LAYING

TRACKS FOR A
MODERN CITY:
SUBWAYS IN
TORONTO
Ronika Darvishi
 The construction of
the subway system
began in the late
1940s and continued
until the early 1950s
 Painting depicting the
construction of the
subway, taken from the
Baldwin Collection of
Canadiana, 1949
 View of Dupont Street, looking west from A northward view toward Chaplin Looking north on Yonge Street's west
Lansdowne Avenue, showing subway Crescent reveals the bustling side toward Eglinton Avenue, this
construction under C.N.R. tracks. This activity at Davisville Yards during photograph showcases the ongoing
image captures the sheer scale and eff ort subway construction, highlighting construction of the Yonge Street
of the early subway work. subway, with the T.T.C. carhouse visible
the transformation of the area.
to the left.
Yonge Street Subway, Davisville Yards, Yonge Street Subway, Davisville Yards, under
during construction, Toronto, Ontario, construction, showing Yonge Street, south of
Chaplin Crescent at right, 1953
1953

We can see the rapid developments taking

place
The opening ceremony of the subway system
happened
on March 30th, 1954, marking a historical milestone.
The
system opened the day after on March 31st, 1954.

The first two pictures from the top depict the

ceremony
from T.T.C., Yonge Street subway, opening ceremonies
outside Davisville station, Toronto. The third picture is
the same ceremony witnessed looking west from
Yonge
street.
 In 1956, construction
began anew in order to
expand the subway
system and have it reach
more areas. This brought
rapid transit to previously
unconnected
neighborhood, marking a
critical step in Toronto’s
growth.
 Davenport Road, looking southwest Dundas St. West, looking
from Earlscourt Park, Caledonia Park
north from east of Royal York
Dundas St. West, looking west Road at right, showing construction
Rd., showing temporary road
from west of Royal York Road., of subway under C.N.R tracks.
during construction of Dundas
during construction of Dundas Toronto, 22/7/1957 The massive
undertaking refl ects the city's St. subway under Royal York
St. subway under Royal York
ambition to expand its transit RD, 1956
Road, 1956
network.
 The system was
advancing rapidly. That
is not to say there were
no issues during
construction. Many Used in an article from the
Tornto Star, claiming that

homes had to be this house may halt the

subway as it can’t be
shored up or torn down
destroyed to pave the yet, 23/7,1964

way for the

construction.
 The subway was used as a regular mode
of transport, accomadatig rush hours and
large numbers of people seeking comute.
 Rapid transit
during rush hours
quickly became a
problem due to the
overcrowding, as
witnessed by the
crowd at Bloor St.
Many would agree
the problems
persists today as
well.
 In 1969, the
subway began
expanding to
North York and
Finch Ave. These
photgraphs
capture the
construction
The subway Burrowing northward
extension burrows
north, 19/2/1969
process, a from Eglinton Ave,
19/2/1969
testament to
Toronto’s evolving
infrastructure.
Subway music had
become a common
and popular
attraction from
commuters,
14/7/1970
Bayefsky, Aba “Yonge Street Subway, during construction” Toronto Public Library
Archives, 1949, https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/275384/yonge-street-
subway-during-construction?
ctx=fd767b48a33343041747e40a0603aa195fbf127a&idx=2
Salmon, James Victor “Dupont St., looking west from west of Lansdowne Ave.,
during construction of subway under C.N.R. tracks.” Toronto Public Library Archives,
1951, https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/352336/dupont-st-looking-west-from-
west-of-lansdowne-avenue-duri?
ctx=fd767b48a33343041747e40a0603aa195fbf127a&idx=6

Salmon, James Victor “Yonge Street Subway, Davisville Yards, looking north to
Chaplin Crescent during construction.” Toronto Public Library Archives, 1952
https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/349563/yonge-street-subway-davisville-
yards-looking-north-to-chap?
ctx=fd767b48a33343041747e40a0603aa195fbf127a&idx=9
Salmon, James Victor “Yonge St. Subway, Eglinton Station, looking north on west side
of Yonge St., to Eglinton Avenue during construction, showing T.T.C. carhouse at left.”
Toronto Public Library Archives, 1952
https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/349562/yonge-street-subway-eglinton-station-
looking-north-on-westctx=fd767b48a33343041747e40a0603aa195fbf127a&idx=10

Salmon, James Victor “Yonge Street Subway, Davisville Yards, during construction,
Toronto, Ontario” Toronto Public Library Archives, 1953
https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/349730/yonge-street-subway-davisville-yards-
during-construction?ctx=fd767b48a33343041747e40a0603aa195fbf127a&idx=18

