From: cal@ee.ryerson.ca (Calvin Henry-Cotnam)
Subject: Re: toronto subway gauge
Organization: Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, Toronto
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 14:42:19 GMT

gregg@pinot.UUCP (Gregg Fuhriman) writes:

>I think the original question concerned the SUBWAY in Toronto, not the
>STREETCARS in Toronto.  The streetcars probably are standard guage, if
>they have been used on other systems like SF MUNI.

Again!  The streetcars have a 4' - 10 7/8" guage, the reason why has been
discussed.

The subways followed the same guage, probably because they were happy
with what worked for the streetcars.


>I visited Toronto in August and found a wonderful variety of public transit:
>
>SUBWAY: Long silver trains running underground downtown, and above ground
>elsewhere.  One main east-west line and two lines branching to the north.
>There's an above-ground yard along Yonge Street north of downtown.

There is only one "U" shaped north-south line (Yonge-University-Spadina),
but a "U" has two branches north.  The Davisville Yard is the one you mention,
it was the first.  There is also the Greenwood Yard on the eastern section of
the east-west line (Bloor-Danforth).  It is a couple of blocks south of the
line and has underground tracks connecting it to the line.  It is above
ground.  There is a "mini-yard" on the western portion of this line.  Known
as the Keele Yard, it is no longer used, except for holding the odd train
ready for rush hour (it may not even be used for this - anyone know for sure?)

The newest yard is the Wilson Yard, beyond the north-western terminus of
the Yonge-University-Spadina line.  Plans are in the works to extend this
line further north and west to the northern border of Metro Toronto, then
eastward to connect with the Yonge portion of the same line, forming a
loop.

>SCARBOROUGH RT: Boxy "people-mover" trains, elevated in the center of
>Scarborough, and it connects to the east end of Toronto subway.

This is the ICTS (Intermediate Capacity Transit System) developed by
the UTDC (Urban Transportation Development Corporation, now purchased
by Bombardier).  The same system is in Vancouver and Detroit (anyone
know if the Detroit system is in operation yet?).  It runs on standard
guage track and uses linear induction propulsion.

Vancouver's system has no driver on board, the system is totally computer
operated using a "moving block" system.  The TTC is almost totally computer
operated, as the local ATU insisted that for public safety, an operator
should be on board.  At a station, the system tells the operator when it is
time to close the doors.  S/he presses a button.  The doors close, the train
accelerates, proceeds to the next station, decelerates, stops, the doors
open, and the cycle starts again - all by computer.  I have seen a train
coming into a station with the operator clipping his fingernails!

The nice thing is that your door will always be at the same position on
the platform.  The system knows where the train is within 10cm (4") accuacy.

>
>STREETCARS: Red LRV-style cars, some single and some articulated.
>This system goes everywhere in downtown Toronto ... I was impressed.
>
>WATERFRONT: Brown and beige PCC cars, tracks connect into the main
>streetcar system.  There is a common carbarn/service facility at
>Sunnyside, west of downtown.

There are actually several carbarn facilities.  To mention one, the
Hillcrest facility north-north-west of the city centre (Bathurst south of
St. Clair for those who know Toronto) is also a bus garage and the
control centre for the entire subway system. 

>GO TRANSIT: Green and white diesel-powered (F59PH's) commute trains,
>running push-pull.  Main line is along the water front through Union
>Station, with several lines radiating out into the greater Toronto area.
>
>Other passenger service includes VIA and Ontario Northland serving
>Union Station.  I saw VIA F40PH's and LRC's pulling an assortment of
>equipment.  Ontario Northland's "Northlander" is powered by a rebuilt
>FP7A with a converted F-style B-unit for HEP.

The "Northlander" now uses coaches that they "purchased" from GO Transit.
I quote the word purchased because both GO and the ONR are operated by the
provincial government (hence Government of Ontario Transit).  GO now uses
Bi-level cars built by the UTDC's Can-Car division in Thunder Bay, the
same cars that are initially being used on Metrolink around LA.  The older
singel level "cattle cars" (as they are known by GO patrons :-) ) have
been idle for sometime, with 3 or 4 being destroyed by arson.  ONR has
modified them for different purposes (my speculation based on different
window arrangements - anyone know any details?).

> I think there is an Amtrak
>train that runs into Union Station as well, although I did not see it.

It's the Maple Leaf to NYC.  It is actually operated by a VIA crew to
Niagara Falls, ON.  It arrives about 8:30PM (or later) and leaves about
9:30AM the next morning, it usually spends the night at the VIA facility
in Mimico, west of Union Station, so there is only a small window of
opportunity to see it.

Calvin Henry-Cotnam, CATE            |    MY CANADA INCLUDES CANADIANS!
Ryerson Polytechnical Institute      | I would really like this to include
Toronto, Ontario, Canada             | Quebec - but I won't hold my breath.
From: patb@hpsad.sad.hp.com (Pat Brown)
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 16:00:20 GMT
Subject: Re: Info on North Pacific Coast RR
Organization: HP Signal Analysis Division - Rohnert Park, CA