Fixing the TTC? A Look Inside Harvey Shops

This is part 3 in a series of profiles on places we visited during this past weekend's Doors Open Toronto

Once the site of a horse racing track, the Harvey Shops at the TTC's Hillcrest Complex has been where TTC buses and streetcars have gone to be rebuilt and maintained since 1925. The shop is named after the founder of the hamburger chain D.W. Harvey, the TTC's General Manager from 1924 to 1938.

On this visit, I was allowed to wander somewhat freely around the shop which is divided into areas such as the woodmill, upholstery section, body and paint (above), motor repair and blacksmith and welding. During the week, about 350 highly trained employees are stationed here.

The TTC likes statistics and doesn't shy away from letting us know how much work they do, so here's some of the more interesting facts I picked up:

* The upholstery section repairs more than 22,000 passenger seats a year, mostly due to vandalism and wear and tear. This costs the TTC $1 million a year.
* More than 2,400 streetcar, bus or subway motors were repaired here during 2006.
* All the streetcars and buses are subject to mid-life rebuild programs to help ensure they maintain a high level of reliability and safety.
* About 100 streetcars have work done to their wheels, axles and suspension systems each year.

More photos:

Harvey Shops is located at 1138 Bathurst Street between Dupont and Davenport