Rollsign Gallery - Toronto, Ontario

Rollsigns from Toronto, ON
Lansdowne Garage

This front linen rollsign was off of 1975 built GMC T6H-5307N #8051.
It has 40 exposures. It is shown on the sign to be version "L-25".
Exposures that are red, yellow and black are the original design. From
1985 on, the TTC used only black for regular service routes to save
money. The blue exposures represent overnight service routes on
their "Blue Night" network. Interesting notes about the sign: The "10
Bloor-Danforth" route was the predecessor to the Blue Night "300
Bloor-Danforth" route, both of which are on this sign. As well, 18 and
18A Caledonia were the predecessors to 18B and 18C Caledonia
respectively. Again, all of which are on this sign.
A YouTube video of this rollsign, and a photo of bus #8051 with this
sign installed while it was still in service, is seen below.

Historically, the TTC's former Lansdowne Garage operated all modes of surface vehicles: Streetcars, buses and
trolley coaches. This garage was located on the west side of Lansdowne Avenue at Paton Road, just above Bloor
Street West, in the west-central area of Toronto. Its routes primarily served that area, with some extending into
North York, Etobicoke and Mississauga. With the major service changes that occurred in 1996, the TTC elected
to close this garage, and its routes were split up between Queensway, Wilson and Arrow Road garages.

This "nearly matching" set of linen rollsigns are both version "L-30" The
front sign has "41B", "58", and "ONTARIO PLACE", where the side sign
does not. These were likely the last linen version for Lansdowne Garage.
Changes over previous versions are having the Route 32 exposures
added, where previously, they were only on Eglinton garage signs, and the
addition of "Bay 6G" at the beginning. Route 6 was a trolley coach route.

Because some of the print is very narrow, the image of the side sign (right) is
two times larger than other scale drawings or photographs to enhance detail.

Side Sign (right):

TORONTO TRANSIT COMMISSION
P.O. # PC14396
MULTISCREEN # 7663B
READING LIST: JAN. 17, 1995
LANSDOWNE GARAGE - SIDE
PART # Q61670B

MANUFACTURED BY
MULTISCREEN INT'L INC.

MADE IN CANADA

This side linen rollsign has 39 exposures. Through research, it
was found that this version was created around July 21, 1985. It is
shown on the sign to be version "L-24". Points about this sign:
First, Route 66 was later transferred to Queensway Garage.
Second, this sign does not have any blue "Blue Night" routes.
Route 10 Bloor-Danforth was the night route at the time. The image
of this sign is two times larger than normal to enhance detail.

Toronto Transit Commission's 1975 built GMC T6H-5307N #8051,
still in service and featuring the front rollsign shown on the far left,
is seen in the yard at Lansdowne Garage, February 14, 1996, just
months before Lansdowne Garage was permanently closed.

This set of front and side mylar rollsigns were received in "mint condition" having never
been installed in a bus. They're both dated January 17, 1995, and they each have 26
exposures. Unofficially, they are listed as version "L-31". The significant point of note is
that only routes 35 and 168 were original diesel bus routes. All the rest were former
trolley coach routes, although some branches did not exist when the trolley coaches
operated (routes 47B, 47C, 63B and 63C). These rollsigns were printed over a year
and a half after the trolley coach system in Toronto was shut down for good.

The sign tags from both these signs are shown below. Because
some of the print is very narrow, the image of the side sign (right)
is two times larger than the other scale drawings to enhance detail.

Front Sign (above):

TORONTO TRANSIT COMMISSION
P.O. # PC14397
MULTISCREEN # 7663A
READING LIST: JAN. 17, 1995
LANSDOWNE GARAGE - FRONT
PART # Q61670A

MANUFACTURED BY
MULTISCREEN INT L INC.

MADE IN CANADA