Toronto Transit Commission 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. Deliveries occurred between April 1962 and February 1963. They were transported 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.
Service on the new University subway line debuted with the first two cars built, 5300 and 5301, leading 5318-5319-5322-5323 on the official commemorative train during opening day ceremonies held on February 28th, 1963.
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.
The first two M1 cars built, 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 |
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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 |
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5301 | 1961-1962 | 83856 |
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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 |
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5315 | 1961-1962 | 83863 | Retired November 1998 |
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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 |
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5319 | 1961-1962 | 83865 | Retired October 1998 |
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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 |
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5333 | 1961-1962 | 83872 | Retired November 1998 |
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5334 | 1961-1962 | 83876 | Retired October 1998 |
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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