The Peter Witts

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When the Toronto Transportation Commission inherited the public transportation network of the city in 1921, it inherited a bit of a mess. With the Toronto Suburban Railway, various radial routes and the separate systems of the Toronto Civic Railway serving areas the Toronto Railway Company refused to serve before, work was needed to amalgamate the several systems into something seamless. Worse still, the TRC had skimped during its last days on the job, and so the TTC was expected to dramatically expand and improve service and at the same time dealing with aging equipment and infrastructure.

Between April 1921 and early 1923, the TTC turned to the Canadian Car and Foundry of Montreal to provide new cars for its service needs. The design, originated by a commissioner of the Cleveland Street Railway, Peter Witt (hence the name), offered a front entrance, centre exit, “Pay as You Enter” car for 2 man operation inside a steel body. The TTC were to get a modern vehicle offering large passenger capacity and able to haul a trailer. A total of 575 cars were ordered in all (350 motors, 225 trailers), and several variations came with each. Of these, 50 (2800-2898) were ordered from the Ottawa Car Company and 50 were from the Preston Car Company (Brills 2580-2678).

The Peter Witts ranged in size from 47 feet (Small Witts) to 51 feet, 10 inches (Large Witts) to 52 feet, 3 1/4 inches (the Brill Large Witts), and the trailers came in two door and three door versions. The streetcars were eight and a half feet wide, and due to the TRC’s narrow devil strip (the space between two sets of tracks) tracks had to be relaid in order to provide proper clearance. No problem, as much of Toronto’s street trackage had to be relaid anyway, due to its poor condition.

The Peter Witts were the workhorses of the fleet until 1938, with the appearance of the Presidents Conference Committee car. On September 7, 1952, after York Township requested that the TTC replace the Small Witts with PCCs, the operation of pay-as-you-enter Witts during normal hours ceased and the Witts were largely confined to rush hour tripper service. The large, two-man Witts continued to operate on the Bay and Yonge lines, however, for another two years, at which point the Yonge subway opened. Witt trains were the base fleet of the Yonge Streetcar route, and of course, the model took a big hit when its showcase route, Yonge, was abandoned due to the opening of the Yonge subway. A month before the subway opened, the Yonge service was cut back to Eglinton Avenue, to prepare North Yonge for the new 97 Yonge trolley bus route. The morning of March 30 started out normally for the Witts, as they trundled past throngs of people viewing the opening ceremonies, but after 1:30 p.m., the trains started to disappear, as the subway took over.

After the subway opened, many Witt cars and their trailers were rolled into the newly constructed Harbour Yard, on the south side of Harbour Street, between York and Bay. The new yard opened for use on September 5, 1951, featuring six tracks and a capacity of 36 Witt trains. The yard made up for capacity lost at Eglinton carhouse due to subway related construction and, on March 30, 1954, stored all of the Yonge line’s Witt trains while they awaited their fates at the hands of the scrap merchants.

Even with the loss of the Yonge Line and the shrinking size of the streetcar fleet, Witts hung on tenatiously for another nine years. The trailers were now surplus and were disposed with, but the venerable Witts were not… at least, not until February 28, 1963. On that day, with the opening of the University Subway, streetcars were removed from Bay Street (the Dupont route). After that, the Witts made only a few more appearances on Toronto’s streets, scheduled as extras on the Bathurst, Fort and Kingston Road Tripper runs, to make up for car shortages until March 7, 1963. Bill Hood noted in the March 1963 UCRS Newsletter that car 2890 made run 83 on Bathurst on March 7th, and this is known as the last peak hour Witt car. The very last time the Witts were used was for the opening game of the International League Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Stadium on April 24, 1963.

Several Witts were retained as spares until January 1, 1965, after which point they were officially retired, except for 2766, which was withdrawn on July 18, 1965, following its “last” fan trip. Railfans thought that this was the end, but there was a reprieve. The TTC retained Small Witt 2766 and brought it back into service in 1973 as part of a special ‘Belt Line Tour Tram’. Unfortunately, despite a lot of initial interest, this service was discontinued in 1975 due to lack of ridership, and Small Witt 2766 returned to occasional charter duty, where it remains to this day.

Update: After a report was released recommending that the Witt and the two remaining PCCs on TTC property be donated to the Halton County Museum, the TTC Commissioners decided against the idea. Partial restoration of the Peter Witt car commenced and, although it is still not to be used for charter service, yet, it was able to operate under its own power for the TTC’s 80th Birthday parade of historic vehicles on September 6, 2001.

