Town of Georgina
People loved to "Ride the Radials"
By Jeanne Hopkins
Radial lines were so named because they were to "radiate" in all directions from Ontario's cities. These lines were the dream of Sir Adam Beck, founder of Ontario Hydro. Beck unveiled a plan in 1915 to build these railways - to be run on electricity. Railways, until this time, operated on steam or horse power.
One of the first radial lines was built north from Toronto to Jackson's Point and Sutton. After the railway line opened the area to recreation and cottages the Metropolitan Railway Company made plans to extend its service northward. There were many railway companies operating within the city, many changing hands frequently and many even running on different gauge tracks.
The Yonge Street radial line was launched in March 1877 when grocery magnate Robert Jaffray persuaded the government to incorporate his company. Further agreements allowed for the franchise to extend to the north; on April 16, 1891, exclusive rights were given for 65 years for the end of the Yonge line at Hogg's Hollow to Lake Simcoe.
The line had reached York Mills (Hogg's Hollow) by 1890 and, in 1896, was extended to Richmond Hill. Since the Toronto Street Railway System was permitted to electrify lines only within the city limits, another company was formed to build a line north. William Mackenzie and Donald Mann formed the Toronto and York Radial Company, with the intent of setting up lines outside the city, including Mimico and Scarborough.
Opposition to the line was quieted when the Newmarket Era reported that, with the coming of the line, business in Richmond Hill had increased over 35per cent.
Farmers imagined that the redial would "bring the bums to steal produce"; one farmer stood guard each night with a loaded gun. But, when the radial service reached Newmarket in 1899, farmers realised the coming of the railway was really a blessing.
To help sell their service the company established a park at Bond Lake, complete with boats, pavilions, a merry-go-round, and refreshment stands. A steam generating plant, like that at York Mills, was built at Bond Lake.
The Lake Simcoe line paralleled Yonge Street to a point south of Newmarket, where it swung eastward, arching around Queensville, then west to Keswick. From Orchard Beach, the line followed the lake shore (far enough back to permit cottages to be built on the shore) on to Jackson's Point.
The Point welcomed its first radial cars on June 1, 1907; a year and a half later, on January 1, 1909, the line was opened to Sutton.
In 1906, a station was built on the corner of High Street, and Dalton Road. Known as the Ontario Hydro building, it was used until 1931 as a waiting room for the radials.
The building was purchased by Shea's Real Estate in 1972 and is now an office for Family Trust Real Estate.
Around this time, a branch line was built from Bond Lake to Schomberg. The railway's first cars were long and built like railcoaches. They were black or dark-green, double ended, and extremely heavy, travelling at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. With the constant swaying and dipping, passengers felt like they were on a roller coaster. The frequent blowing of whistles added to the excitement of "riding the radials".
Many Torontonians came to the south shores of Lake Simcoe to spend weekends and holidays at the parks, hotels or cottages.
In 1922, a new North Toronto terminal was built (City Limits) and the T.T.C. introduced the motor bus. Inner city radials gradually disappeared. Buses on Yonge Street were strongly objected to; the Gray Coach service between Toronto and Jackson's Point (in 1930) lasting only four months. Radial service was again in service on the route north from Richmond Hill to Lake Simcoe.
On October 10, 1948, the radial service was permanently discontinued. Toronto and York Radial lines were dismantled in stages; first to go was the branch line then the rails between Jackson's Point and Newmarket. Finally the rail lines south from Richmond Hill were dismantled, leaving only fond memories of "riding the radials".
Source: Georgina Advocate - Our History December 1992. Reproduced with permission