September 2021 - Milton ON
On September 19 we had tickets for 11 AM at the Halton County Radial Railway Museum. It was on my to do list and as I checked their website I saw that they were only open on weekends to the middle of October. Due to COVID you had to buy timed tickets ahead of time.
The Halton County Radial Railway (HCRR) is a full-size operating electric railway and museum, featuring historic electric railcars operating on two kilometers of scenic track.
The HCRR and OERHA formed in 1954 by a group of men who wanted to save Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) streetcar 1326 from being sent to the scrap yard. After the donation of this streetcar, the dream grew. Land that used to be a part of the Toronto Suburban Railway in Nassagaweya Township was acquired, and subsequently, a number of other street and radial cars were eventually rescued. The museum’s grand opening to the public took place in 1972.
The tracks conform to the TTC's track gauge of 4 ft 10+7⁄8 in (1,495 mm), which is 60 mm (2+3⁄8 in) wider than 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge. Vehicles from other systems must be altered to accommodate the tracks, and cars intended for third-rail power must be reconfigured for use with overhead wire.
Toronto has a small train museum in the heart of the city, at the foot of the CN Tower.
Toronto Transit Commission 4600
The three cars that are outside are available to ride all day long.
Toronto Transit Commission 2894
Fleet Number: 2894 Built: 1923
System: Toronto Transit Commission Retired: 1963
Builder: Ottawa Car Company Acquired: 1986
Type: SE-DT Streetcar Status: Restored & operational
Used as a tour tram from 1973 until 1986. Last car to operate on Dupont route in 1963.
Fleet Number: 2894 Built: 1923
System: Toronto Transit Commission Retired: 1963
Builder: Ottawa Car Company Acquired: 1986
Type: SE-DT Streetcar Status: Restored & operational
Used as a tour tram from 1973 until 1986. Last car to operate on Dupont route in 1963.
Fleet Number: 4600
Built: 1951
System: Toronto Transit Commission
Retired: 1995
Builder: Canadian Car & Foundry Acquired: 1996
Type: SE-DT
Operational Prototype class A-15 Rebuild car. Rebuilt in 1986 from Class A-8 car 4505.
The original streetcar #327 was built by the Toronto Railway Company in 1893 and retired in 1915, and left to decay in dead storage until it was scrapped by the TTC in 1921. A replica of #327 was built by the TTC using the streetcar’s original truck and some components in 1934 for Toronto’s Centennial.
Photo taken - Toronto Mechanics Institute, Church St., northeast corner of Adelaide St. East. ; Interior, Reference Library
Pit jacks are used for lifting up tramway cars by the bogies for accessibility of the axles for maintenance and adjustment of the car body.
Fleet Number: 300
TCR #55 was the second car acquired in 1954, and was restored from TTC scraper car #2210 back to it’s original passenger service design.
Fleet Number: W-30, W-31
Fleet Number: 78653
This first thing we did was get a front row seat for a ride on #327.
Gotta love social distancing! Due to COVID every other row was blocked off and no strangers sit next to you.
The original streetcar #327 was built by the Toronto Railway Company in 1893 and retired in 1915, and left to decay in dead storage until it was scrapped by the TTC in 1921. A replica of #327 was built by the TTC using the streetcar’s original truck and some components in 1934 for Toronto’s Centennial.
Odd numbers were used for open cars (summer) and even numbers for closed (winter).
This bell was for the driver and conductor to communicate, not for a stop. The driver said they didn't really stop only slowed down for people to hop on and off.
Considering this is what I would have been wearing I doubt I would be hopping on or off!
Replica of the Meadowvale station. The original is in the museum.
Back at the station and we headed to the indoor museum.
Pit jacks are used for lifting up tramway cars by the bogies for accessibility of the axles for maintenance and adjustment of the car body.
Fleet Number: 300
Built:
System: London & Port Stanley Railway
System: London & Port Stanley Railway
Retired:
Builder: Acquired: 2019
Type: DT boxcar Status: Unrestored
Was first used by New York Central and purchased by L&PS after WW2
Fleet Number: 2424
Builder: Acquired: 2019
Type: DT boxcar Status: Unrestored
Was first used by New York Central and purchased by L&PS after WW2
Fleet Number: 2424
Built: 1921
System: Toronto Transit Commission
System: Toronto Transit Commission
Retired: 1962
Builder: Canadian Car & Foundry
Builder: Canadian Car & Foundry
Acquired: 1962
Type: SE-DT Streetcar Status: Restored & operational
From the TTC’s first order for new Large Peter Witt cars in 1921 (2300-2498).