Witt Images

	Despite the signs, large Witt 2424 is on Adelaide Street, during a 1970s charter. Photo donated from the collection of Brad O’Brien.
	Large Witt 2424 on King Street. Photo donated from the collection of Brad O’Brien.
	Large Witt 2454 in Wychwood Carhouse in 1952. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Large Witt 2458 operating on Bay Service on Bay Street south of Union Station in 1953. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Another shot of Large Witt 2458 in Eglinton Carhouse, perhaps getting a bit of a wash-down. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt 2494 trundles northbound on the Bay route. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Large Witt 2508 pulls a trailer during a charter run to Exhibition Loop. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	During the last days of the Yonge line, Large Witt 2514 drops off passengers at Eglinton Carhouse. Service to Glen Echo ended one month before the Yonge Subway opened. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Large Witt 2516 runs southbound on Yonge Street. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Harbour Yard was built in the early 1950s as an extra place to store Yonge trailer trains. Located between York and Bay Streets just north of Queens Quay (note the Royal York Hotel in the background) it was the final resting place of a number of the Witt cars. This 1953 shot of 2518 was donated by Curt Frey from the collection of Julian Bernard.
	A Witt train led by 2542 heads south on Yonge Street during a bitter winter day. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt 2546 departs Glen Echo Loop during the last days of the Yonge Line. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt Train led by 2548 prepares to turn from Yonge onto Front. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Large Witt 2548 waits at Eglinton Carhouse to go on the Yonge line. It is 1954 and the subway will soon be opening. Note the trolley buses stored in the left hand side of this picture. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt Train led by Witt 2552 prepares to leave Eglinton Carhouse for service on the Yonge line. This shot is taken just weeks before the Yonge Subway opened. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt Train led by Witt 2574, done up for the ‘Last Car’ run of the Yonge Line, prepares to leave Eglinton Carhouse for service on March 30, 1954, the date of the opening of the Yonge Subway. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Large Witt 2578 proceeds south on Bay Street towards the Ferry Docks. Old City Hall (then the current City Hall) stands in the background. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt 2626 heads south on Bay through Toronto’s downtown. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt 2640 heads west on St Clair in 1953, where today the ramp to St. Clair West Station is now located. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt 2666 loops around Fleet Loop during a fan trip to celebrate the last of the Brill Witts. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	During the charter to celebrate the last of the Brill Witts, this shot was taken with Witt 2666 in Long Branch Loop. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Brill Witt 2668 is seen here at Long Branch loop on a fan charter. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Small Witt 2720 turns from Bedford Loop on the site of St. George Station. The bus terminal, under construction, can just be seen behind and on the streetcar’s right. Photo donated from the collection of Curt Frey.
	Small Witt 2736 operates on Queen Street westbound. Note the all-electric and air-electric PCCs behind it. Photo by Peter Lambert, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt 2748 pauses on King Street while running on the Kingston Road Tripper service. Its destination is Dufferin Loop. Photo by Peter Lambert, donated by Curt Frey.
	Ottawa Car Company Small Witt 2834 rests at Wychwood Carhouse in this 1958 scene. Photo by Peter Lambert, donated by Curt Frey.
	Small Witt 2852 (one of 50 built by the Ottawa Car Company) rests with comrade 2892 and others at Wychwood Carhouse in 1958. Photo by Peter Lambert, donated by Curt Frey.
	Small Witt 2894 operates in service on King Street through Parkdale. Photo donated from the Brad O’Brien collection.
	Small Witt 2894 during its tour tram days is seen here at Wychwood carhouse. Photo donated from the Brad O’Brien collection.
	At the Halton County Railway Museum, Small Witt 2894 poses while waiting for passengers. This autumn 1989 scene was shot by James Bow.
	Large Witt 2902 runs southbound at Yonge, passing under the Belt Line bridge. Today’s Davisville Yard is to the left of the photograph. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt 2914 operates in Yonge Service on Front, westbound towards Union Station. Front Street’s tracks are undergoing repair work, even though the subway will be opening in a year’s time. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Large Witt 2932 trundles east along Front Street. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Large Witt 2932 leads a trailer train down Avenue Road during the last Witt trailer-train charter. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt 2936 leads a train down Yonge towards Front in this 1954 scene. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt 2952 enters Glen Echo Loop. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt 2954 leads a trailer train through a downtown sidestreet during a temporary diversion caused by Yonge subway construction. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	A Witt Train led by Witt 2980 turns from Church Street onto Maitland on one of the diversions to the Yonge Streetcar service while the Yonge Subway is being built. The year is 1952. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt 2980 enters Glen Echo Loop during the last days of Yonge operation north of Eglinton Avenue. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	A Witt Train led by Witt 2998 runs along another downtown sidestreet during one of the diversions caused by Yonge Subway construction. The year is 1952. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt 3000 leads a trailer and a lot of Yonge streetcars during a bitter winter day in 1954. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	On one of the last days of Yonge Streetcar Service, Witt 3000 prepares to lead a Witt Train south from Eglinton Carhouse. Service to Glen Echo had already been abandoned, and the replacement trolley coaches can be seen just behind. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	A Witt Train led by Witt 3010 heads south on Yonge towards Lawton Loop, past the site of the Davisville Subway Yard, under construction at that time. The year is 1953. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt 3016 leads a train west along Front Street between Yonge and Bay. Photo by Julian Bernard, donated by Curt Frey.
	Witt 2766 was shot at Hillcrest, after the latest round of rehabilitation, on June 18, 2003, before it and 4500 and 4116 headed out to the King Edward Hotel’s 100th birthday celebration.
	Two of the HCRY’s Witts pass each other at the western entrance to the Museum in this Autumn 1989 shot. Picture by James Bow.

