D. W. Harvey
Encyclopedia
David William Harvey, B.A.Sc., M.E.I.C. (February 24, 1887-December 6, 1938) was a Canadian engineer and transportation manager. He was a key player in the early development of the Toronto Transportation Commission
and served as the transit operator's second General Manager, from 1924 until his death in 1938.
He was born in London
, Ontario
, and graduated from the University of Toronto
with a degree in Civil Engineering. In 1910 he worked for the Ontario Power Company at Niagara Falls
. The next year he became Resident Engineer of the Railway and Bridge Section of the City of Toronto Works Department. He was in charge of both construction and operation of the new Toronto Civic Railways
, a loose network of four streetcar lines that was built by the City of Toronto because the privately-owned Toronto Railway Company
refused to build new lines to serve developing districts. On September 1, 1921, Harvey became Assistant Manager of the new Toronto Transportation Commission
, which merged and consolidated most public and private street railways in Toronto. He became General Manager on May 1, 1924, after H. H. Couzens
, the first General Manager, resigned.
Harvey was a well-liked and effective manager, who had excellent knowledge of the technical aspects of operating and maintaining a transit system. He personally held several patents for transit equipment, including the design of a three-door trailer, pulled by Peter Witt
-type motor cars, that significantly speeded up boarding times, compared to the two-door trailers that were previously operated. He introduced motor buses on lightly travelled feeder routes, and presided over the creation and expansion of Gray Coach Lines, the TTC’s intercity motor coach operator.
The main shop facility at the TTC Hillcrest Complex on Bathurst Street, which opened in 1924, was renamed D.W. Harvey Shops in his honour.
Toronto Transportation Commission
Before 1954, the Toronto Transit Commission was called the Toronto Transportation Commission.-History:Toronto's first public transportation company was the Williams Omnibus Bus Line and owned by undertaker Burt Williams. The franchise carried passengers in horse-drawn stagecoaches along Yonge...
and served as the transit operator's second General Manager, from 1924 until his death in 1938.
He was born in London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, and graduated from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
with a degree in Civil Engineering. In 1910 he worked for the Ontario Power Company at Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
. The next year he became Resident Engineer of the Railway and Bridge Section of the City of Toronto Works Department. He was in charge of both construction and operation of the new Toronto Civic Railways
Toronto Civic Railways
Toronto Civic Railways was an agency created and owned by the City of Toronto, Canada, to run streetcars in newly annexed areas of the city that the private operator Toronto Railway Company refused to serve...
, a loose network of four streetcar lines that was built by the City of Toronto because the privately-owned Toronto Railway Company
Toronto Railway Company
The Toronto Railway Company was the first operator of horseless streetcars in Toronto.Formed by a partnership between James Ross and William Mackenzie, a 30-year franchise was granted in 1891 to modernize transit operations after a previous 30 year franchise that saw horse car service from the...
refused to build new lines to serve developing districts. On September 1, 1921, Harvey became Assistant Manager of the new Toronto Transportation Commission
Toronto Transportation Commission
Before 1954, the Toronto Transit Commission was called the Toronto Transportation Commission.-History:Toronto's first public transportation company was the Williams Omnibus Bus Line and owned by undertaker Burt Williams. The franchise carried passengers in horse-drawn stagecoaches along Yonge...
, which merged and consolidated most public and private street railways in Toronto. He became General Manager on May 1, 1924, after H. H. Couzens
H. H. Couzens
Sir Herbert Henry Couzens KBE was a British electrical engineering executive who managed public utilities in England, Canada, and Brazil.-Career:...
, the first General Manager, resigned.
Harvey was a well-liked and effective manager, who had excellent knowledge of the technical aspects of operating and maintaining a transit system. He personally held several patents for transit equipment, including the design of a three-door trailer, pulled by Peter Witt
Peter Witt streetcar
Peter Witt was a Cleveland Railway commissioner, who designed a model of streetcar known by his name, and used in many North American cities, most notably in Toronto and Cleveland.-Features:...
-type motor cars, that significantly speeded up boarding times, compared to the two-door trailers that were previously operated. He introduced motor buses on lightly travelled feeder routes, and presided over the creation and expansion of Gray Coach Lines, the TTC’s intercity motor coach operator.
The main shop facility at the TTC Hillcrest Complex on Bathurst Street, which opened in 1924, was renamed D.W. Harvey Shops in his honour.