Scarborough's decaying transit line.

So to recite what I did yesterday, I went across from the city's west end into the east end, to ride on Scarborough's decaying transit line, also known as the Toronto Transit Commission's "Line 3" or as it was formerly known as "Scarborough RT". In my younger years, I would take this line often during the summer, as my mom liked visiting a goodwill distribution centre that used to be across from one of the station. Side note: I don't believe that distribution centre even exists now due to goodwill fading away from existence in Toronto a couple of years ago. Anyhow, revising this line made me realise how much in decay it's currently in, and how the vehicles are exceedingly in disrepair. Loud trains, to point I believe it could make you deaf if you take it in a daily basis, structure in horrible shape with leaks and crack scattered everywhere and pigeons inhabiting every station along the line.

This line has had problems since the day it opened. The biggest factor of this was due to the line originally supposed to be a Light Rail line using the same streetcar models that were used in Toronto's downtown. But the provincial government insisted the TTC to use their model of rail for the once new line as a test ground. The model used, (UTDC ICTS Mark 1), proved to be successful... in Vancouver, and I guess somewhat in Detroit. Meanwhile for Toronto, the Mark 1 were derailing at a loop at one of the terminuses, since the curve was meant for streetcars, and not this new model. The line was closed for 6 months if I recall correctly, 3 years after it opened. Sometime in the 2000s, the Mark II was introduced for SkyTrain (Vancouver's transit system), Toronto had planned to get Mark IIs for line 3, however, it was impossible for the Mark II to fit in any of the curves on that line. The only solution we had to fix this was to renovate the line entirely, once again, which ended up being too costly. Since it ended up becoming impossible to get new rolling stock, the TTC has been overusing the Mark Is, to the point (as of now) having rust holes as the size of a loonie.

Fortunately, the city has decided to extend the Bloor-Danforth line to replace line 3, however that'll take 7 years, (or more knowing construction when it comes to public transit), leading the daily riders to rely on buses for seven years, as the line is slated to close next year. It isn't going to be a pretty sight once these riders are moved onto buses.

Though, despite it's flaws, it's surely a hunk of junk I'll miss once it is gone. From riding the Mark Is to admiring the structures of it's six stations. For it being practically a somewhat major part of my childhood, I really cannot be mad at it.

Here's a picture I took of a Mark I:

And here are some videos of Line 3 and it's Mark Is I also took:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaNENoL3CADvhbb-3Zz_PX8pyRfJAPKlG