.  It's one I did regularly until 2009ish and at least once a month still.  The heartbreaking part is I can mentally recall the same walk from 1986 when the original episodes were filmed though.

They started a touch north of Yonge and Eglinton though, probably to avoid the deadly combo of the Eglinton-Crosstown construction along with the condo going in on the northeast corner where the TD branch was.  They started a bit north and missed the Sunset Grill which used to be Edward's Record World (used to spend way too much money in that store).  Best Buy was the Parkwood Central GM dealership.  West Elm was the Toronto School of Business.  Empty land where the Bank of Montreal was.  Canada Computers plus some other small shops where Oliver's Restaurant was.  The Capitol Theatre still showed movies.

The Good Bite Restaurant still had its original sign.  They're one of very few business from back then that are still going.  Circle Shoes, Sporting Life, and a bunch of convenience stores that've changed hands a few times over the years, and Roberto's restaurant at Yonge and Craighurst is still there but I'm sure Roberto retired from running it by now.  They didn't make it far enough north to show that though or the Second Cup at Albertus which is also still there.

Virgin Mobile was a gift shop called The Poke About.  The Licthman's Books & Art is long, long gone.  Cibo was a restaurant called Centro for the longest time and they had this lady that would constantly spray down the sidewalk with a hose.  The TD Canada Trust branch at Yonge and Erskine actually started out life as a Canada Trust.

And no sign of the damn frigging 97 Yonge Bus!  I guess that's one of the other few things that hasn't changed!

[Downsview 108]

6 hours ago, Wayside Observer said:

I'm actually watching one of the new 2019 episodes that has a walk north from Yonge & Eglinton.  It's one I did regularly until 2009ish and at least once a month still.  The heartbreaking part is I can mentally recall the same walk from 1986 when the original episodes were filmed though.

They started a touch north of Yonge and Eglinton though, probably to avoid the deadly combo of the Eglinton-Crosstown construction along with the condo going in on the northeast corner where the TD branch was.  They started a bit north and missed the Sunset Grill which used to be Edward's Record World (used to spend way too much money in that store).  Best Buy was the Parkwood Central GM dealership.  West Elm was the Toronto School of Business.  Empty land where the Bank of Montreal was.  Canada Computers plus some other small shops where Oliver's Restaurant was.  The Capitol Theatre still showed movies.

The Good Bite Restaurant still had its original sign.  They're one of very few business from back then that are still going.  Circle Shoes, Sporting Life, and a bunch of convenience stores that've changed hands a few times over the years, and Roberto's restaurant at Yonge and Craighurst is still there but I'm sure Roberto retired from running it by now.  They didn't make it far enough north to show that though or the Second Cup at Albertus which is also still there.

Virgin Mobile was a gift shop called The Poke About.  The Licthman's Books & Art is long, long gone.  Cibo was a restaurant called Centro for the longest time and they had this lady that would constantly spray down the sidewalk with a hose.  The TD Canada Trust branch at Yonge and Erskine actually started out life as a Canada Trust.

And no sign of the damn frigging 97 Yonge Bus!  I guess that's one of the other few things that hasn't changed!

What'd you think about the episode from the 80s going along the DVP with no traffic? 

The most impressive thing out of all those videos was the camera op's flawless and fluid entry through the Yorkdale station turnstile with the steadicam. Considering how big the Betamax cameras CityTV used to use that must have been interesting.

[Wayside Observer]

18 hours ago, Downsview 108 said:

What'd you think about the episode from the 80s going along the DVP with no traffic? 

The most impressive thing out of all those videos was the camera op's flawless and fluid entry through the Yorkdale station turnstile with the steadicam. Considering how big the Betamax cameras CityTV used to use that must have been interesting.

The DVP and Gardiner with no traffic is something, isn't it?  Especially the parts they showed on the eastern leg of the Gardiner that was demolished.  What really stuck out to me more than the no traffic was the wide open view from the Gardiner since these were filmed pre-condo.  Taking in the view at night from up on the elevated sections of the Gardiner Expressway at a bit less than the speed limit was something I always used to enjoy.  During the day, look down and (this was 1990 and later) see if there were PCCs out on 604 and see what was running up and down Bathurst.

What I was really hoping to see were those long dull, dark red-orange streetlights they had on the Gardiner but they video camera didn't capture them well.  Now, even though you're flying your car in between walls of condos, if I happen to be passing through when there's no traffic in the dead of the night, I'll still let off the gas and let my speed drift down again and enjoy the view in the handful of spots where there still is one.

