January 4, 2008
Toronto Proud Of Link With Great Maritime Tragedy
Who knew there was a connection between the TTC and the Titanic, and not just that both are often associated with the words "transportation" and "disaster" (ba-dum-bum)? An exhibit at the Ontario Science Centre features four Toronto streetcar tickets salvaged from the world's most famous shipwreck by a 1987 expedition.
The tickets are believed to have been the property of Major Arthur Godfrey Peuchen, a wealthy Toronto socialite who was sailing home from England when the Titanic had its historic encounter with an iceberg. Peuchen survived the disaster, although he was reportedly vexed to the end of his days by the belief that his betrothed had been bedded by a plucky but doomed young American named Jack.
A ride on the "Toronto Railway" cost a nickel back in 1912, but would only take you as far east as the Don Valley, at the time believed to be the end of the earth.
The exhibition runs until March 16, and is worth seeing if only because it reminds us of a time when millionaire socialites still rode the streetcar.
Photo by nol on Flickr.
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This is brilliant, Patrick. When did you get so funny?
Some still consider it the end of the Earth.
Yep...very funny. Always leave 'em wanting more...
The Sun clarifies: "...what's a millionaire doing with 5-cent streetcar tickets? Well, Peuchen knew the owner of the Toronto Railway Company, the TTC's predecessor."
I am not going to name anyone, but I do know a local millionaire who does take the streetcar (alas, not regularly, but at least once a fortnight or so).
I have it on good authority that Conrad Black prefers the throne-like raised middle seat in the back of the TTC's hybrid buses.
Actually the Toronto Railway Company cars on Gerrard ran all the way to Greenwood, and the Queen cars ran to the TRC amusement park at Scarborough Beach so as usual, the articles get most of the historical facts wrong.
I didn't trust the papers either, but what I gathered from the TTC website and Wikipedia was that the Toronto Railway Company refused to service areas outside the 1894 city boundaries, so the Toronto Civic Railway Company was formed for that purpose. However, that was apparently in 1912, the same year as the Titanic sinking and I don't know if Major Peuchen could have arrived home and hopped on a Gerrard car or would have had to wait a few months. No?
I'd like to see a few more present-day millionaires take public transit, and set an example, instead of engaging in four-wheeled conspicuous consumption.