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The Toronto & York Radial Railway

The Toronto & York Radial Railway Company (T&YRR) was formed in 1898 as a subsidiary to the Toronto Railway Company by William Mackenzie, a railway magnet who as well controlled the Canadian Northern Railway and the street car systems of both Toronto and Winnipeg, to facilitate the existence of four disconnected radial lines purchased by Mackenzie in the Toronto area. Each of these four lines, however, had its own identifiable background prior to their amalgamation into one entity. The following is a breakdown of each separate company.

Metropolitan Street Railway Company

Location: The Metropolitan Railway is located in central Ontario, extending from the northern reaches of Toronto, along the Yonge Street corridor north to Jacksons Point and Sutton at Lake Simcoe.

History: Incorporated in March 1877 to construct street railways in Toronto and surrounding municipalities, the Metropolitan Street Railway Company of Toronto (MSR) was initially constructed as a horse operated system north along Yonge Street from the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks in Yorkdale just north of Bloor Street, having reached Eglinton Avenue by January 1885. Operations south of that point were conducted by the local Toronto Street Railway system. By September 1890, the entire route had been electrified and was extended north to the hamlet of York Mills by 1892. In the next several years, rapid expansion of the line took place as it reached Richmond Hill in November 1896 and Aurora and Newmarket in 1899. In addition, powers were granted to the company for expansion to Lake Simcoe, Schomberg and Markham. For the most part, the line was constructed to the side of the existing Yonge Street right-of-way, serving many of the businesses and residents along the heavily populated corridor. The trains operated on a frequent basis, in particular in the city, and local freight business formed a good portion of revenues in making connections with several steam lines encountered. Given the busyness of Yonge Street, however, vehicle progress along the line tended to be slow, especially in the winter time and at peak traffic hours.

The line was purchased in August 1904 by the Mackenzie interests and became the Metropolitan Division of the recently formed T&YRR. Mackenzie immediately began planning an extension for the railway north from Newmarket, a high speed line that would be constructed on its own private right-of-way. By June 1907, the new route was open to Jacksons Point on the shores of Lake Simcoe while by January 1909, the line had been completed an additional two more miles southeast to Sutton, its final terminus. Powers had also been granted to construct track to any point in York and Simcoe Counties, and to Shelbourne, Whitby and Oshawa. On the southern end of the line, however, operations were cut back to Farnham Avenue just south of St. Clair Avenue as a result of a lost battle with the City of Toronto, a situation tied in with Mackenzie's ownership of the streetcar system. With the extension to Lake Simcoe, the railway developed a very profitable summer tourist trade by transporting those folks seeking some respite from the heat and traffic congestion of the city to the cool clean waters of the lake. In addition, a popular park was developed at Bond Lake near Oak Ridges that included a bathing complex and small amusement park.

Up until the 1920's, the line remained very profitable, primarily because of city commuters and summer traffic. In August 1922, ownership of the MSR was transferred to the City of Toronto with the lapsing of Mackenzie's transit lease. Accordingly, all operations that took place within the city proper (from Deloraine Avenue south) was assigned to the newly created Toronto Transportation Commission. All operations north of that point were contracted out to Ontario Hydro with the new name Hydro-Electric Railways, Toronto & York Division being adopted. With the change in ownership came much needed physical and maintenance improvements to the line. Unfortunately, things did not go well for the Hydro group and the system began to lose substantial amounts of money. In January 1927, the city was forced to take back the line at which point it was decided to alter the gauge of the tracks in order to allow for a full interchange of vehicles between the city and radial railway. Loses, however, continued to mount and the TTC proposed in 1929 to abandon the line. The move, however, was opposed by municipalities served by the route, delaying the inevitable until March 1930 when all operations ceased.

With the loss of service, several of the most affected communities joined their resources in an attempt to reinitiate movement of trains on the line. Not all municipalities could agree on the terms, however, and service was recommenced in July 1930 only for that portion of the track from Richmond Hill south to Toronto city limits. The remainder north was soon dismantled and sold for scrap. The rejuvenated line, known as the North Yonge Railways, operated until October 1948 when all operations were finally suspended and the rails removed. The new venture had done well, in particular during the years of World War II, and as a result of not being saddled with the less profitable northern components. With the competition provided by the automobile, however, it was only a matter of time before the trains were replaced by buses.

Approximate Milage: Pending.

Current Status: The entire route was abandoned as of March 1930. Several months after, however, service was resumed on that portion of track from Toronto north to Richmond Hill. This service lasted until October 1948. Few traces remain of the right of way, aside from certain small portions north of Newmarket. The majority has been destroyed be successive Yonge Street road widenings.

Principle Stations: Yorkville, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Newmarket, Queensville, Keswick, Jacksons Point and Sutton.

