When I lived in central Toronto, I relied on the “Red Rocket” – to get to the subway system, to get to work, to get to friends and fun.
What’s the Red Rocket? It’s a nickname that has been passed down over the years to modes of transportation in Toronto that have been red in colour – the most famous being the President’s Conference Cars (PCC) streetcars introduced in the late 1930’s along Toronto’s busiest streets. When I moved to Toronto in the 80’s, the city was switching these classic streetcars over to the sleeker Swiss-made CLRV streetcars. And they took over the Red Rocket moniker.
Today, they are being phased out for a new low-floor light rail tram system that actually looks much more like a rocket, and no doubt will wear the Red Rocket name well.
But for posterity and nostalgia’s sake, here’s a Mini of the retiring Red Rocket on King Street, from a photo taken last summer – “The Red Rocket, Toronto”.
#92 – The Red Rocket, Toronto – sold
In studio; 2.5″ x 3.5″ ink and watercolour
