Hillcrest Complex

File:Hillcrest Park Toronto.jpg

In 1922, the TTC purchased the Hillcrest Race Track to use its land for the new shop complex to replace smaller facilities inherited from the Toronto Railway Company. The TTC opened Hillcrest Complex on March 13, 1924, replacing the TRC's carshops, motor shops and stores building located at or near at Front and Frederick Streets. On June 9, the School of Instruction moved into Hillcrest.{{rp|238}}{{rp|111,115,116}}

During World War II, the Hillcrest Complex participated in the war effort by producing parts for military equipment.

On July 30, 1953, Toronto's first two subway cars arrived at the Hillcrest Complex. However, all subsequent deliveries of G-series subway cars were made directly to the Davisville Yard.

{{cite book

| url = http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?R=553511

| title = The TTC Story : The First Seventy-five Years

| author = Mike Filey

| author-link = Mike Filey

| publisher = Toronto : Dundurn Press

| pages = 63, 85

| year = 1996

| isbn = 155002244X

}}

In the 1980s, the TTC purchased land on the west side of the complex to construct the W.E.P. Duncan Building and H.C. Patten Building.

In 2008 and 2020, track replacement on Bathurst Street temporarily severed the St. Clair streetcar line from the rest of the streetcar system. During those construction periods, Hillcrest was used to store streetcars for route 512 St. Clair.

File:Hillcrest Complex 1960 plan 7060897099.jpg

Canadian Pacific Railway's mid-town rail line lies on the south side of the Hillcrest Complex, and the complex once had a network of standard gauge tracks and sidings for receiving railway cars. On the south and west sides of the complex, standard gauge tracks were intermixed with broader TTC gauge tracks creating four-rail dual gauge where the standard and TTC gauge tracks overlapped. (See map.)

After its opening in 1924, the Hillcrest Complex received railway shipments of coal, gravel and sand for use throughout the system. Earlier, the TTC had used the Hanson Yard (inherited form the Toronto Civic Railways) for such receipts.{{rp|51}}

From 1940 to the 1970s, the TTC maintained standard-gauge switcher Y-18 to shunt railway cars around the complex. The TTC converted Y-18 from former dump car W-15 which the TTC had built in 1922; Y-18 was essentially a motorized flat car on two bogies with a cab at one end. Since there was no electrical overhead wires over the standard and dual-gauge tracks, Y-18 had no overhead electrical pickup device; it took power from an electrical extension cord.{{cite web |url=https://transit.toronto.on.ca/streetcar/4510.shtml |title=The TTC's Surface Rail Work Car Fleet |publisher=Transit Toronto |first=James |last=Bow |date=June 25, 2015 |access-date=November 11, 2018 }}

Some time after the retirement of Y-18, standard gauge track disappeared from the Hillcrest Complex. However, in 2014, a railway siding was constructed on the south side of the complex to receive deliveries of new Flexity Outlook streetcars, as the 30-metre length of the new cars made transport by road from the factory impractical. At the east end of the siding, there is a ramp with TTC gauge tracks where another streetcar can pull a newly delivered Flexity streetcar from the flat car and shunt to the Harvey Shops for inspection.{{cite web |url=https://stevemunro.ca/2014/11/30/at-last-4404-arrives-at-hillcrest/ |title=At Last! 4404 Arrives |publisher=Steve Munro |first=Steve |last=Munro |date=November 30, 2014 |access-date=November 11, 2018 }}{{cite web |url=https://torontolife.com/city/transportation/new-ttc-streetcar-arrival-toronto/ |title=How a brand-new TTC streetcar arrives in Toronto |publisher=Toronto Life |first=Chris |last=Bateman |date=June 23, 2015 |access-date=December 26, 2018 }} On January 24, 2020, the delivery of the last of 204 Flexity Outlook streetcars took place here, with streetcar 4603 arriving by rail from Bombardier's Thunder Bay plant.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/01/25/as-torontos-last-new-streetcar-arrives-heres-a-look-back-at-the-long-bumpy-road-to-a-new-fleet.html |title=As Toronto’s last new streetcar arrives, here’s a look back at the long, bumpy road to a new fleet |newspaper=Toronto Star |first=Ben |last=Spurr |date=January 25, 2020 |access-date=January 25, 2020}}

File:TTC LRV 4401 Roof Details.JPG 4401 streetcar beside the Harvey Shops]]

