Toronto Transit Commission 4200-4251

Toronto Transit Commission 4200-4251 are Articulated Light Rail Vehicles (ALRV, L3 Class) designed by the Urban Transportation Development Corporation (UTDC). The first 11 streetcars were largely built at the Can-Car Rail facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario. They were completed, along with the remaining 41 streetcars, at the UTDC facility in Millhaven, Ontario from 1987 to 1990.

During their prime, the ALRVs were used to provide all day service on route 501 Queen as well as some weekday peak service on routes 504 King and 508 Lake Shore. They also provided service on route 511 Bathurst all Saturday and Sunday in the summer and during events along that line. As their ranks decreased, the cars were confined to service on route 501 Queen, where they ended their careers.

History

A prototype and demonstrator, numbered 4900, was produced by the Urban Transportation Development Corporation (UTDC) in 1982. Unlike the production cars, 4900 was built with a pantograph, flip-dot destination sign, and hand controls. It was loaned to the TTC for testing from the summer of 1982 to the winter of 1983. After in-service trials, the car was put into storage and eventually returned to UTDC in 1987. The car was later scrapped following an accident at their plant with a production vehicle.

The articulated vehicle proved useful on the TTC's busiest streetcar routes. The Commission ordered 52 ALRVs at a cost of approximately $1.4 million each. The first car, 4200, was delivered on June 11, 1987 and the fleet entered service with car 4204 on the route 507 Long Branch on January 19, 1988.^[1]

The cars were delivered through to July 1989, in the following quantities:

June 1987 (1): 4200
October 1987 (1): 4204
December 1987 (2): 4203, 4205
January 1988 (1): 4201
February 1988 (2): 4206, 4210
March 1988 (1): 4202
April 1988 (3): 4212-4214
May 1988 (3): 4207, 4215-4216
June 1988 (5): 4211, 4217-4220
July 1988 (1): 4221
August 1988 (3): 4222-4224
September 1988 (2): 4225-4226
October 1988 (3): 4227-4229
November 1988 (5): 4230-4234
December 1988 (5): 4235-4239
January 1989 (1): 4240
February 1989 (2): 4241-4242
March 1989 (3): 4243-4245
April 1989 (2): 4246-4247
May 1989 (3): 4248-4250
June 1989 (1): 4251
July 1989 (2): 4208-4209

4208-4209 were the last of 10 body shells that were completed at UTDC's Thunder Bay plant before the entire production, including the completion of cars 4200-4207, was transferred to their Kingston plant in February 1987.4. The first eight cars were already on the new line and were being followed by the first of the fully-Kingston-produced body shells when the body shells for 4208 and 4209 arrived from Thunder Bay. As a result both were stored until December 1988 when they were added to the tail end of the production line, following 4251. The original numbers assigned were kept, as 4208 and 4209 retained some insignificant details similar only to cars 4200-4207.

The cars were commissioned through to August 1989, in the following quantities:

January 1988 (1): 4204
February 1988 (1): 4205
March 1988 (2): 4201, 4203
April 1988 (2): 4200, 4206
May 1988 (4): 4202, 4210, 4212-4213
July 1988 (1): 4215
August 1988 (6): 4207, 4211, 4214, 4216-4217, 4219
September 1988 (3): 4218, 4220, 4222
October 1988 (3): 4223-4225
November 1988 (2): 4226, 4228
December 1988 (6): 4221, 4227, 4229-4233
January 1989 (2): 4234, 4236
February 1989 (3): 4238-4240
March 1989 (3): 4237, 4241-4242
April 1989 (2): 4235, 4243
May 1989 (3): 4244-4246
June 1989 (2): 4247-4248
July 1989 (2): 4249, 4251
August 1989 (3): 4208-4209, 4250

Modifications & refurbishment

By the early 2000s, the red vinyl seat inserts were replaced with ones covered in synthetic wool. Beginning in 2009, the surface stop announcement system and driver barriers were installed. Throughout 2014, the first three seats on the open side of the streetcar received blue inserts as part of a fleet-wide modification to better denote courtesy seating. The TTC committed to having Presto payment available on all streetcars by the end of 2015. As of June 2015, one car (4221) was fitted with Presto readers as a trial. By September, installation commenced on the remainder of the fleet.

