Random Toronto Subway facts

So I run a YouTube channel called Metro6 that looks at the history of transit in Toronto and I thought I would share some interesting things I have learned over my time doing it. Most people are aware of things like Lower Bay, Lower Queen, the roughed in Etobicoke RT platform at Kipling etc. so I wont touch on those.Line 1When planning the original section of the subway (Eglinton – Union) the open air section of the line was originally planned to extend all the way to Wellesley Station (Bloor and Wellesley themselves would likely have still been underground though). This part of the line was buried entirely to reduce property acquisitions and ease fears about property values.The northern extension of the line from Eglinton was originally planned to go to Steeles and included stations at Glencairn Avenue (or Blythwood Road) and Glen Echo Road. These stations would be cut as a cost saving measure. The extension to Steeles was cut as the TTC felt that neither Vaughan or Markham had adequate water/sewer infrastructure to handle the development that would follow at the time.York Mills Station was originally planned to be built elevated above the Don Valley, with the line crossing the valley at first on a short bridge, but this was later changed to a high level viaduct. Local opposition fearing loss of property values forced the TTC to put this section of the line underground and York Mills Station under the Don River. This as you guessed increased the cost and complexity of the project. 5 people would also die building York Mills Station.The segment of the line between St.Clair and Summerhill used to be exposed. It was decked over however in the 70’s. You can still tell that the area was once open if you look out the window and notice how your in a tunnel but it looks nothing like the rest of the network.There were many people who pushed for the Spadina Extension of the line to be built under either Bathurst Street or Dufferin Street.After the Spadina Expressway was cancelled, the subway extension wasn’t immediately impacted as it was still planned to run in the open to St.Clair West Station. Due to local opposition however this section of the line between St.Clair West and Eglinton West was buried. As a result a proposed station at Glen Cedar Road was cut.Spadina Station was originally supposed to be called Lowther and wasn’t supposed to have a connection to its Line 2 counter part. The long corridor connecting the two Spadina’s was tact on later in planning.The TTC looked at giving Downsview Station an east-west alignment to make an easier transfer and possible interlining with the proposed Sheppard Subway. This however never occurred as the subway would have needed to pass under Downsview Airport which was still an Air force base at the time. The RCAF would veto this alignment as it passed to close to a munitions facility and so Downsview (now Sheppard West) was given its current North-South alignment.Line 2Line 2 was originally planned to be built in 2 phases. Phase 1 was to run from St.George to Greenwood, while phase 2 would see the line extended at both ends to Woodbine and Keele. The Province would pitch in money to get these extensions built as part of Phase 1. They would pitch in even more money later to extend the line to Warden and Islington.Islington and Royal York weren’t part of the original extension plan. At first stations were planned for Prince Edward Drive and Montgomery Road to book end the Kingsway Shopping District. The TTC would revise this plan though and move these stations to there current locations at Royal York and Islington as these roads were far more important.Both Keele and Woodbine have closed off areas that used to lead to now long gone Streetcar Loops. In the case of Keele there are abandoned moving walkways that would have taken passengers from the platforms to the streetcar loop. At Woodbine there is an abandoned hallway that would have done the same; it is now a storage area.Donlands Station was underpinned as part of its construction. The TTC had believed and had early plans for the Downtown Relief Line to connect here. Pape Station would eventually become the preferred choice for an interchange with the DRL, it however was never underpinned.The line crosses the Rosedale Ravine between Castle Frank and Sherbourne. The bridge it crosses used to have skylights to let natural light in.The TTC would have liked for the extension to Kennedy to have been built at-grade, however local opposition and the many rail spurs from the CN GECO subdivision forced the TTC to put this extension underground. While this is speculation on my part, I do wonder if there would have been a station built at Birchmount had this extension been built at grade.Early in planning Spadina Station was to be called Walmer, Christie was to be called Willowvale, and Dundas West was to be called Vincent.Line 3You can still see the original streetcar platform under the modern one at Kennedy Station.Kennedy Station used to have 2 tracks and the RT would go around the loop. (This one is a more commonly known thing but I thought I would include it anyway).Line 4Sheppard Station was constructed with a roughed in centre platform if ridership ever got high enough at the station to need trains opening doors on both sides.The Sheppard Line crosses a branch of the Don River immediately east of Leslie Station although you don’t get to see this as the bridge is completely enclosed (https://ift.tt/fyMYXbH). via /r/toronto https://ift.tt/rkX6h7p