Text by: James Bow, Photos by Rob Hutch
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1999's installment of the CNE was the last time Exhibition attendees will see the venerable King-Exhibition (521) streetcar in service. On July 24, 2000, service began between Union Station and the Exhibition, along a 800 metre 'missing-link' along Queens Quay between Spadina and Bathurst. When the 2000 CNE season opens, 509 Harbourfront streetcars will be offering direct service to Union Station following long sections of private right-of-way.
The summer of 1999 was a bittersweet time. The anticipation of a new and modern streetcar route is being tempered by the fact that an old friend is about to pass on. In that vein, Rob Hutch was out with his camera, and captured the shots below. This is not a page about the history of the King-Exhbition streetcar (Click here for that page). This is a page of pictures that will hopefully allow you to sit back and remember...
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Rob Hutch starts at King and Yonge, next to the King Station subway entrance. The buildings of Toronto's downtown loom around the intersection. CLRV 4021 is facing east, and will soon be turning north on Church to loop via Richmond, Victoria and Queen. The passengers waiting across the street for the next westbound car might want to take this one instead. It would guarantee them a seat... |
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Rob's next shot is at the corner of King and Bathurst, where the 521 (represented by CLRV 4179) makes its turn to head south towards the Exhibition. |
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At the approach to the CNE, the 521 trundles past old industrial buildings, the remains of the Molson's plant, and the Garrison of Fort York. Here, a 521 car crosses Garrison Road. |
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At Exhibition East loop, CLRV 4037 prepares for one of the last departures of the 521 streetcar. Next year, 509 Harbourfront cars will be sitting in this spot. |
King-Exhibition's Last Stand Part II -- Molson Indy 2000As it turned out, the summer of 1999 would not be the last time that King-Exhibition cars would run. On July 14 through to July 16, the Molson Indy took place around the Exhibition grounds. The 509 Harbourfront streetcar was not due to open for another week, so the 521 King-Exhibition route made its true last stand, bringing passengers from the Yonge-University-Spadina subway to the event. By this time, the streetcar rollsigns had all been replaced, and the 521 exposures all eliminated. The TTC made do with the 504-Exhibition exposures, and even some 508 and 509 signs made an appearance. A black on yellow card displayed the 521 route on affected streetcars, and the 521 back rollsign exposure was used. Rob Hutch took these photographs. | |
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Here car 4003 runs east on Fleet Street, towards the Tip Top Tailors building. Note the 521 back rollsign exposure. |
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CLRV 4121 stops to pick up passengers at King and Spadina, while comrade 4056 passes eastbound. CLRV 4121 has had to use the new 504-Exhibition exposure. |
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ALRV 4244 on Bathurst Street enters into this picture as CLRV 4003 prepares to turn south. |
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CLRV 4003 turns south from King onto Bathurst, bearing a 509 Exhibition sign. |
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Returning north, CLRV 4003 puts on a 508 exposure (Church via King) as it crosses the Bathurst Street bridge over the railway tracks. |
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CLRV 4088, northbound on Bathurst Street, pulls up to a traffic jam of streetcars at the King/Bathurst intersection. |
Thanks to Rob Hutch for taking the time to snap these last photos. Such photos are always bittersweet, but at least the departure of the King-Exhibition route doesn't represent a death of a line -- merely its transformation...
