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Toronto's Radial Railways

Electric railway service on routes radiating from Toronto began in 1889. Within 20 years, the Toronto and York Radial Railway Company operated lines north on Yonge Street to Sutton, with a branch to Schomberg; from the east end of Toronto to West Hill; and from Sunnyside to Port Credit. In 1917, the Toronto Suburban Railway Company completed its line from west Toronto to Guelph; it also had a route to Woodbridge. These companies operated about 115 miles of trackage. Because they failed to reach downtown Toronto, the radials fell easy prey to through inter-urban highway bus service after 1925. Most services were discontinued in the 1930's. The last, from Toronto to Richmond Hill, was abandoned in 1948.

Location

Near a relaid section of the Guelph electric railway line, at the Halton County Radial Railway Museum, Regional Road 1 or Guelph Line, about 13.5 km north of Exit 312 off Highway 401 - just south of Rockwood

Region: Greater Toronto Area

County/District: Regional Municipality of Halton

Municipality: Town of Milton

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