Caption: TTC PCC 4538 (A8-class built new for the TTC in 1951 by CC&F) trundles westbound on St. Clair Avenue West past Silverthorn Avenue in the light snow, passing a line of small mom and pop stores common to most local neighbourhoods (selling paints, groceries, seafood, fashion, meats, tailor service, and prescription drugs). This view is looking east, with part of the CNR Newmarket Sub underpass visible in the distance near the coal dealer silos (about where Robert McMann shot an eastbound streetcar from here).
As the "newest" PCC cars in the fleet, the 1951-built 4500-4549 A8-class of streetcars would enjoy the most longevity out of any TTC PCC, outliving the secondhand cars, the early air-electrics (A1-A5 classes 4000-4299) and most of the older A6-A7 cars (4300-4499). A handful were even rebuilt for the Harbourfront LRT line of the early 90's, but all disposed of (except for two) after operating for a number of years on that line.
J. Bryce Lee photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.
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