Over the course of five years, beginning in 2008, the ALRVs went through their mid-life overhaul. The first car completed was 4220, which had been sidelined at Harvey Shops three years prior. It was outshopped in April 2010. The cars received new stepwells, an updated instrument panel, new coat of paint, and LED exterior lighting. Only the headlight remained incandescent, however 4240 received an LED headlight with backlit TTC logo as a test.

Retirement

The ALRVs were considerably less reliable than the CLRVs and were phased out first upon deliveries of the [Flexity Outlook] fleet. The ALRVs were expected to retire from 2014 to 2015 as the new low floor streetcars entered service.^[2] The first to retire was 4231 in mid 2014. It was stripped of parts for the other ALRVs still in service. After sitting for a period of time at Hillcrest, the car was sent to scrap in May 2015.

Other ALRVs deemed impractical to repair or overhaul followed. The twilight of the ALRV fleet came in 2018: by July of that year, the last unrefurbished unit had been pulled from passenger service. Over the coming months, the service provided by the remaining cars was sporadic and irregular. The last time the cars were used in regularly scheduled service was on January 19, 2019, when cars 4204 and 4230 last ran on the 501 Queen.

Over much of 2019, some attempts were made to repair a few cars for continued service, and cars 4207 and 4221 re-entered service as "run-as-directed" (standby) cars in May. However, after a few days of service, these cars once again vanished from the Toronto streets.

The last run of these cars was on September 2, 2019. Cars 4204 and 4207 were dispatched as extras on route 501, operating on a limited basis between Bathurst Street and the Russell carhouse. Shortly after 5 p.m, car 4204 pulled into Russell carhouse for the final time, bringing an end to 31 years of service.

Cars 4204 and 4207 were selected as historical units, with car 4207 remaining in Toronto, and 4204 being sent to the Halton County Radial Railway in Milton. The remaining cars on property (4221, 4228, 4230, and 4249) to be used as parts donors and then scrapped.

Life extension

As deliveries of the new streetcars fell behind schedule, the TTC considered extending the lives of the ALRVs to make up for the shortfall. The TTC decided to overhaul 30 of the 52 ALRVs for continued service with an option for another 10 depending on funding. The remaining 12 would be parted out for useful parts and scrapped. The first car to be refurbished (4217) was outshopped in October 2015.

The refurbished cars had work done to the body which included corrosion repairs and a new coat of paint. The subfloor was replaced and covered by the same flooring that is used in the refurbished SRT cars. Seats received new inserts, which remain padded. The bogies and motors were rebuilt along with the cars' control system — though the TTC had looked into retrofitting the ALRVs with more up to date IGBT transistors.

By the spring of 2018, 18 ALRVs were refurbished. It should be noted that one car (4239) was involved in a collision shortly after refurbishment and sustained damage serious enough to warrant its retirement. The TTC elected to end the refurbishment program at 20 cars rather than 30 after reliability failed to improve. The final two cars outshopped from the refurbishment programme were 4207 in June, and 4221 in August 2018.

