"This River I Step In, Is not The River I Stand in". Perhaps the most appropriate statement to describe fluid state of electric traction in North America, it was a phrase affixed to the "Riverside Bridge" over the Don River by Eldon Garnet as part of an art installation called "Time: And a Clock" in 1996. On the sunny afternoon of Monday, August 16, 2010.CLRV 4005 holds down the route 504 run to Dundas West Station via King Street as it crosses the the bridge.
Toronto Transit Commission 4005 (CLRV-L1, SIG, 1977) was one of the original six vehicles constructed in Switzerland that would serve as the demonstrators and models for the 190 CLRVs and 62 ALRVs that were constructed by Bombardier and predecessor companies. A solid design that lasted over forty years, the cars resembled the PCCs that they replaced in many way, but with some key updates. Ultimately, the difficulty in obtaining spare parts, lack of air conditioning, and the boarding those with disabilities would prove some of the key factors in the search for a replacement.
The arrival the Flexity class from Bombardier has been not without complication, but ultimately enough arrived on the property that TTC announced Sunday, December 29, 2019 would be the last day for CLRVs, to be in service, with ALRVs having been retired on September 2, 2019. As Toronto residents ultimately accepted the CLRVs replacing their beloved "Red Rockets" (PCCs), one day the Felxitys will find their place in the history and hearts of the city as well.