2766: The Last Peter Witt on TTC Property

	Witt 2766, signed for a training car run, is found by Joseph Testagrose at Townsley loop.
	Witt 2766 at High Park Loop. Photo donated from the Brad O’Brien collection.
	During its tour tram years, Witt 2766 was chartered often. Here, you see it at Earlscourt loop beside Flyer rebuild trolley bus 9321. Photo donated from the Brad O’Brien collection.
	Witt 2766 is the last Witt Car on TTC Property, used for charter service.
	A roof shot of Witt 2766 at Russell Carhouse. Photo by James Bow.
	This shot shows the inside of Witt 2766. Note the side-facing seats. The Witt cars were the last streetcars on the system to use these.
	By 2000, Witt 2766 was not in operating condition. Public pressure is preventing the TTC from donating this streetcar away, and the commission is looking into restoring the car.
	George Davidson captured this most recent shot of Witt Car 2766. She has been taken off of the streetcar tracks and is now in the basement of Davenport Garage.
	In August 2002, George Davidson captured this and the next three shots of Witt 2766 undergoing extensive rebuilding at Hillcrest this past July. Here, the body has been stripped down completely.
	The rear of Peter Witt 2766, stripped and on hoists.
	Side view, showing unpainted lower panelling and the still-painted window frames and top.
	Side view, closeup.
	The rehabilitation complete, Witt 2766 was shot at Hillcrest on June 18, 2003, before it and 4500 and 4116 headed out to the King Edward Hotel’s 100th birthday celebration.

Technical Specifications (Large Witt, except where noted):

Fleet List (Peter Witts):

2300-2498 - Large Witt (CC&F) (Even Numbers Only), Hauled Trailers
2500-2578 - Large Witt (CC&F) (Even Numbers Only), Hauled Trailers
2580-2678 - Large Witt (Canadian Brills) (Even Numbers Only), Hauled Trailers
2700-2798 - Small Witt (CC&F) (Even Numbers Only)
2800-2898 - Small Witt (Ottawa Car Company) (Even Numbers Only)
2900-3018 - Large Witt (CC&F) (Even Numbers Only), Hauled Trailers

Fleet List (Trailers)

2301-2419 - 2-door (CC&F) (Odd Numbers Only)
2701-3029 - 3-door (CC&F) (Odd Numbers Only)

Features

Seating: 58 (Large Witt), 51 (Small Witt), 60 (Trailer)
Normal service usage: 113 passengers - 67,100 lbs
‘Crush’ load capacity: 140 passengers - 71,150 lbs
Empty streetcar weight: 50,000 lbs
Minimum horizontal curve radius: 10,973 mm (36’0)
Minimum verticle curve radius - convex: 350 feet
Minimum verticle curve radius - concave: 700 feet
Motor rating: 4 x 50 HP one hour
Braking rate: 1.6 m/s/s (3.6 MPHPS) in service, (3.8 MPHPS) in emergency

Special thanks to John Bromley and Ray Corley for correcting the information on this web page.

References

Bromley, John F., and Jack May Fifty Years of Progressive Transit, Electric Railroaders’ Association, New York (New York), 1978.
Corley, Ray F., The Witt Car: Peter Witt Design, The Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto (Ontario), February 1988.
Partridge, Larry, Mind the Doors, Please, The Boston Mills Press, Erin ON, 1983.

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