Metropolitan line (Toronto)

Metropolitan radial line
(later Lake Simcoe line)
Metropolitan line on Yonge Street at Sherwood Avenue looking south (1912)
Overview
HeadquartersToronto
LocaleToronto
Dates of operation18851930
SuccessorNorth Yonge Railways
Technical
Track gauge1885-1895?:
4 ft 10+78 in (1,495 mm) Toronto gauge

1895?-1927:
4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

1927-1930:
4 ft 10+78 in (1,495 mm) Toronto gauge
Length77 km (48 mi)

The Metropolitan line in the Toronto area, operated by the Metropolitan Street Railway, started out as a local horsecar line and transformed itself into an electric radial line extending to Lake Simcoe, following an old stage coach route. In 1904, the railway was acquired by the Toronto and York Radial Railway (T&YRR) and became the T&YRR Metropolitan Division. In 1922, the City of Toronto acquired the T&YRR and contracted Ontario Hydro to manage the four T&YRR lines including the Metropolitan. In 1927, the TTC took over the operation of the Metropolitan Line to Sutton, and renamed it the Lake Simcoe line. In 1930, the TTC closed the Metropolitan Line but shortly reopened the portion between Glen Echo and Richmond Hill operating it as the North Yonge Railways until 1948.