M series (Toronto subway)

M-series
An M-series train at the Greenwood Subway Yard
Manufacturer	Montreal Locomotive Works
Built at	Montreal, Quebec
Constructed	1961–1962
Entered service	1962
Scrapped	1999
Number built	36
Number in service	None
Number preserved	2 (owned by private museum)
Number scrapped	34
Formation	2 car mated pairs (operated as 3 pair (6 car) trains)
Fleet numbers	5300–5335
Capacity	83 (formerly 84) seated
Operators	Toronto Transit Commission
Lines served	Yonge–University–Spadina line Bloor–Danforth line
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminum
Car length	23 m (75 ft 6 in)
Width	3.14 m (10 ft 4 in)
Height	3.65 m (12 ft 0 in)
Doors	8 sets (4 sets per side) per car
Maximum speed	88 km/h (55 mph)
Weight	27,200 kg (60,000 lb)
Traction system	DC Traction Motors
Power output	120 hp (89 kW)
Auxiliaries	None (?)
Power supply	600 V DC
Electric system(s)	Third rail
Current collector(s)	Contact shoe
Braking system(s)	Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co. digital electro-pneumatic braking and electro-dynamic rheostatic service brake
Track gauge	1495 – TTC Gauge

The M-series rapid transit cars were a Toronto subway car model built by Montreal Locomotive Works in Montreal, Quebec between 1961 and 1962.

History

By 1960 the Toronto Transit Commission was preparing to expand its subway system to include the University line. The TTC wanted subway cars with a larger 75-foot (22.86 m) design and also wished to expand upon some of the experimental features in the existing G-Series cars.

A total of only 36 M-series cars were built. As the subway expanded and more vehicles were necessary the TTC turned to Hawker Siddeley to build the next series of subway cars.

Design

The TTC performed testing at St. Clair and Union stations with a 75 foot test vehicle known as the Duncan Dragon. Built at the Duncan Shops by Len Bardsley and the D&D Equipment, the test car consisted of two trucks with three panels and was designed to test the size of train that could successfully navigate the tunnels. A steel girder with railings allowed workers to walk and ride the car during tests.

After specifications for the new cars were finalized, Alco's Montreal Locomotive Works was contracted to build the new cars, dubbed "M1". The cars are historically notable as the first Canadian-built subway cars and, at the time of their construction, were the longest subway cars in the world.

All subsequent TTC cars have followed the size and length specifications of the M-series (though the Toronto Rocket deviates from the 2 car married pair formation) and influenced several other transit authorities to examine the use of longer cars.

Retirement

Upon receipt of the T1 subway trains, the M1 trains were decommissioned and scrapped in 1999, with 2 cars given to the Halton County Radial Railway museum for preservation.

Gallery

• 
  The interior of an M-series train. Note the distinctive blue and cream colour scheme
• 
  An M-series train in service on the Bloor–Danforth line

External links

• M-series cars