Named for D. W. Harvey and opened in 1923, the Harvey Shops handle the heavy maintenance of buses as well as high-floor streetcars such as the CLRV and ALRV. The shops occupy a space of {{convert|250000|sqft}} and is divided into sections for trades such as upholstery, blacksmith and carpentry. There is also a paint shop.{{cite web |url= https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/12/30/ttc_rebuilds_its_fleet_one_bus_at_a_time.html |title=TTC rebuilds its fleet one bus at a time |author= Tess Kalinowski |date=December 30, 2013 |work=News / City Hall |publisher=Toronto Star |quote=This year, the TTC will rebuild 180 buses; next year, 240. |access-date=2015-11-13}}{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/05/13/ttc-staff-put-in-careful-hour-keeping-an-aging-fleet-stay-on-track.html |title=TTC staff 'perform miracles' keeping aging streetcar fleet on track |newspaper=Toronto Star |author=Ben Spurr |date=13 May 2016 |access-date=2016-05-13}}

The building contains a transfer table to access over 50 service bays with about 25 bays on each side of the moving table. The transfer table and most of the bays are only {{convert|15|m|ft}} long. So, when ALRV streetcars with a length of {{convert|23|m|ft}} were introduced, an addition was built on the easternmost tracks with direct access from outdoors to allow the ALRV cars to drive through the old building crossing the transfer table into a longer wing on the northeast side of the building where they are maintained.

The new Flexity streetcars cannot be maintained at the Harvey Shops because of their length of {{convert|30|m|ft}} and because the shops are oriented to service the equipment under the high floors of older streetcars rather than the roof-top equipment of the low-floor streetcars. Thus, the Leslie Barns will be handling heavy maintenance for the Flexity cars.{{cite web | url = http://stevemunro.ca/2011/02/09/the-ashbridge-carhouse-debate/ | title = The Ashbridge Carhouse Debate | author = Steve Munro | author-link = Steve Munro | date = February 9, 2011 | access-date = 2015-11-11 }}

The Harvey Shops does truck and motor overhauls for streetcar and subway equipment, and it will supplement the Leslie Barns in doing such overhauls for Flexity Outlook streetcars.

The Harvey Shops can rebuild buses and older streetcars by stripping the vehicles to their frames, assessing corrosion and repairing or replacing parts as needed. Parts such as, for example, a motor may be rebuilt from more than one used motor. Some parts are manufactured within the building's various shops.

Outside the Harvey Shops, the TTC stores vehicles uneconomical or impractical to repair to eventually strip them for parts to be used in other vehicles.

Built in 1985, and named for W. E. P. Duncan, the Duncan shop is the TTC's heavy bus maintenance facility, including rebuilds and major power plant work, to meet the needs of the bus operating divisions. The building also houses the Materials and Procurement Department.{{cite web |url=https://www.ttc.ca/TTC_Business/Materials_and_procurement/About_Us/Contact_Us.jsp |title=Contact Us |publisher=Toronto Transit Commission |quote=All purchases of goods and services for the TTC are processed through the TTC’s Materials and Procurement Department. Hillcrest Complex, 1138 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario. |access-date=2015-11-13}}

The Duncan Building replaced an obsolete bus maintenance garage in Parkdale, Toronto.

The revenue operations building{{cite web |url=https://www.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2009/July_9_2009/Other/Revenue_Operations_R.pdf |title=REVENUE OPERATIONS RELOCATION |date=9 July 2009 |publisher=Toronto Transit Commission |quote=It has been determined that for operational issues the H. C. Patten building can no longer sustain the functions for which it was originally designed. |access-date=2015-11-13}} is located at the northwest corner of the site at 835 Davenport Road.{{cite web |url=http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-25246.pdf |title=260 Bartley Drive – Acquisition for TTC |author=Chief Corporate Officer |date=22 October 2009 |publisher=City of Toronto |quote=Revenue Operations staff of the TTC currently occupy the premises at the H.C. Patten building municipally known as 835 Davenport Road consisting of approximately 37,000 sq.ft. |access-date=2015-11-13}} The building is named for H. C. Patten, General Manager of the Toronto Transportation Commission from 1939 until 1952.

Opened in the 1980s, the building was designed with security in mind to handle fare media such cash, tickets, tokens, passes and transfers. Because of security, the building has few windows.

