The E-700As formed the backbone of the HSR’s trolley bus fleet during the 1970’s and 80’s. The first new trolleys in over 20 years, the E-700A’s were the first to wear the HSR’s Yellow and Black ‘Ticat’ scheme, named after the Hamilton football team.
As a prelude to the new trolley buses, TTC 9213 (also an E700A) made a 10 day visit to Hamilton starting on March 23, 1972. The first batch of E700As (751-768) began arriving in November 1972 and some were shown off to the public at City Hall on November 29, 1972. The rest of the first batch arrived by June 1973, with the second batch, 769-790, delivered by the end of 1974.
The vehicles were completely rebuilt in 1982 & 83, using reconditioned electrical equipment from the retired T-48s and T-48As, as well as from some Thunder Bay trolley buses. The last E-700As were retired and scrapped by 1989. However, one of these buses, number 765, survives as part of the collection of the Halton County Radial Railway
Tom's North American Trolley Bus Pictures has a large number of HSR trolley bus pictures, well worth a look.
Some of the dates for these photos are unknown, and the locations are often just a guess. If you know either date or location, email me!
(All photos © Tom Luton, except where noted)
HSR #753, #775, and a few other E-700As at Sanford Yard sometime in the 1970s (Photo by J. D. Morgan)
HSR #756 at the MacNab Terminal, September 27 1973. (Photo by David L. Phillips, used with permission.)
HSR #756 at Barton & Emerald, May 1974. (Photo by Mitchell Libby, used with permission.)
HSR #756 at Barton & Wentworth, May 1974. (Photo by Mitchell Libby, used with permission.)
HSR #756 at Barton & Avondale, May 1974. (Photo by Mitchell Libby, used with permission.)
HSR #756 at Barton & Harmony, May 1974. (Photo by Mitchell Libby, used with permission.)
HSR #756 at Main & MacNab, September 1975 (By Joseph Testagrose, used with permission)
HSR #758 at Main & MacNab, September 27 1973. (Photo by David L. Phillips, used with permission.)
HSR #760 at Eastgate Square, November 25 1986. (Photo by Ted Wickson, used with permission)
HSR #764 & #774 at Hughson & King William, September 27 1973. (Photo by David L. Phillips, used with permission.)
HSR #764 & #748 at Division & Barton, May 25 1975. (Photo by Paul A. Bateson, used with permission.)
HSR #765 on display at the Halton Radial Railway Museum, August 25, 2002.
HSR #767 at Hughson & King William, May 1974. (Photo by Mitchell Libby, used with permission.)
HSR #768 entering Bell Manor loop, May 1974. (Photo by Mitchell Libby, used with permission.)
HSR #769 at Sanford Yard, date unknown (Photo by Joseph Testagrose, used with permission)
HSR #772 at James & Cannon, May 1974. (Photo by Mitchell Libby, used with permission.)
HSR #773 at Strathearne & Roxborough, May 1974. (Photo by Mitchell Libby, used with permission.)
Many University students over the years have taken the bus to get to the bar, but it’s a little unusual to find a bus IN a bar! This is the front end of HSR #775, now in Quarters Bar & Grill at McMaster University, Sept 2, 2003. If you take a peek behind the counter, the old fare sign is still above the left side window
HSR #775 at the MacNab Terminal, June 1 1974. (Photo by Ted Wickson, used with permission)
HSR #776 at King & Hughson, May 1974. (Photo by Mitchell Libby, used with permission.)
HSR #778 at King & James, June 1 1974. (Photo by Ted Wickson, used with permission)
HSR #779 at the MacNab Terminal, May 7 1988. (Photo by David L. Phillips, used with permission.)
HSR #779 and #8711 at Eastgate Mall, May 7 1988. (Photo by David L. Phillips, used with permission.)
HSR #779 at Eastgate Mall, May 7 1988. (Photo by David L. Phillips, used with permission.)
HSR #779 at Bell Manor loop, May 7 1988. (Photo by David L. Phillips, used with permission.)
HSR #779 and #8712 at Bell Manor loop, May 7 1988. (Photo by David L. Phillips, used with permission.)
HSR #780 on Main St east of Catharine, May 1974. (Photo by Mitchell Libby, used with permission.)
HSR #780 on King St passing Sanford Garage, May 1974. (Photo by Mitchell Libby, used with permission.)
HSR #781 at Melvin & Glennie, date unknown. (From Dave’s Electric Railroads.)
HSR #781 & #748 at Talbot & Melvin, May 25 1975. (Photo by Paul A. Bateson, used with permission.)
HSR #781 at Melvin & Glennie, August 1976.
HSR #782 at Division & Barton, Oct 18 1976. (Photo by Paul A. Bateson, used with permission.)
HSR #783 at the MacNab Terminal, May 1974. (Photo by Mitchell Libby, used with permission.)
HSR #783 at King & Hughson, June 1 1974. (Photo by Ted Wickson, used with permission)
HSR #784 at Bell Manor Loop, date unknown (From Dave’s Electric Railroads.)
HSR #784 at Roxborough and Adair, June 1 1974. (Photo by Ted Wickson, used with permission)
HSR #784 on Beland between Roxborough and Dunsmure, June 1 1974. (Photo by Ted Wickson, used with permission)
HSR #785 heading west on Barton, near Bell Manor Loop, Date unknown. (From Dave’s Electric Railroads.)
HSR #785 at Donn Loop, February 7, 1986. (Photo by Ted Wickson, used with permission)
HSR #786 and HSR #807 on Reid north of Queenston, May 1974. (Photo by Mitchell Libby, used with permission.)
HSR #786 on the 3 Cannon route, at John and Wilson, Date unknown (From Dave’s Electric Railroads.)
HSR #788 at Donn Loop, November 10 1978. (Photo by Ted Wickson, used with permission)
HSR #789 on the 2 Barton route at Walter St and Barton, Date unknown (From Dave’s Electric Railroads.)
HSR #790 at Donn Loop, March 1 1980. The houses in the background are on Highridge Ave, just west of Isle St. (Photo by Ted Wickson, used with permission)
An unknown E-700A heading west on Barton, near Bell Manor Loop, Date unknown. (From Dave’s Electric Railroads.)