Motor	Seating	Destination sign
2 x Brown Boveri, 600 V DC	61 Otaco Innovator 850	Rollsign

Details

Fleet number	Date	Serial	Status/Disposal	Notes
4200	1987	87-76-1676	Retired 2018 Last operated on July 31, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property on May 9, 2019.	Delivered on June 11, 1987. Entered service on April 25, 1988. Refurbished by May 2016.
4201	1987	87-76-1677	Retired November 2017 Last operated on November 24, 2017. Decommissioned on January 26, 2018.	Delivered on January 26, 1988. Entered service on March 25, 1988.
4202	1987	87-76-1678	Retired 2018 Last operated on May 28, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property in June 2019.	Delivered on March 8, 1988. Entered service on May 18, 1988.
4203	1987	87-76-1679	Retired May 2019 Last operated on June 27, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property on May 22, 2019.	Delivered on December 23, 1987. Entered service on March 11, 1988. Refurbished.
4204	1987	87-76-1680	Retired October 2019 Last operated on September 2, 2019 on route 501. Donated to the Halton County Radial Railway in Milton, Ontario; removed from TTC property on October 22, 2019. ^[3]	Delivered on October 2, 1987. Entered service on January 19, 1988 on route 507. Refurbished by November 2016.
4205	1987	87-76-1681	Retired January 26, 2018 Last operated on October 5, 2017. Removed from TTC property on April 18, 2018 for scrap.	Delivered on December 9, 1987. Entered service on February 3, 1988. Used in official opening of route 509 on July 21, 2000. Entered life extension program, but was cut prior to completion.
4206	1988	88-76-1682	Retired October 2015 Last operated on October 14, 2014. Removed from TTC property on January 25, 2016.	Delivered on February 19, 1988. Entered service on April 22, 1988.
4207	1988	88-76-1683	Preserved Last operated on September 2, 2019 on route 501.	Delivered on May 24, 1988. Entered service on August 3, 1988. Refurbished by late May/early June 2018.
4208	1989	89-76-1684	Retired May 2019 Last operated on March 20, 2018 on route 504. Removed from TTC property in late May 2019.	Delivered on July 11, 1989. Entered service on August 21, 1989. Refurbished by November 2015.
4209	1989	89-76-1685	Retired November 2017 Last operated on November 24, 2017. Decommissioned on January 26, 2018.	Delivered on July 14, 1989. Entered service on August 25, 1989.
4210	1988	88-76-1686	Retired 2018 Last operated on May 6, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property on May 13, 2019.	Delivered on February 26, 1988. Entered service on May 4, 1988. Refurbished by September 2016.
4211	1988	88-76-1687	Retired September 2015 Last operated on September 18, 2015. Decommissioned on December 27, 2015.	Delivered on June 6, 1988. Entered service on August 18, 1988. First unit fully constructed at UTDC facility in Millhaven, Ontario. Rear-ended 4900 at UTDC's Kingston factory on March 24, 1988. Formerly wrapped for the Bahamas and Indigo Kids. Involved in a 3 car collision with 4234 and 4213 at Queen and River Streets on September 18, 2015.
4212	1988	88-76-1688	Retired January 26, 2018 Last operated on October 8, 2017.	Delivered on April 5, 1988. Entered service on May 5, 1988.
4213	1988	88-76-1689	Retired January 26, 2018 Last operated on August 24, 2017. Removed from TTC property on September 6, 2018 for scrap.	Delivered on April 11, 1988. Entered service on May 19, 1988. Converted to SNKRS XPRESS February 2016 - Mobile Nike shoe store operating on Queen between McCaul and Wolseley (Bathurst) February 11 to 14 for the NBA All-Star Weekend. Intended to enter life extension program, but was cut prior to start of refurbishment.
4214	1988	88-76-1690	Retired 2018 Last operated on June 29, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property on May 29, 2019.	Delivered on April 21, 1988. Entered service on August 19, 1988.
4215	1988	88-76-1691	Retired March 2019 Last operated on October 1, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property in May 2019.	Delivered on May 3, 1988. Entered service on July 17, 1988. Refurbished by March 2017.