Salmon, James Victor “Yonge St. Subway, Davisville Yards, under construction, showing
Yonge St., south of Chaplin Crescent at right.” Toronto Public Library Archives, 1953
https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/349729/yonge-street-subway-davisville-yards-under-
construction-s?ctx=fd767b48a33343041747e40a0603aa195fbf127a&idx=19
Salmon, James Victor “T.T.C., Yonge St. subway; opening ceremonies outside
Davisville station.” Toronto Public Library Archives, 1954
https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/349981/ttc-yonge-street-subway-opening-
ceremonies-outside-davi?
ctx=f29e8caea8085f5105702feb832fc5c69ea2e08f&idx=36
Salmon, James Victor “T.T.C., Yonge St. subway; opening ceremonies outside
Davisville station.” Toronto Public Library Archives, 1954
https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/349977/ttc-yonge-street-subway-opening-
ceremonies-outside-davi?
ctx=f29e8caea8085f5105702feb832fc5c69ea2e08f&idx=37
Salmon, James Victor “T.T.C., Yonge St. subway; opening ceremonies outside
Davisville station, looking west from Yonge St.” Toronto Public Library Archives,
1954, https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/349973/ttc-yonge-street-subway-
opening-ceremonies-outside-davi?
ctx=f29e8caea8085f5105702feb832fc5c69ea2e08f&idx=39
Salmon, James Victor “Dundas St. West, looking west from west of Royal York Rd.,
during construction of Dundas St. subway under Royal York Rd.” Toronto Public Library
Archives, 1956 https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/349843/dundas-st-west-looking-
west-from-west-of-royal-york-road?
ctx=b21b188f0ef35c80ddcd7efca6c2ee43c727175c&idx=48
Salmon, James Victor “Dundas St. West, looking north from east of Royal York Rd.,
showing temporary road during construction of Dundas St. subway under Royal York Rd.”
Toronto Public Library Archives, 1956
https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/349842/dundas-street-west-looking-north-from-e?
ctx=b21b188f0ef35c80ddcd7efca6c2ee43c727175c&idx=49
Salmon, James Victor “Davenport Rd., looking southwest from Earlscourt Park, Caledonia
Park Rd. at right, showing construction of subway under C.N.R tracks. Toronto” Toronto
Public Library Archives, 22/7/1957
https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/305203/davenport-road-looking-southwest-from-
earlscourt-park-cale?ctx=b21b188f0ef35c80ddcd7efca6c2ee43c727175c&idx=50
Roworth, Eddy “Emmerson ave. house may halt subway. Can't be shored up; torn down;
expropriated yet” Toronto Public Library Archives, 23/7/1964
https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/236235/emmerson-ave-house-may-halt-subway-
cant-be-shored-up-tor?ctx=b21b188f0ef35c80ddcd7efca6c2ee43c727175c&idx=59

Roworth, Eddy “First west-bound train pulling into Woodbine Station. It was already two
minutes late before first passengers could get on” Toronto Public Library Archives,
26/1/1966 https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/235926/first-westbound-train-pulling-
into-woodbine-station?ctx=2a1168ee7f490cab42fb982f90df5d3f84b75576&idx=81

Darrell, Dick “Rapid transit is one of the many problems the new Metro Council has to
face” Toronto Public Library Archives, 7/9/1966
https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/235930/rapid-transit-is-one-of-the-many-
problems-the-new-metro-coun?
ctx=2a1168ee7f490cab42fb982f90df5d3f84b75576&idx=83
Geo, Mario “Rush-hour crowd at the bloor st” Toronto Public Library Archives,
19/10/1966 https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/235931/rushhour-crowd-at-the-
bloor-st?ctx=2a1168ee7f490cab42fb982f90df5d3f84b75576&idx=84

Spermo, Boris “The subway extension burrows north” Toronto Public Library
Archives, 19/2/1969 https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/235965/the-subway-
extension-burrows-north?
ctx=d236250631d682637de975e0d95e7a500a6ddc58&idx=104
Spermo, Boris |Burrowing northward from Eglington Ave.” Toronto Public Library
Archives, 19/2/1969 https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/235968/burrowing-
northward-from-eglinton-ave?
ctx=d236250631d682637de975e0d95e7a500a6ddc58&idx=106
Olsen, Bob “Subway Elvis Mike McTaggart plays a song in Yonge-Bloor subway station,
which 16-year-old Grade 11 Etobicoke student says is where the people are.” Toronto
Public Library Archives, 14/7/1970
https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/290654/subway-elvis-mike-mctaggart-plays-a-
song-in-yongebloor-subw?
ctx=d236250631d682637de975e0d95e7a500a6ddc58&idx=118