“My boyfriend is a transit nut”, explained the attractive young woman immediately ahead of me, in line to enter the TTC’s Doors Open event at Greenwood Yard.

“We’ve got a lot more inside”, replied the nice TTC lady handing out the guest stickers. “Enjoy your visit”.

My sticker was number 3723. That was a pretty good number, I figured, thinking back to a GM TDH-5303 that I likely rode in this same part of town, many years ago. It was also indicative of a strong turnout for the event – it was only 2 PM, and people were lined up to get in.

TTC’s Greenwood Shops opened in 1965, when the Bloor Danforth subway line was first being built. For the past 50 years, it has been the maintenance base and parking lot for the TTC subway fleet that runs on this line.

Again this year, the TTC invited the public to tour the shop, as part of the city’s Doors Open event. The turnout was amazing – families, couples (Touring the TTC shops actually works as a date? Who would have thought?), and yes lots of transit foamers.

I have never met a machine shop that I didn’t like, and this one certainly impressed. There were lots of big machines, rows of components, big bits of subway cars, and even some hands on exhibits to play with. Not to mention lots of subway maintenance equipment – and tracks full of subway trains.

There were tons of TTC volunteers in green shirts, explaining the work that is done in the shops, and demonstrating the various pieces of machinery large and small that must be kept in good order to keep the trains running. These back-shop workers are seldom seen by the fare-paying public. It was clear that they enjoy their work and are proud of their contribution to Toronto’s transit system.

There were folding cardboard trains for the kids. Music played, hot dogs were grilled. The transit security folks were on hand to demonstrate the tools of their trade. And there was even a subway train ride, around the yard, with the yard’s wash rack serving as a TTC subway station.

For the record, I don’t count my self as a hardcore transit nut. But I will be adding the trip around the shop’s balloon track to my rare mileage log.  A train ride is a train ride.

Thank you, TTC, for your considerable hospitality. It was an awesome visit.