RT-1 Rail maintenance car (1909-date)

RT-2 Flat Car (1997-date)

RT-3 Overhead Maintenance Car (1922-date)

Photo donated by Jim Blair.

RT-4 - Platform Maintenance Car (1954-1974)

Before Tokyo Rose, the garbage train duties was handled by RT-4, a rebuilt ex-Witt 2528. This was just one of a number of ex streetcars which found new life working under the ground after the subway was built. When RT-10 was purchased from Japan in 1967, RT-4 was placed on standby duty, and scrapped a few years afterward. It was still listed on standby duty in 1975.

Photo donated by Curt Frey

RT-4 Track re-insulation car (1997-date)

RT-5 - The Tunnel grout car (1997-date)

Tunnel grout car photographs supplied by George Davidson

Click here for a video of RT-5 running through Yorkdale station.

RT-6 Vacuum cleaning car (1922-date)

RT-7 Rail Grinder (1954-1976)

This car, formerly Preston-built Toronto Civic Railway #53 (built in 1915) spent life on the TTC as a passenger car, a snow scraper, streetcar rail grinder W-27 and, finally subway rail grinder RT-7. It served on the subway until replaced by the PCC rail grinders in 1970 (seen behind RT-7, on the left of the picture), and was finally retired in 1976. It now resides at the Halton County Railway Museum.

This photo, taken at Greenwood yards in the early 1970s, was donated by Jim Blair.

RT-7 Diesel Locomotive (1997-date)

RT-8 Train of 13 rail delivery articulated bogies (1997-date)

RT-9 Works Services Car, (ex H1 5350) (-date)

RT-9 and the 2nd RT-10 - Work Service Cars
(formerly Garbage Train cars) (1997-date)

RT-9 and RT-10 took over from the Gloucester Garbage Train and continues to haul away the subway’s garbage. A photo essay of their life can be found by clicking here. RT-9 was burned on December 8, 2000 due to a fire that started on the car. Photo by Aaron Adel.

RT-10 - Tokyo Rose (1967-1999)

Tokyo Rose was the immediate predecessor to the Gloucester Garbage Train. A photo essay of its life can be found by clicking here. Photo by Brad O’Brien

RT-11 Non-Motored Car (2000-date)

RT-12 Electric Locomotive (1968-date)

RT-13 - Subway Crane Car (1968-date)

This subway crane car was built by Nippon Sharyo and acquired new in 1968, making it a contemporary of RT-10. Thanks to Thomas Robinson for this information.

RT-14 and RT-15 - The Subway Rail Grinders (1970-1989)

In 1970, PCCs 4446 and 4410 were converted into this train designed to smooth the rails of Toronto’s subway. They replaced two single-truck grinders in the form of RT-5 and RT-7. The two PCCs were coupled back to back and modified to allow users to access both cars from inside the train, as well as from the high-level platforms. They were replaced by more conventional equipment some time afterward and have since been scrapped.

The top photograph, by Ted Wickson, is actually a scan of a postcard by JBC Visuals. To learn where you can order this card or any of their wide selection of railfan-related postcards, write to them at Box 5736, Station A, Toronto, ON, M5W 1P2.

The bottom photograph is an original scan, taken by John Bromley at Davisville station, on May 26, 1974.

RT-14 and RT-15 Mark II - The Subway Wall Washers (powered units) (1988-1999)

These two Gloucesters were first numbered RT-36 and 37 and eventually renumbered RT-14 and RT-15 after the ex-PCC railgrinders were retired and scrapped. They were used as power units for a subway wall washer car before being retired in July 1999.

RT-14 and RT-15 Mark III - Snow Clearing Equipment (2000-date)

After the problematic ‘Storm of 99’ shut down most of the Toronto subway system, the TTC ordered two motorized snow blowers from ARVA in St. Thomas, ON. They arrived on TTC property in March 2000.

RT-16 - The Subway Wall Washer Car (unpowered unit) (1973-1999)

The unpowered wall washer that was set between RT-14 and RT-15 (Mark II) was also retired in July 1999 and crapped. The number was replaced by a self-propelled wall washer RT 16&17 mark II, built by ARVA in St. Thomas, ON.

RT-16&17 Tunnel Washer Train (1996-date)

In June 2009, Joe Dimech took this picture of TTC tunnel washer RT16 alongside an unidentified work train at Keele Yard, while heading westbound towards Dundas West station.

RT-18 - Diesel Hydraulic Locomotive (1977-date)

Click here for photos and a history of this unique vehicle.