The administrative and employment offices are in this building, which is located at the main entrance to the complex. It was named for John G. Inglis in 1991 to honour the man who pioneered the PCC streetcar.{{cite web |url= http://www.acotoronto.ca/tobuildings_more.php?search_fd3=5660 |title= J.G. Inglis Building |work= TOBuilt DATABASE |publisher= Architectural Conservancy Ontario |access-date=2015-11-13}}

The Transit Control Centre is named for David L. Gunn,{{cite web |url= http://lunchwithmary.com/2012/07/17/a-tour-of-ttc-transit-control-with-ceo-andy-byford-and-transit-control-centre-manager-sean-fuller/ |title=A tour of TTC Transit Control with CEO Andy Byford and Transit Control Centre manager Sean Fuller |date=July 17, 2012 |work=Lunch with Mary |quote=D.L. Gunn building, the home of TTC Transit Control. |access-date=2015-11-13}} Chief General Manager of the TTC from 1995 to 1999.

The TTC's Transit Control Centre is located in the three storey Gunn Building at the northeastern corner of the Hillcrest Complex. The facility has {{convert|3,800|sqm|sqft|abbr=on}} of space containing mechanical, electrical, and computer equipment, offices and a training area. In addition to subway/SRT train control, the facility monitors traction power, security, fire safety, communications, ventilation and mechanical systems. It monitors all TTC operations including surface routes.

Davenport Garage is a two storey building located at the north edge of the Hillcrest Complex with road access directly from Davenport Road to its second floor. When opened in 1925, it was the main garage for all gasoline-powered TTC vehicles. Later it also served Gray Coach vehicles. On the lower level, there was a repair shop with 10 repair pits and an area for storing parts and materials for bus maintenance. On the upper level, the garage had 4 inspection pits and a wash rack. The garage closed in 1993.{{cite web |url=http://transit.toronto.on.ca/bus/8310.shtml |title=Davenport Garage |publisher=Transit Toronto |author=Godfrey Mallion & Robert Lubinski |date=June 25, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-13 }}

In 2019, the TTC opened a new Streetcar Way Building to support rail bending functions{{rp|3}} which involve bending pieces of rail for curves in streetcar track. The building has {{convert|2700|sqm|abbr=on}} of floor space. Outside the building, there is {{convert|4000|sqm|abbr=on}} of space for the pre-assembly of special track work (switches, crossings and connecting curves) and the storage of equipment and materials. Streetcar Way employees formerly located at the Roncesvalles and Russell carhouses were transferred to the new building. The consolidation of way functions at Hillcrest would result in a savings of $1.8 million per year.{{cite web |url=http://ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2016/November_30/Reports/14_P.A.%20_Hillcrest_Complex_-_Streetcar_Way_Facility_Replacem.pdf |title=Hillcrest Complex - Streetcar Way Facility Replacement |publisher=Toronto Transit Commission |date=November 30, 2016 |access-date=2016-12-06}}{{cite web |url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/24-hours-toronto/20170804/281578060748654 |title=Federal money helps keep the TTC on modernization track |first=Andy |last=Byford |date=August 4, 2017 |access-date=August 4, 2017 }}

Others buildings include Support Services Building and Subway Operations Building.

{{As of|2018}}, the TTC was contemplating several functional changes to the Hillcrest Complex. Changes considered included:

• The TTC has proposed setting up a carhouse at the Hillcrest Complex to serve the 512 St. Clair streetcar route.
• The TTC may repurpose the Davenport Garage for its Training and Vehicle Engineering staff, or to set up a transit museum.
• If the TTC acquires electric buses, then the TTC may maintain them at the Hillcrest Complex drawing on the expertise of existing electrical staff.
• With the conversion of fare media from tickets and tokens to the electronic Presto fare card, the Patten Building's usefulness is in decline. Thus, the TTC is studying alternate uses for the building. However, the TTC still needs to allow cash fares.

{{External media |float=left |title=Hillcrest Complex (circa 2026) |image1=[https://stevemunro.ca/2023/08/10/ttc-hillcrest-changes-for-new-streetcars/#jp-carousel-55025 Proposed carhouse track plan] }}

In 2020, the TTC proposed setting up a carhouse at the Hillcrest Complex, to store and service 25 streetcars; the project had a then-estimated cost of $100 million. The TTC would like to have a fleet of 264 streetcars by 2024, but currently has space at the three existing carhouses for only 239. A carhouse at the Hillcrest Complex would serve the nearby 512 St. Clair streetcar route, and would eliminate about {{convert|6|mi|km|0|order=flip}} of non-revenue travel to get to the route from other carhouses. The new carhouse might also be used for 511 Bathurst streetcars. The carhouse is to be constructed in two phases:{{cite web |url=https://cdn.ttc.ca/-/media/Project/TTC/DevProto/Images/Home/Construction-Notices/Hillcrest-Complex-Upgrades-OverviewFebruary-11-2025.pdf |title=Hillcrest Complex{{snd}}Upgrades Project Overview{{snd}}Community Presentation{{snd}}February 2025 |publisher=Toronto Transit Commission |date=February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310202434/https://cdn.ttc.ca/-/media/Project/TTC/DevProto/Images/Home/Construction-Notices/Hillcrest-Complex-Upgrades-OverviewFebruary-11-2025.pdf | archive-date=March 10, 2025 }}{{rp|8}}

• Phase 1 would see the installation of new tracks in the yard, overhead wires, an anti-squeal lubrication system and a temporary pre-serving area plus the replacement of tracks within the Harvey Shops.
• Phase 2 would see the installation of a new sanding system and a permanent pre-servicing area.

