Photos by Ryan Pinto and David Cavlovic.
Starting Labour Day, 2002, the surface vehicle terminal at Dundas West station was closed so the streetcar loop could be rebuilt. The TTC wanted to build a passing siding and a second streetcar platform to allow 504 King and 505 Dundas streetcars to take in and let off passengers without blocking each other. The construction was completed and streetcar service resumed on Sunday, November 24, 2002. This, combined with similar construction to occur in 2003 at Broadview station, is expected to greatly improve the reliability of both routes.
The project was a massive undertaking, ripping up much of Dundas Street and diverting traffic for blocks around. Ryan Pinto managed to get a bird's eye view of the construction, and supplies the photos you see here.
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This picture shows Dundas West station and the construction around it. The old track is being ripped out at one end, while the new switches have already been installed and new track stretching into the loop. The loop-the-loop switch connects with the original track and not the new siding. Note Vincent Yard in the background. Photo by Ryan Pinto. |
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A close-up (relatively speaking) of the junction itself. Photo by Ryan Pinto. |
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At ground level, a crane moves the big loads of the project. This block of Dundas has been closed to all traffic, and even the pedestrians have to meander a bit to access the station. Photo by Ryan Pinto. |
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A panorama shot of the whole of the track replacement project. With Dundas West station closed to streetcars, it's a good opportunity to fix the tracks stretching back to Roncesvalles as well. Photo by Ryan Pinto. |
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An aerial shot of the loop in operation. Photo by Ryan Pinto. |
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A second aerial shot of the loop in operation. Photo by Ryan Pinto. |
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Once finished, David Cavlovic caught this picture of the twin approaches to the streetcar platforms at Dundas West. This shot is facing east. The tracks on the left are served by 504 King streetcars, and the tracks on the right are served by 505 Dundas streetcars. |
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Looking west, the original streetcar platform is on the right and the new platform is on the left. Photo by David Cavlovic. |
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Passengers have to cross over the 504 King tracks to reach the new platforms. A crosswalk has been installed. Note the ramp access to the platform. Photo by David Cavlovic. |
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CLRVs 4003 and 4082 detrain passengers without impeding each other. Photo by David Cavlovic. |
Thanks to Ryan Pinto and David Cavlovic for supplying these photographs.