Remaining Stations: There are five remaining railway stations left from the former Metropolitan Division. They are as follows:
1. Keswick: In location on Radial Road as a legal office.
2. Queensville Road: Moved nearby to property on Queensville Sideroad as a private residence.
3. Sutton: In location at the corner of Dalton and High Streets as a real estate office.
4. Willow Beach: In location on Metro Road east of the 6th Concession as a private residence.
5. Winches: Moved to Georgina Historical Park as a display building.

The Schomberg & Aurora Railway

Location: The Schomberg & Aurora Railway is located in central Ontario, extending between the rural communities of Oak Ridges (just south of Aurora) and Schomberg.

History: Chartered in 1896 by a local Schomberg businessman to construct a railway from Schomberg to a point at or near the community of Aurora, the Schomberg & Aurora Railway (S&AR) was an oddity in that it contemplated a steam operation connecting with a radial line. Construction began in July 1899 from the Bond Lake/Oak Ridges area, just south of Aurora, and was opened for traffic in August 1902. Two years later, the entire route was purchased by the Mackenzie interests and absorbed as a branch of the Metropolitan Division of the T&YRR. It was not until 1916, however, that the line was electrified, thus allowing for a full interchange of cars and other equipment. Revenue from the route was drawn from a mixture of passenger and freight operations. Unfortunately, traffic along the S&AR was poor, resulting in the elimination of service in June 1927. The residents of Schomberg complained but to no avail and the tracks were removed shortly thereafter.

Approximate Milage: 22.5 miles.

Current Status: The line was abandoned as of June 1927. Few traces remain of the former right-of-way.

Principle Stations: Oak Ridges and Schomberg.

Remaining Stations: There is one remaining station, that being the Schomberg building located a 368 Main Street as a private residence.

Toronto & Mimico Railway & Light Company

Location: The Toronto & Mimico Railway & Light Company was located in central Ontario, extending from the western reaches of Toronto along the Lake Ontario coast line to Port Credit.

History: The Toronto & Mimico Railway & Light Company (T&MRC) was incorporated in September 1890 as a suburban route to serve commuters in York and Etobicoke Townships. Proposed to extend along the Lake Shore Road from Sunnyside Park west towards Long Branch, the first segment from Sunnyside at Queen Street to the Humber River was opened in 1892 with an extension completed to Mimico Creek the next year. At this point, the company was purchased by the Mackenzie interests and absorbed within the Toronto Railway Company as a component of that system. Construction then commenced on an extension to Long Branch, opened in September 1893. By 1895, the railway had reached Etobicoke Creek and was becoming popular during the summer months with picnickers and other excursionists. In 1904, the line was transferred to the holdings of the Toronto & York Radial Railway Company as the Mimico Division. Not long after, power was granted to the company to build as far west as Hamilton.

For the most part, the line ran along the side of Lake Shore Road, requiring a reduced speed given the volume of traffic and the number of cross streets associated with the road. Notwithstanding such, the T&MRC continued to grow, reaching Port Credit in 1906 and conducting survey work for further expansion to Oakville the next year. As with the its sister lines, the company was acquired by the City of Toronto with operation transferred to Ontario Hydro in 1922. As this arrangement proved unsatisfactory, the line was brought back under city control in January 1927 at which point the gauge was changed to match that of the streetcar system and the line double tracked. By 1928, the line had been fully integrated into the city system utilizing city cars. The three mile segment from Long Branch to Port Credit was operated as a separate trolley route until 1935 when it was abandoned.

Approximate Milage: Pending.

Current Status: The route outside city limites has been abandoned since 1935.

Principle Stations: Mimico, Long Branch and Port Credit.

Remaining Stations: There are no remaining stations left from the days of the Toronto & Mimico Railway & Light Company.

Toronto & Scarboro Electric Railway, Light & Power Company

Location: The line is located in central Ontario, extending from the eastern reaches of Toronto into Scarborough.

History: The Toronto & Scarboro Electric Railway, Light & Power Company (T&SER) was first incorporated in August 1892 to construct an electric railway line along Kingston Road east to Scarborough. Construction of the route began immediately with the first section, from Queen Street and Coxwell Avenue to Victoria Road, being open in 1893. By 1901, the railway had been extended to a point known as Halfway House (Midland Avenue) while, in 1905, the line finally reached its goal of Scarborough Township (Markham Road). The end of the line was finally established in 1906 when the railway was extended to West Hill near Lawrence Avenue. During the summer months, the line was popular with travellers heading towards Victoria Park and other areas along the lakeshore. The railway was absorbed into the Toronto Railway Company in March 1895 and then became part of the Toronto & York Radial Railway Company in 1904 as the Scarboro Division. When the city purchased the line in 1922, operation was granted to Ontario Hydro. As this proved to be an unsatisfactory situation, the city took back operation in January 1927, upgraded the property and extended the route out to Birchmont. As a result of decreasing rider ship, however, the line was abandoned outside of city limits in June 1936.

Approximate Milage: Pending.

Current Status: The line was abandoned beyond city limites in 1936.

Principle Stations: Victoria Park and Scarborough.

Remaining Stations: There are no remaining stations left along the line.

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