4216	1988	88-76-1692	Retired 2018	Delivered on May 30, 1988. Entered service on August 5, 1988.
4217	1988	88-76-1693	Retired March 2019 Last operated on November 23, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property in late May 2019.	Delivered on June 2, 1988. Entered service on August 29, 1988. Refurbished by October 2015.
4218	1988	88-76-1694	Retired 2018 Last operated on May 20, 2018 on route 501.	Delivered on June 9, 1988. Entered service on September 9, 1988.
4219	1988	88-76-1695	Retired April 2017 Last operated on December 1, 2016. Removed from TTC property on April 18, 2018 for scrap.	Delivered on June 23, 1988. Entered service on August 26, 1988. Intended to enter life extension program, but was cut prior to start of refurbishment.
4220	1988	88-76-1696	Retired January 26, 2018 Last operated on April 13, 2017. Removed from TTC property on September 6, 2018 for scrap.	Delivered on June 27, 1988. Entered service on September 15, 1988. Had TTC logo on centre LED headlight.
4221	1988	88-76-1697	Retired 2019 - Failed air compressor Last operated on May 16, 2019 on route 501. Removed from TTC property on November 21, 2019 for scrap.	Delivered on July 4, 1988. Entered service on December 16, 1988. Rear-ended by 4230 on October 31, 2009; repaired by March 2010. Refurbished from November 2016 to August 2018, the final ALRV to be outshopped.
4222	1988	88-76-1698	Retired April 2018 Last operated on December 16, 2017. Decommissioned on January 26, 2018.	Delivered on August 11, 1988. Entered service on September 21, 1988.
4223	1988	88-76-1699	Retired January 26, 2018 Last operated on December 12/13, 2017 on routes 501/301.	Delivered on August 23, 1988. Entered service on October 4, 1988.
4224	1988	88-76-1700	Retired 2018	Delivered on August 31, 1988. Entered service on October 8, 1988.
4225	1988	88-76-1701	Retired 2019 Last operated on December 17, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property in June 2019 for scrap.	Delivered on September 16, 1988. Entered service on October 20, 1988. Refurbished by late 2016.
4226	1988	88-76-1702	Retired 2019 Last operated on December 27, 2018 on route 501. "A" section removed from TTC property on June 12, 2019.	Delivered on September 28, 1988. Entered service on November 2, 1988. Refurbished by January 2017.
4227	1988	88-76-1703	Retired January 26, 2018 Last operated on March 7, 2016. Removed from TTC property on May 2, 2018.	Delivered on October 6, 1988. Entered service on December 11, 1988.
4228	1988	88-76-1704	Retired 2019 Last operated on September 16, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property on November 21, 2019 for scrap.	Delivered on October 14, 1988. Entered service on November 18, 1988. Refurbished.
4229	1988	88-76-1705	Retired June 2019 Last operated on January 14, 2019 on route 501. Removed from TTC property on June 8, 2019.	Delivered on October 28, 1988. Entered service on December 21, 1988. Refurbished by January 2017.
4230	1988	88-76-1706	Retired 2019 Last operated on January 19, 2019 on route 501. Removed from TTC property on November 20, 2019 for scrap.	Delivered on November 8, 1988. Entered service on December 19, 1988. Rear-ended 4221 on October 31, 2009; repaired by January 2010. Refurbished.
4231	1988	88-76-1707	Retired Mid 2014 Last operated on December 13, 2013. Removed from TTC property in early May 2015 for scrap.	Delivered on November 14, 1988. Entered service on December 19, 1988. Formerly wrapped for Resident Evil Retribution. Used as parts vehicle prior to disposal.
4232	1988	88-76-1708	Retired 2018 Last operated on May 16, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property in early October 2018 for scrap.	Delivered on November 17, 1988. Entered service on December 25, 1988.
4233	1988	88-76-1709	Retired January 26, 2018 Last operated on December 1, 2016. Removed from TTC property on May 2, 2018 for scrap.	Delivered on November 24, 1988. Entered service on December 30, 1988.
