Leslie Barns

In previous years, the Toronto Transit Commission has opened the doors to one of its several maintenance yards, such as Greenwood Yards, Russell Carhouse and Hillcrest Shops .

This year, as part of Doors Open, the TTC's brand new Leslie Barns were opened to the public to show where (eventually) 123 new Bombardier Flexity streetcars will be housed. By now, there should have been over 70 plying Toronto's streets. Production delays with the builder Bombardier has meant that only 20 are in the Commission's possession. One of these is being used for training purposes (4401), while the newest arrivals, cars 4420 and 4421 are undergoing testing. After several years of disrupting the neighbourhood surrounding the Barns, it gave the community an insight into what the source of their headaches and hopefully a source of pride for the entire city. That is if Bombardier manages to finally deliver the entire fleet.

Photos taken near Leslie Street and Lake Shore Boulevard East in Toronto, Ontario on May 28, 2016.

Doors Open 2014 - Russell Carhouse

Photos taken at the TTC Russell Carhouse on Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario on May 24, 2014.

Greenwood Shops

Heading indoors

In The Paint...shop

Dude, where's my wheels?

Doors Not Yet Open

You are (across the street from) here

Hehehe....Beaver

Photos taken at the Greenwood Shops during Doors Open 2009, Toronto, Ontario, on Saturday, May 23, 2009

Return To Lower Bay Station

As part of this year's Doors Open, the TTC let the public pay a visit (in earnest this time) to the Lower Bay subway station to see what only film and maintenance crews have been able to see for the past 40 years. To be frank, it wasn't as exciting as I'd anticipated, but the displays, old brochures and video footage of some of the movies filmed down there made for an informative half-hour or so.

Probably the most interesting thing about the station was the state of disrepair the "Bay-Yorkville" signs had become and thus, that is the focus of this post.

Would it be bad punmanship to call this a "Bay Window"?

This was one of the better looking signs on the platform

For those days when the station is in a New York state of sign

I don't normally hang out at the "Y"....

Damaged signs weren't only underground, as evidenced by the Bellair Street exit.

Photos taken Saturday, May 26, 2007 at (or above) Lower Bay Station, Toronto, Ontario.