Toronto Civic Railways was an agency created and owned by the City of Toronto

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, to run streetcar

Tram

A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...

s in newly annexed areas of the city that the private operator Toronto Railway Company

Toronto Railway Company

The Toronto Railway Company was the first operator of horseless streetcars in Toronto.Formed by a partnership between James Ross and William Mackenzie, a 30-year franchise was granted in 1891 to modernize transit operations after a previous 30 year franchise that saw horse car service from the...

 refused to serve. When the Toronto Railway Company's franchise expired in 1921, its services were combined with those of the Toronto Civic Railways, and are now assumed by the new Toronto Transportation Commission

Toronto Transit Commission

-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...

.

Routes

The routes of the Toronto Civic Railways included:

Route Details

Division	Service Commenced	Route	Notes
Gerrard Division	1912	Gerrard Street from Greenwood Avenue east to Main Street	now served by the 506 Carlton streetcar
Bloor Division	1915	Bloor Street West from Dundas Street West west to Quebec Avenue and later to Runnymede Road	Continued as Bloor West by the Toronto Transportation Commission Toronto Transportation Commission Before 1954, the Toronto Transit Commission was called the Toronto Transportation Commission.-History:Toronto's first public transportation company was the Williams Omnibus Bus Line and owned by undertaker Burt Williams. The franchise carried passengers in horse-drawn stagecoaches along Yonge...  from 1921 to 1954 and Toronto Transit Commission Toronto Transit Commission -Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...  to 1966, including Danforth Tripper; now served by the Bloor-Danforth subway
Danforth Division	1915	Danforth Avenue from Broadview east to city limits at Luttrell Avenue	renamed Broadview and then as Bloor from November 1921 to 1966; now served by the Bloor-Danforth subway
Lansdowne Division	1917	Lansdowne Avenue from St. Clair Street West south to CPR tracks north of Dupont Street	Ended 1921
St. Clair Division	1914	St. Clair Avenue West from Yonge Street west to Lansdowne Avenue	Construction was begun 1911 and service completed in 1914; now served by the 512 St. Clair streetcar

Facilities

A few facilities of the TCR were retained by the TTC, but most were abandoned and sites re-developed. Only two carbarns survived today and have been recycled for other uses.

Facility details

Yard	Location	Year Open	Notes
St Clair Carhouse	St. Clair Avenue West and Christie Street	1913–1921	rename as Wychwood Barns and used by the TTC Toronto Transit Commission -Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...  until 1978 as streetcar barn; it is now being renovated as an arts and culture centre
T&YRR Deer Park Carhouse and Shops	25 St. Clair Avenue West	1913–1924	Home to St. Clair Division from 1913 to 1921; Sold to Badminton and Raquet Club of Toronto in 1924 and retained carhouse and shops, site later re-developed with current office building housing the BRCT Club House; Yonge Street portion sold by Club and occupied by commercial businesses
Station Street Carhouse	Station Street (Caledonia Road) and St. Clair Avenue West	1911–1913	outdoor storage facility next to railway line; replaced by St. Clair Carhouse; site now industrial-commercial buildings along active railway line
GTR Davenport Station	Davenport Road between Wiltshire and Lansdowne Avenue	1917–1921	Operating for Lansdowne Division from 1917–1921; closed and demolished site is now Davenport-Perth Community Centre and United Church surrounded by homes
Danforth Carhouse	Danforth Avenue and Coxwell Avenue	1915–1921	Replaced Gerrard Street Yard and Carhouse, acquired by the TTC Toronto Transit Commission -Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...  and used as a carhouse until 1966; converted as bus garage in 1967 and operational until 2002; bus barns now home to Habitat for Humanity Toronto (1627 Danforth Avenue)
Hanson Street Yard	Hanson Street and Coxwell Avenue		now residential neighbourhood in East Danforth
Gerrard Street Yard and Carhouse	Gerrard Street East near Morton Road	1912–1915	Home to Gerrard Division, later abandoned and operations moved to Coxwell Yard; residential neighbourhood and rail corridor
T&YRR Walter Station and Carhouse	Walter Street and Kingston Road		now residential neighborhood of Upper Beaches
Indian Road Carhouse	Indian Road and Howard Park Avenue	1915–1921?	now residential neighbourhood in High Park

Management of the TCR:

• Roland Caldwell Harris, GM 1912-1921

Fleet

TCR began service in 1911 with all wooden cars and acquire steel cars in 1917.

Product list and details (date information from TTC)

Make/Model	Description	Fleet size	Year acquired	Year retired	Notes
McGuire-Cummings Manufacturing Company McGuire-Cummings Manufacturing Company McGuire-Cummings Manufacturing Company was a streetcar builder based in Paris, Illinois. The company was one of a few suppliers for the Toronto Civic Railways.-Products:* DE DT M - later TTC Class I cars* DE ST snow sweepers...  (Paris, Illinois)	wood double end double truck closed electric streetcar	4	1912	1936	later reclassified as 1-4 Group A (later TTC Class I)
Niles Car and Manufacturing Company Niles Car and Manufacturing Company The Niles Car and Manufacturing Company was a United States manufacturer of railroad equipment, including many streetcar and interurban cars. It was founded in 1901 in Niles, Ohio, and ceased producing railroad cars in 1917; the plant and equipment were purchased by the Engel Aircraft Company to...  (Niles, Ohio)	wood double end double truck closed electric streetcar	20	1913	1948	#100-#119 later classified as Group B (later TTC Class H, H1, H3)
Preston Car Company Preston Car Company The Preston Car Company was a Canadian manufacturer of streetcars and other railway equipment, founded in 1908. The company was located in the town of Preston, Ontario...  (Preston, Ontario)	wood double end single truck closed electric streetcar	8	1915-17	N/A	later reclassified as 50-57 Group D (later TTC Class F) Used as scrapers, grinders, and in subway service as grinders.
Preston Car Company Preston Car Company The Preston Car Company was a Canadian manufacturer of streetcars and other railway equipment, founded in 1908. The company was located in the town of Preston, Ontario...  (Preston, Ontario)	Steel, arch roof, double end, double truck closed electric streetcar	13	1918	1948-9	later TTC class J. Steel double-ended cars used on Weston Rd. and Spadina, and on shuttle services.
J.G. Brill and Company J.G. Brill and Company The J. G. Brill Company manufactured streetcars and buses in the United States. The company was founded by John George Brill in 1868 as a horsecar manufacturing firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, merged with the American Car and Foundry Company in 1944 to become ACF-Brill and ceased production... (Philadelphia, PA) Birney	Birney cars, 60-84. Steel, double end single truck closed streetcar.	25	1920	1920s, 1940s	(later TTC Class G); sold 3 to Cornwall (1926), 8 to Halifax (1927) and another 14 (1941)