Hill Coach Route History

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HILL COACH Route History *Last updated October 24th, 2001*
By Peter Coulman

September 14th, 1925

First special fare coach route from Lonsdale & Oriole Parkway via west on Lonsdale, south on Forest Hill Road, west on Heath Street, south on Warren Road, Clarendon, south on Poplar Plains Road, west on Dupont Street, south on St. George Street, east on Hoskins, south on Queen's Park Crescent West and University Avenue, east on Osgoode and Albert Street and south on Bay Street, looping counterclockwise via east on Temperance Street, north on Yonge Street and west on Adelaide Street. North loop operates counterclockwise via east on Heath and north on Oriole to Lonsdale. No evening, Sunday or holiday service.

H I L L R O U T E
Monday to Saturday, 12 hours/day

January 4th, 1926

North loop extended to run via Heath, Oriole and Lonsdale to Warren Road.

June 18th to October 3rd, 1926

Service discontinued for the summer.

November 1st, 1926

Evening service added, looping clockwise after 7:00 p.m. through downtown via east on Albert, south on Yonge and west on Adelaide to Bay in order to accommodate theatre traffic.

H I L L R O U T E
Monday to Friday, 16 hrs/day Saturday, 12 hours/day

April 12th, 1927

Evening service discontinued after 7:00 p.m. for the summer. (No record found of evening service ever being resumed.)

HILL ROUTE	YONGE (illegible)
Monday to Saturday, 12 hours/day

December 3rd, 1931

Route extended north from Lonsdale via north on Oriole Parkway, west on Eglinton Avenue and north on Avenue Road to wye at Glenview. Some morning rush hour coaches continue to turn at Lonsdale.

September 16th, 1936

New Twin Coach buses in operation from this date.

October 1st, 1936

Rush hour short turn service extended from Lonsdale to Eglinton & Avenue Road.

November 14th, 1936

Operated through new Glenview-Avenue Road Loop (later renamed Otter Loop), instead of wyeing in the intersection.

April 1st, 1938

Operated from new Eglinton Garage, rather than Davenport Garage.

April 14th, 1941

Operating as part of regular schedule, express coaches run non-stop both directions between Lonsdale and Queens Park.

Gray Coach received a total of 35 Ford transits in 1941-42. Although seating just 29 passengers, any new buses were appreciated during the busy war years.

Toronto Transit Commission photo

October 6, 1941

Coaches rerouted across Adelaide to University to relieve traffic congestion on Bay Street.

October 14th, 1941

Coaches rerouted southbound via Russell Hill Road and Boulton Drive to relive congestion on Poplar Plains Road.

June 6th, 1942

Saturday service discontinued after 2:00 p.m. due to stores closing at 1:00 p.m.

HILL ROUTE	YONGE (illegible)
Monday to Friday, 12 hours/day Saturday, 8 hours/day

July 2nd, 1942

No midday service due to wartime restrictions.

HILL ROUTE	YONGE (illegible)
Monday to Saturday, rush hours

December 1st, 1942

Regular coach stops designated and painted.

December 11, 1944

Normal hours of service resume.

HILL ROUTE	YONGE (illegible)
Monday to Friday, 12 hours/day Saturday, 8 hours/day

March 10th, 1947

Morning rush-hour trippers loop counterclockwise via west on Eglinton, south on Avenue Road and east on Collegeview to Oriole Parkway, then south over the regular route. Express service routed from Otter Loop via Avenue Road, Oxton, Oriole Parkway, Lonsdale, Avenue Road and Queens Park to regular route.

May 12th, 1947

Short turn afternoon rush-hour service started, looping from University via east on Osgoode and Albert, south on James, west on Queen, north on Bay and west on Albert and Osgoode.

December 16th, 1947

Adelaide Street Terminal opens. Short turn loop via Queen and James discontinued, and all coaches routed to and from Adelaide Street Terminal via University, Osgoode, Bay, Temperance, Yonge and Adelaide.

September 24th to November 12th, 1947

Due to widening of Queens Park Crescent, northbound service diverted to west side of circle. Southbound coaches diverted from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily via St. George and College Streets.

April 2nd, 1951

Smoking privileges, which had formerly been allowed in last three rows, abolished.

June 14h, 1952

Last day of Saturday service.

HILL ROUTE	YONGE (illegible)
Monday to Friday, 12 hours/day

November 16th, 1953

Change of downtown routing to relieve traffic congestion on Bay Street. Coaches now run across Adelaide between University and the Adelaide Street Terminal.