Toronto Gauge: The TTC's Unique Distance Between Rails

Toronto's streetcar and subway tracks are set farther apart than the standard gauge used by most railroads. What's the story? Well, it goes back to the earliest days of streetcars in Toronto, so let's take a trip through history and find out! We'll also find out why the Scarborough RT and the new LRT lines don't use Toronto gauge.

00:00 Introduction
02:18 Williams Omnibus Bus Line (1849)
02:58 Toronto Street Railway (1861)
05:22 Toronto Railway Company (1891)
06:09 Toronto Civic Railways (1912)
07:20 Toronto Transportation Commission (1921)
09:18 Toronto Gauge Origin Stories
11:12 Scarborough RT (RIP)

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#Toronto #TTC #History #Transit #Streetcars #Subways

[MrCyclist]

I just love hearing about the history of Toronto that I live.

[mohammedabdulsaboor]

That explains how RT trains were bought by Detroit. I had this question running thru out the video and then you said they were standard system.. great 👍🏻

[andrewhotston]

Thank you for an informative video. I've been a railfan for nearly sixty years, but I'd never heard of Toronto gauge until today. But I live in the UK and have never visited Toronto.

[markryan]

Awesome - thanks so much for creating this great slice of history.

[aria]

well researched and presented as always. thank you for your content.

[nickboers]

Your confidence in your narrations is improving Steve! 👍

[GoldenSlumber]

Good job Steve. I would add more labels like you did at Kennedy Station for all locations you record just to help viewers know where you’re set up. A beneficial improvement IMO.

[guy]

Such a cool insight into the history of Toronto!!

[dontown-lbke]

I was born in 1950 in Oshawa & remember riding streetcars in Ottawa. It's a shame they got rid of streetcars in 1957 in both Ottawa & Vancouver. When I was in Australia in 1987, I noticed there was triple-gauge track in Peterborough, South Australia Broad, standard & narrow (i.e. 4 rails). Being a "train-a-holic" I have traveled over 250, 000 km by rail since 1955 including 51x on "The Canadian" dome train. Thanks for the explaining the Toronto gauge. Cheers from Vancouver.

[MSJ_raptor]

This video, and others would be great for school classes for kids.

[calabrees]

thank you again for another entertaining and educational video!!

[waynewong]

The premier of Ontario was Bill Davis who insisted on the now defunct Scarbrough LRT. At the time I was thinking this was a big mistake but not extending the subway line. Fast forward to today and they decommissioned the LRT to build a NEW subway extension costing billions of dollars.

[deeg]

Always enjoy your video's for the insight due to great research and a willingness to share it like you do. So even you 1:39 get a pass for a rare pause and stumble trying to remember every detail. (and having the character not to edit it out) Keep up the great work.

[sylviamacdonald]

Great 👍🏻 video love the content and history

[emilieo]

Can you do a video on the Junctions prohibition?

[whophd]

Good video! Audio quality excellent. This is so close to being a great video, just an hour of editing. Pop in some eye-candy, or a photo of an item being talked about, every time the sentence changes. Thankfully B-roll is easy, and everybody loves watching that.

[avalons]

Love these videos! Also love that you don't edit out any mistakes for the namesake of your channel!, lol

[fireworkmuffins]

TIL: why its called Muddy York Brewing.

[Richard-mss]

You sure have a SWELL!!! locomotive T-shirt 🚂, plus i am enjoying ALL!!! your films as well . So Long! - 7/26/2024 🤠

[stuew]

Hey I found info why TTC Gauge because Ttc didnt want CN & CPR ride on Streetcars tracks area Queen Quays .