Toronto Transit Commission 5300-5335

Interior layout of 5300-5335.

Toronto Transit Commission 5300-5335, collectively known as the M1 subway cars, were built by the Montreal Locomotive Works. They were the first subway cars to be built in Canada. The order for the 36 cars was placed in 1960 to provide service for the new University line. Delivery commenced in early 1962. They were delivered by railway flatcar to the TTC's Davisville Yard.

The M1 cars operated in trainsets of married pairs, like almost all of Toronto's subway cars have. They differed from the previous Gloucester cars in several respects. The M1 cars were longer at 75 feet and had aluminum bodies, though the TTC had previously explored aluminum construction with the G2 cars. While the M1 cars were longer than the steel G cars, they were much lighter. The M1s were also designed with better performance and efficiency in mind. The interiors of the cars used fluorescent lighting and new finishes. The colour pallet consisted of light blue, yellow, and grey.

The M1 cars operated on the Yonge-University-Spadina line and Bloor-Danforth line. By the early 1990s, they were assigned to rush hour service only. Retirement began in October 1998, well after many of the younger H1 cars had been retired due to new Bombardier T1 deliveries. The H1 cars were also used more heavily than the M1 cars, contributing to their earlier demise. 10 M1 cars were retired in 1998, and 26 in 1999, with the final M1 cars retiring in early May 1999. The last active cars were 5306/07, 5310/11, and 5316/17 (order unknown), which made their final runs on May 3rd 1999.

Two M1 cars, 5300 and 5301, were donated to the Halton County Radial Railway for preservation, and moved in mid-July 1999. Other retired cars were trucked to Future Enterprises in Hamilton for scrapping.

Fleet numbers from this retired series were reused for the optional 156-car second order that was exercised for new Bombardier T1 subway cars, that were delivered between late 1999 and 2001.

Built	Motor	Seating	Destination sign
1961-1962	CGE 1251PA1	84 (later 83)	Rollsign

Details

• Note: not all retirement dates known. Earliest and latest retirements noted below.

Fleet Number	Thumbnail	Date	Serial	Division	Status/Disposal	Notes
5300		1961-1962	83324		Retired Donated to the Ontario Electric Railway Historical Association (7/1999) Preserved at the Halton County Radial Railway (Milton, ON).
5301		1961-1962	83856		Retired Donated to the Ontario Electric Railway Historical Association (7/1999) Preserved at the Halton County Radial Railway (Milton, ON).
5302		1961-1962	83325		Retired
5303		1961-1962	83857		Retired
5304		1961-1962	83326		Retired
5305		1961-1962	83858		Retired
5306		1961-1962	83327		Retired May 1999	Part of final cars in service, May 3rd 1999
5307		1961-1962	83859		Retired May 1999	Part of final cars in service, May 3rd 1999
5308		1961-1962	83328		Retired
5309		1961-1962	83860		Retired
5310		1961-1962	83329		Retired May 1999	Part of final cars in service, May 3rd 1999
5311		1961-1962	83861		Retired May 1999	Part of final cars in service, May 3rd 1999
5312		1961-1962	83330		Retired
5313		1961-1962	83862		Retired
5314		1961-1962	83331		Retired November 1998
5315		1961-1962	83863		Retired November 1998
5316		1961-1962	83332		Retired May 1999	Part of final cars in service, May 3rd 1999
5317		1961-1962	83864		Retired May 1999	Part of final cars in service, May 3rd 1999
5318		1961-1962	83333		Retired October 1998
5319		1961-1962	83865		Retired October 1998
5320		1961-1962	83334		Retired
5321		1961-1962	83866		Retired
5322		1961-1962	83335		Retired
5323		1961-1962	83867		Retired
5324		1961-1962	83336		Retired
5325		1961-1962	83868		Retired
5326		1961-1962	83337		Retired
5327		1961-1962	83869		Retired
5328		1961-1962	83338		Retired
5329		1961-1962	83870		Retired
5330		1961-1962	83874		Retired
5331		1961-1962	83871		Retired
5332		1961-1962	83875		Retired November 1998
5333		1961-1962	83872		Retired November 1998
5334		1961-1962	83876		Retired October 1998
5335		1961-1962	83873		Retired October 1998

References

• [1] Transit Toronto "The Montreal Series (M1) Cars", retrieved on 2010-10-17.
  
• Bytown Railway Society (2007), "Canadian Trackside Guide 2007". Ottawa, ON: St. Joseph Print.
• Bytown Railway Society (1999, February), "Branchline, Canada's Rail News Magazine". Ottawa, ON: Quadraprint Inc.
• Bytown Railway Society (1999, July/August), "Branchline, Canada's Rail News Magazine". Ottawa, ON: Quadraprint Inc.
• Bytown Railway Society (1999, September), "Branchline, Canada's Rail News Magazine". Ottawa, ON: Quadraprint Inc.
• Personal observations