4234	1988	88-76-1710	Retired October 2015 Last operated on September 18, 2015. Removed from TTC property on December 14, 2015.	Delivered on November 30, 1988. Entered service on January 6, 1989. Involved in a 3 car collision with 4211 and 4213 at Queen and River Streets on September 18, 2015.
4235	1988	88-76-1711	Retired Early 2018 Last operated on November 15, 2017. Decommissioned on January 26, 2018.	Delivered on December 6, 1988. Entered service on April 27, 1989.
4236	1988	88-76-1712	Retired June 2019 Last operated on December 14, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property on June 17, 2019.	Delivered on December 12, 1988. Entered service on January 23, 1989. Damaged by an electrical fire on September 11, 2000 while operating on route 511. Refurbished by March 2017.
4237	1988	88-76-1713	Retired 2018 Last operated on June 22/23, 2018 on routes 501/301. Removed from TTC property on May 22, 2019.	Delivered on December 15, 1988. Entered service on March 22, 1989.
4238	1988	88-76-1714	Retired January 26, 2018 Last operated on December 22, 2017 on route 501. "B" section removed from TTC property on August 24, 2018 for scrap. "A" section was also removed for scrap the day prior.	Delivered on December 21, 1988. Entered service on February 2, 1989. Received an experimental air-conditioning unit in August 1995; removed in May 1997. Formerly wrapped for Bell Let's Talk Day 2015.
4239	1988	88-76-1715	Retired 2018 Last operated on October 8, 2017. Removed from TTC property in late May 2019.	Delivered on December 28, 1988. Entered service on February 22, 1989. Refurbished in 2017.
4240	1989	89-76-1716	Retired 2018 Last operated on October 17, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property on May 15, 2019.	Delivered on January 19, 1989. Entered service on February 24, 1989. Refurbished by September 2016.
4241	1989	89-76-1717	Retired January 26, 2018 Last operated on August 27, 2017.	Delivered on February 6, 1989. Entered service on March 28, 1989. Intended to enter life extension program, but was cut prior to start of refurbishment.
4242	1989	89-76-1718	Retired 2018 Last operated on May 29, 2018. Removed from TTC property on May 9, 2019.	Delivered on February 13, 1989. Entered service on March 21, 1989. Refurbished.
4243	1989	89-76-1719	Retired May 2019 Last operated on August 10, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property on May 17, 2019.	Delivered on March 1, 1989. Entered service on April 25, 1989. Formerly wrapped for Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games. Refurbished by March 2017.
4244	1989	89-76-1720	Retired 2018 Last operated on March 7, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property on June 20, 2018 for scrap.	Delivered on March 14, 1989. Entered service on May 2, 1989. Wrapped for Asus in October 2015.
4245	1989	89-76-1721	Retired Summer 2018 Last operated on November 28, 2017 on route 501.	Delivered on March 30, 1989. Entered service on May 5, 1989.
4246	1989	89-76-1722	Retired 2018 Last operated on March 29, 2018 on route 501. Scrapped.	Delivered on April 6, 1989. Entered service on May 22, 1989.
4247	1989	89-76-1723	Retired 2018 Last operated on May 11, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property on May 15, 2019.	Delivered on April 20, 1989. Entered service on June 20, 1989.
4248	1989	89-76-1724	Retired July 2016 Decommissioned on July 11, 2016.	Delivered on May 3, 1989. Entered service on June 9, 1989.
4249	1989	89-76-1725	Retired 2019 Last operated on January 18, 2019 on route 501. Removed from TTC property on November 20, 2019 for scrap.	Delivered on May 17, 1989. Entered service on July 12, 1989. Refurbished by December 2015. Wrapped for SNKRS XPRESS promotion mid February 2016.
4250	1989	89-76-1726	Retired June 2015 Last operated on February 2, 2015.	Delivered on May 31, 1989. Entered service on August 2, 1989.
4251	1989	89-76-1727	Retired 2018 Last operated on May 12, 2018 on route 501. Removed from TTC property on May 13, 2019.	Delivered on June 16, 1989. Entered service on July 28, 1989. First ALRV with ad wrap, May 29, 2000.