RT-19 Crane Car (1980-date)

RT-20 Flat Car With Crane (1980-date)

RT-20 is a flat car/crane. It has a flat bed for carrying things and a diesel hydraulic crane, making it doubly useful at construction sites. The car was acquired new from the Japanese builder named Niigata in 1980. Photo by George Davidson.

RT-21 Flat Car (1980-date)

RT-22 Non-motored Flat Car (1973-date)

RT-22 is an non-motored flat car, formerly wall washer car RT-17, built by Nippon Sharyo and acquired by the TTC in 1973 and rebuilt in 1996. Photo by George Davidson.

RT-23 Non motored asbestos abatement car, ex H1 5391
(converted in 1984)

RT-26 Gauge Car (1980-date)

RT-27 Beam Transporter and Crane (1986-date)

RT-28 Flat Car with Crane (2000-date)

RT-28 is seen here with RT-19 and RT-55 (not pictured) working on the crossover at Warden station on September 15, 2007. Photo by Ross Wright.

RT-29 Flat Car (2001-date)

RT-30 Non-Motored Grinding Truck (1988-date)

RT-31 Non-Motored Grinding Truck (1988-date)

RT-32 Non-Motored Grinding Truck (1988-date)

RT-33 Non-Motored Grinding Truck (1988-date)

RT-38 & 39 - The Gloucester Garbage Cars (1991-1998)

RT-38 and RT-39 were old Gloucester cars which were renovated to replace Tokyo Rose. A photo essay of their life and death can be found by clicking here. Photo by George Davidson

RT-38 & 39 Ex-H1 Garbage Train
(formerly H1 5422 & 5423, converted 1997)

RT-40 Ballast Car (1989-date)

RT-41 - Tie Tamper Car

RT-41 is used to tamp ballast between the rails, and so can be seen on those sections of the TTC subway which still use wooden ties and ballast when those sections need maintenance. This vehicle was built by Plasser American and acquired new by the TTC in 1993. Thanks to Thomas Robinson for this information. Photo by George Davidson.

RT-42 Scaffold Car (1999-date)

RT-43 & 44 Asbestos abatement crew train
(Ex H1 5459-60; Converted 2000)

RT-45 & 46 Asbestos abatement garbage train
(Ex H1 5337-8; Converted 2000)

RT-47 Flat Car (1999-date)

RT-48 Motorized Snow Blower (2001-date)

RT-49 Motorized Snow Blower (2001-date)

RT-50 Non-Motorized Snow Blower (1999-date)

RT-51 Non-Motorized Snow Blower (1999-date)

RT-52 Non-Motorized Snow Blower (1999-date)

RT-53 Non-Motorized Snow Blower (1999-date)

RT-54 Flat Car (1973-date) (Formerly RT16)

RT-55 - Flat car with crane

This picture contains a shot of three TTC work cars: RT-55, RT-28 and RT-19, all lending assistance to TTC workers rebuilding the crossover to the west of Warden Station, on September 15, 2007. Ross Wright took this photograph.

RT-56 Vacuum Rodder Car (2005-date)

RT-56 Vacuum Rodder Car (2005-date)

RT-57 General Purpose Rail Flat Car

RT-58 Works Service Car (ex H4 5635)

RT-60 & 61 Works Service Train (ex H4 5594-5)

RT-62 & 63 Works Service Train (ex H4 5616-7)

RT-64 & 65 Works Service Train (ex H4 5594-5)

Work cars RT64 and 65 sit quietly at Davisville Yard. Photo by Greg Northcott.

RT-66 & 67 Works Service Train (ex H4 cars)

RT-68 & 69 Works Service Train (ex H4 5408-9)

RT-70 Flat Car (2005-date)

RT-72 Flat Car (Date?)

RT-72 pauses at Sheppard - Yonge Station before starting work for the night. Denis Wong shot this photo, just before the Sheppard Subway closed, early in the morning of April 29, 2010. Photo by Denis Wong.

5386-5387 Fibre Optics Test Train

Unnumbered - Tri-Mode Work Locomotive

LPC1 - Locomotive

ST-1 Centre-cab Diesel Locomotive

ST-2 Non-motored Crane and Rail Maintenance Car

ST-3 Non-powered Rail Grinding Truck

Non-powered rail grinding truck ST-3, stored off to the side behind the gatehouse at McCowan carhouse. Photo by James Bow.

ST-4 Non-Powered Snow Blower

Just behind the gatehouse of McCowan carhouse, non-powered snow blower car ST-4 is stored off to the side. Photo by James Bow.

ST-5 Non-Powered Power Rail Cleaner and De-icer

ST-6 Non-Powered Rail Grinding Trucks