Construction on the new carhouse officially started in March 2025, and is expected to be completed in 5 years.{{cite web |url=https://www.ttc.ca/news/2025/March/TTC-begins-construction-at-Hillcrest-for-storage-of-new-streetcars |title=TTC begins construction at Hillcrest for storage of new streetcars |publisher=Toronto Transit Commission |date=2025-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250306164429/https://www.ttc.ca/news/2025/March/TTC-begins-construction-at-Hillcrest-for-storage-of-new-streetcars | archive-date=2025-03-06 |url-status=live }}

• William McBrien Building, TTC headquarters at Davisville station
• St. Clair Carhouse, a former carhouse located near the Hillcrest Complex

{{Reflist

|refs=

{{cite book |url = https://archive.org/details/torontosketches70000file/page/28

|title = 50 Years of Progressive Transit

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|pages = [https://archive.org/details/torontosketches70000file/page/28 28]

|year = 1973

|access-date = 2016-08-31

|isbn = 9781550024487

|quote = Chapter 4 - The Renaissance: Cars and Shops

}}

{{cite book

| title = The Toronto Civic Railways

| author = J. William Hood

| publisher = Upper Canada Railway Society

| year = 1986

| isbn = 0-921429-07-X

}}

{{cite book |title=Street Railways of Toronto: 1861–1921 |last=Pursley |first=Louis H. |year=1958 |publisher=Interurbans Press |location=Los Angeles}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/repurposing-ttcs-hillcrest-complex/ |title=Repurposing TTC’s Hillcrest Complex |publisher=Railway Age |first=John |last=Thompson |date=August 9, 2018 |access-date=August 11, 2018 }}

{{cite web |url=http://ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2018/July_27/Reports/11_Hillcrest_Complex_Property_Study.pdf |title=Hillcrest Complex – Property Study

|publisher=Toronto Transit Commission |date=July 10, 2018 |access-date=July 13, 2018 }}

{{cite web |url=http://www.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2016/November_30/Reports/13_Hillcrest_Complex_Property_Study.pdf |title=Hillcrest Complex – Property Study

|publisher=Toronto Transit Commission |date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=July 13, 2018 }}

{{cite web |url=https://stevemunro.ca/2020/06/08/ttc-service-changes-effective-sunday-june-21-2020/ |title=TTC Service Changes Effective Sunday, June 21, 2020 |publisher=Steve Munro |first=Steve |last=Munro |date=June 8, 2020 |access-date=July 6, 2020 }}

{{cite web |url=https://stevemunro.ca/2008/05/10/service-changes-effective-sunday-may-11-2008/ |title=Service Changes Effective Sunday, May 11, 2008 (Updated) |publisher=Steve Munro |first=Steve |last=Munro |date=May 10, 2008 |access-date=July 6, 2020 }}

{{cite web |url=http://ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2020/October_22/Reports/5_TTC_Fleet_Procurement_Strategy_and_Plan.pdf |title=TTC Fleet Procurement Strategy and Plan |publisher=Toronto Transit Commission |date=October 22, 2020 |access-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019101440/http://ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2020/October_22/Reports/5_TTC_Fleet_Procurement_Strategy_and_Plan.pdf | archive-date=October 19, 2020 }}

}}

{{commons category-inline|Hillcrest Complex}}

• [http://transit.toronto.on.ca/streetcar/4304.shtml The Hillcrest Complex] - Article by James Bow on the history of the Hillcrest Complex.
• [https://swanboatsteve.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/hillcrestcomplexsiteplan.jpg Hillcrest Complex Site Plan]
• {{YouTube|CYP8KWX1v0c|CLRV 4002 on the Transfer Table at Hillcrest Shops}}
• [https://www.ttc.ca/about-the-ttc/projects-and-plans/Hillcrest-Complex-Upgrades Hillcrest Complex Upgrades]: TTC project page

{{Toronto Transit Commission}}

Category:Toronto Transit Commission