I think Nightwalk was something Global did.  City ran blue movies overnight if I remember correctly.  Either way, the equipment of the day was bulky for sure.  I think the video camera they used had a CCD pickup though instead of a tube one since there were no trails from streetlights and car headlights which would've shaved the bulk down some.  But a steadicam rig would clean up a lot of the shake for sure and the cameraman would've been experienced at doing this sort of thing.  It wouldn't be like me trying to freehand a camcorder and pull this off.  Keep in mind the camera would've only been part of the bulk.  In 86, you'd have the camera plus the steadicam rig it was on, but the poor guy might've had the VTR literally on his back if it was a portapack system where the camera and VTR were separate units.  Either way, add a ton of pounds and bulk from the battery belt around the guy's waist to power everything up.  Those battery belts could be dangerous for multiple reasons.

[splendidwizardplayer]

One of my last few pieces of my child hood is about to get scrapped

 

 

[bus_7246]

8 hours ago, splendidwizardplayer said:

One of my last few pieces of my child hood is about to get scrapped

 

 

This bus was crunched up over the summer. There was an effort to try and salvage it that took a sour turn. The scrapper’s claw took this soul before it was saved

[splendidwizardplayer]

3 hours ago, bus_7246 said:

This bus was crunched up over the summer. There was an effort to try and salvage it that took a sour turn. The scrapper’s claw took this soul before it was saved

Damn. There goes one of the last TTC RTS buses. Gong the way of the dodo.

[Bus_Medic]

Good riddance.

[Shaun]

35 minutes ago, Bus_Medic said:

Good riddance.

Maybe they should have gone with the LFS afterall, instead of the RTS.

[splendidwizardplayer]

1 minute ago, Shaun said:

Maybe they should have gone with the LFS afterall, instead of the RTS.

They did TTC 1001 Nova LFS gen 1 

But HSR where they had problems with their gen 1s (but I forget what problems) so they went with the RTS

[TTC T6H-5307N 2252]

5 hours ago, bus_7246 said:

This bus was crunched up over the summer. There was an effort to try and salvage it that took a sour turn. The scrapper’s claw took this soul before it was saved

Does 7237 still exists? 

[bus_7246]

3 hours ago, TTC T6H-5307N 2252 said:

Does 7237 still exists? 

This has reportedly been scrapped too. No one has seen it since it disappeared from the Police College in the west end 

[Shaun]

On 12/18/2019 at 7:41 AM, Bus_Medic said:

Good riddance.

Considering how many RTS' where built, I find it strange that nobody came up with a better rear door configuration.  I mean the fact that you are not allowed to stand in the stepwell while the bus is moving is a serious issue. 

[Kobayashi]

Question in this regard regarding delivery dates of buses between 1985 and 1996.

What period in 1991 did #6640-#6745 arrived on property and the first bus to enter revenue service? Birchmount was the first garage to receive 40 diesel Orion Vs followed by Queensway with 35 buses and Davenport with the last 31 buses in the order (The latter garage closed in 1993 and moved to Malvern). By the late 1990s why did Old Eglinton picked these buses up?

I will also apply the same question regarding the arrival of the Orion IIIs, Orion V CNG (1990), Classics and New Flyer D40HFs on property and what date did the first buses on any series to enter revenue service.

[FlyerD901]

15 hours ago, Express Network said:

Question in this regard regarding delivery dates of buses between 1985 and 1996.

What period in 1991 did #6640-#6745 arrived on property and the first bus to enter revenue service? Birchmount was the first garage to receive 40 diesel Orion Vs followed by Queensway with 35 buses and Davenport with the last 31 buses in the order (The latter garage closed in 1993 and moved to Malvern). By the late 1990s why did Old Eglinton picked these buses up?

I will also apply the same question regarding the arrival of the Orion IIIs, Orion V CNG (1990), Classics and New Flyer D40HFs on property and what date did the first buses on any series to enter revenue service.

Theres an allocation sheet out there. I use to have them, but can't find it.

The 6640-6745 came in late 1991 Nov/Dec of that year. Some entered service in Jan 1992. One of the fastest buses I've been on.

The D40-90 Came in October 1990, Danforth and Eglinton split.

The Orion V 66/6700s had the infamous swap with the D40-90s going to Queensway from Eglinton when Lansdowne closed. I was told that the superintendent loved the buses so much he took them with him to Eglinton. Not how true it is, but I've heard this from more than one Foreman.

[TTCNLFBT]

TTC 1996 Orion V 7128 on route 39A Finch East.

[Bus_Medic]

2 hours ago, TTCNLFBT said:

TTC 1996 Orion V 7128 on route 39A Finch East.

One cylinder had a bad miss.

[TTCNLFBT]

TTC New Flyer D40-90 # 6563 on route 54A Lawrence East.

[Shaun]

8 hours ago, TTCNLFBT said:

TTC New Flyer D40-90 # 6563 on route 54A Lawrence East.

Why did these units have problems with their rear suspension sagging and bottoming out, when their cousins with the same frame didn't have this problem? 

[Bus_Medic]

4 minutes ago, Shaun said:

Why did these units have problems with their rear suspension sagging and bottoming out, when their cousins with the same frame didn't have this problem? 

News to me.