Rebuilt for one man operation.
Fleet Number: TP-11
Type: SE-DT Streetcar Status: Restored & operational
From the TTC’s first order for new Large Peter Witt cars in 1921 (2300-2498).
Rebuilt for one man operation.
Fleet Number: TP-11
Built: 1945
System: Toronto Transit Commission
System: Toronto Transit Commission
Retired: 1976
Builder: National Steel Car Acquired: 1978
Type: SE-DT Snow Plow
Builder: National Steel Car Acquired: 1978
Type: SE-DT Snow Plow
Status: Under Restoration
Snow Plow. Equipped with high speed interurban trucks.
Equipped by TTC. Largest street railway snowplow in Canada.
Fleet Number: 4204
Snow Plow. Equipped with high speed interurban trucks.
Equipped by TTC. Largest street railway snowplow in Canada.
Fleet Number: 4204
Built: 1987
System: Toronto Transit Commission
System: Toronto Transit Commission
Retired: 2019
Builder: Can-Car Rail
Builder: Can-Car Rail
Acquired: 2019
Type: SE-TT Streetcar
Type: SE-TT Streetcar
Status: Operational
This “bendy” streetcar was designed as an articulated version of the TTC’s Canadian Light Rail Vehicles. The ALRV has 3 trucks and seats 61.
Fleet Number: 55
This “bendy” streetcar was designed as an articulated version of the TTC’s Canadian Light Rail Vehicles. The ALRV has 3 trucks and seats 61.
Fleet Number: 55
Built: 1915
System: Toronto Civic Railway
System: Toronto Civic Railway
Retired: 1954
Builder: Preston Car & Coach
Builder: Preston Car & Coach
Acquired: 1954
Type: DE-ST Streetcar
Type: DE-ST Streetcar
TCR #55 was the second car acquired in 1954, and was restored from TTC scraper car #2210 back to it’s original passenger service design.
Fleet Number: W-30, W-31
Built: 1946
System: Toronto Transit Commission
System: Toronto Transit Commission
Retired: 1999
Builder: Pullman Standard
Builder: Pullman Standard
Acquired: 2002
Type: SE-DT Rail Grinder
Type: SE-DT Rail Grinder
Status: Unrestored – Operational
Rail Grinding train. Converted from All Electric MU PCC cars 4631 and 4668, formerly Cleveland Transit system 4206 and 4243.
Fleet Number: W-28
Rail Grinding train. Converted from All Electric MU PCC cars 4631 and 4668, formerly Cleveland Transit system 4206 and 4243.
Fleet Number: W-28
Built: 1917
System: Toronto Transit Commission
System: Toronto Transit Commission
Retired: 1976
Builder: Preston Car & Coach
Builder: Preston Car & Coach
Acquired: 1976
Type: SE-ST Rail Grinder
Type: SE-ST Rail Grinder
Status: Restored & operational
Rail Grinder. Converted from snow scraper 2214, Formerly passenger car 2214, originally Toronto Civic Railway #57.
.
Fleet Number: 2786
Rail Grinder. Converted from snow scraper 2214, Formerly passenger car 2214, originally Toronto Civic Railway #57.
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Fleet Number: 2786
Built: 1923
System: Toronto Transit Commission
System: Toronto Transit Commission
Retired: 1963
Builder: Canadian Car & Foundry
Builder: Canadian Car & Foundry
Acquired: 1973
Type: SE-DT Streetcar
Type: SE-DT Streetcar
Status: Unrestored – Operational
Operated occasionally for special events. Small Peter Witt type.
Fleet Number: M-4
Operated occasionally for special events. Small Peter Witt type.
Fleet Number: M-4
Built: 1915
System: Lake Erie & Northern Railway
System: Lake Erie & Northern Railway
Retired: 1962
Builder: ERICO
Builder: ERICO
Acquired: 1962
Type: SE-ST Rail Bonder
Type: SE-ST Rail Bonder
Status: Restored & operational
Self propelled welding car.
