I grew up in the Beaches. Main Street subway station is near and dear to my heart, as it was also the closest station that I used often.
Did you know that it's the only TTC subway station with the type of street in its official name? Kennedy Road station? Nope. Bay Street station? Nooo. Main Street is special. Street was added to avoid calling it Main station, as in the main (primary) station in Toronto.
It's funny. I grew up calling it Main station.
This subway station is considered a hub, meaning that it has at least two different modes of transportation. It has always had the 506 Carlton streetcar. It also has a number of bus routes.
My mom and I took the 506 streetcar to get to the Chinatown at Broadview and Gerrard Street East. It was cool doing grocery shopping on a Sunday, which was an exception back in the day. Most stores were closed. I also went to Chinese school in the neighbourhood and took Chinese classes in the summer on Leslie Street, just south of Gerrard. I have a lot of memories commuting on this route.
Main 64 was the bus that I took the most to get me down to Queen Street East. I'd then walk a few blocks to get home. This route used to be split into two: southbound to Queen and northbound to Eastdale. I can still hear my mom reminding me, "Look carefully and make sure you're taking the bus southbound!" Of course, on the rare occasion that we hopped on the wrong bus, you simply continued sitting there until the bus returned you to the station. It would then go southbound.
The downside is taking this bus on Sundays. It was super slow and I imagine that things haven't changed. I passed by this station on a Sunday and did not see the Main 64 bus. Figures!
I believe that my odd interest with numbers and bus routes started at this station. When you are waiting for your bus to arrive at the platform, there's nothing better to do than to figure out what bus routes do.
The lineup of bus routes hasn't changed since I was in high school:
- 20 Cliffside
- 23 Dawes
- 62 Mortimer
- 64 Main
- 87 Cosburn
- 113 Danforth
- 135 Gerrard
The last two routes were introduced during my high school years. It's nice that they are still alive and running.
The pale yellow background when you're waiting for the subway to come hasn't changed. I have memories of meeting friends to head downtown. My friend boarded at Kennedy, so I suggested that we meet by or in the first car going westbound. It worked well. Ah, memories!
This station has an elevator for accessibility needs. It's also helpful if you've got a large rolling suitcase that you are moving between the GO station nearby and this TTC station.
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