Equipped with Westinghouse mill motor and mechanical clutch. Believed to be only surviving ERICO Bonder.
Fleet Number: M-6
Self propelled welding car.
Equipped with Westinghouse mill motor and mechanical clutch. Believed to be only surviving ERICO Bonder.
Fleet Number: M-6
Built: 1934
System: Lake Erie & Northern Railway
System: Lake Erie & Northern Railway
Retired: 1962
Builder: Ford
Builder: Ford
Acquired: 1963
Type: Line Truck
Type: Line Truck
Status: Awaiting restoration
2t truck equipped with flanged wheels.
Equipped with crew cab & ladder for line work.
Formerly a Pepsi Cola delivery truck.
CP 437123 no info available.
2t truck equipped with flanged wheels.
Equipped with crew cab & ladder for line work.
Formerly a Pepsi Cola delivery truck.
Fleet Number: 78653
Built: 19–
System: Canadian National Railway
System: Canadian National Railway
Retired: 1980
Builder: Acquired: 2019
Type: Caboose
Builder: Acquired: 2019
Type: Caboose
Status: Unrestored – Operational
Originally a box car used by Grand Truck Railway before CN rebuilt it into a caboose in 1948. It was retired around 1980, moved to a private property in Newtonville in 1984 and completely restored. It was then relocated to Richmond Hill in 1999, and eventually acquired by our museum.
Fleet Number: 107
Originally a box car used by Grand Truck Railway before CN rebuilt it into a caboose in 1948. It was retired around 1980, moved to a private property in Newtonville in 1984 and completely restored. It was then relocated to Richmond Hill in 1999, and eventually acquired by our museum.
Fleet Number: 107
Built: 1912
System: Montreal & Southern Counties Railway
System: Montreal & Southern Counties Railway
Retired: 1955
Builder: Ottawa Car Company.
Builder: Ottawa Car Company.
Acquired: 1956
Type: DE-DT Suburban
Type: DE-DT Suburban
Status: Restored & operational
Multiple unit Suburban Combine. First interurban car.
Regauged by National Steel Car.
Fleet Number: 23
Multiple unit Suburban Combine. First interurban car.
Regauged by National Steel Car.
Fleet Number: 23
Built: 1901
System: London Street Railway
System: London Street Railway
Retired: 1935
Builder: Montreal Park & Island Railway
Builder: Montreal Park & Island Railway
Acquired: 1983
Type: SE-DT Streetcar
Type: SE-DT Streetcar
Status: Restored & operational
Acquired as a body from Wonderland Park in London. Restored to running condition. Uses Curtis D-2 Trucks from Toronto.
Fleet Number: W-4
Acquired as a body from Wonderland Park in London. Restored to running condition. Uses Curtis D-2 Trucks from Toronto.
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Fleet Number: 1326
Fleet Number: 1326
Built: 1910
System: Toronto Railway Company
System: Toronto Railway Company
Retired: 1951
Builder: Toronto Railway Company
Builder: Toronto Railway Company
Acquired: 1954
Type: SE-DT Streetcar Status: Restored
The last wood streetcar retired by the TTC and first artifact in our collection.
Type: SE-DT Streetcar Status: Restored
The last wood streetcar retired by the TTC and first artifact in our collection.
Fleet Number: W-4
Built: 1904
System: Toronto Railway Company
System: Toronto Railway Company
Retired: 1974
Builder: Toronto Railway Company
Builder: Toronto Railway Company
Acquired: 1974
Type: SE-DT Flatcar
Type: SE-DT Flatcar
Status: Unrestored – Operational
Flat Motor. Equipped with cab at one end. Used for carrying materials.
Flat Motor. Equipped with cab at one end. Used for carrying materials.
As we left.
It is certainly a very good and large museum. While I knew they were disappearing, I never thought the Toronto bendy trams we rode in 2015 would be retired so soon. One immediately obvious difference between our old trams and yours, is that yours were very enclosed whereas ours with us not generally having snow, are much more open to the elements.
ReplyDeleteAt some point I really should go see that place. Terrific shots.
ReplyDelete