If you’ve been reading In Transit over time, you know about my ongoing search for interesting or useful transit items. I'm covering both angles today, including some ideas for parents of smaller children.

 Many kids find trains and buses fascinating, and some are so enthralled with the experience of riding streetcars that they may even memorize the stops. It’s no surprise that children want to play with replicas of the vehicles they see or ride in -- it’s surely been that way since horse-drawn trams first travelled up and down Yonge Street.

 Many stores catering to kids sell model or toy trains but until now it was hard to find transit vehicles that wee ones could enjoy. A company called Whittle Shortline Railroad has a line of wooden subway and commuter trains, including a TTC version.

 The only place to get them in greater Toronto is George’s Trains near Davisville subway station. Each car costs $27.98 plus tax, and is compatible with the ever-popular Thomas the Tank Engine and Brio sets.

 Get directions at http://georgestrains.com/ or call 416-489-9783. As a special offer to In Transit readers, you can mention this column when buying four or more TTC cars and receive ten percent off the price. As for anything described in today’s column, verify that items are in stock before going to a store -- or delivered by Christmas if shopping online.

 If you can wait until after Christmas, a wooden GO train should be available next year, and I’ve suggested to the Canadian distributor http://rockymountaintrains.net/ that streetcars also make good toys.

 Look in stores that sell games if you want miniature replicas of double-decker trams or transit buses from around the world. A few specialty shops may have limited edition model TTC streetcars, but some prices top $100.

 The vendor of official TTC merchandise Legacy Sportswear has some models left at $125 each. The site http://www.legacysportswear.com/ is also the place to order bags, wallets, clothing and various items with TTC logos or images of streetcars. If you want something before Christmas, look online for the location of their warehouse and stores that sell TTC “Transit Stuff”.

 Ask at used and new bookstores for editions like the TTC pictorial “The TTC Story: The First 75 Years” by the Toronto historian Mike Filey. For locally inspired children’s stories, look for “The Subway Mouse” by Barbara Reid or my favourite, Robert Munsch’s “Jonathan Cleaned Up And Then He Heard A Sound” about a boy who discovers a TTC subway station in his house. Go to http://robertmunsch.com/ to listen to the story for free. This title is also available in French as “Le Métro.”

 For adults, there are cool trinkets available in stores or on the internet. Some Torontonians still do not have a button of their local subway station, even though 45,000 have sold so far. Learn more at http://spacing.ca/, where you can see images of the newest buttons.

 To know where the stairs or escalators are located in stations, you need the Subway Rider Efficiency Guide. Order online at http://ttcrider.ca/ or download one for free.

  I’ve also tried out the “TranStrap” (at http://transtrap.com/ ) which could be useful for those who can’t reach overhead poles on transit vehicles. Mine actually grips better than those plastic straps on the new Orion 7 buses.

 Any of the new-style transit passes unveiled this fall by the TTC would make good gifts, and the TTC has another favour for those who want to pick up a January Metropass early. Instead of going on sale the usual 24th of the month, you may already find next month’s pass at subway collectors and official fare vendors. Want a gift for a senior? A strip of ten tickets is $13.25.

 

 I’m offering a free giveaway for those who send one email to transit@eddrass.com  with the word “trinkets” in the subject line. Include your full name, return email address, street address and phone number.

 I will award prizes in the order I receive the emails, until all 14 prizes are allotted. Multiple emails, including from the same person, email address or street address, will be ignored.

 The prizes, in order, are one (1) $50 credit for transit merchandise from Legacy Sportswear, three (3) prizes of ten buttons each (your choice) from www.spacing.ca, and ten (10) prizes of a Subway Rider Efficiency Guide.

 I and/or the prize supplier will email the winners. The prize supplier and the winner will mutually arrange delivery or pick-up of prize, which may not be possible before December 25th, 2005.

 Giveaway closes December 31st 2005, or until all prizes are awarded. Thanks, and good luck!

© Ed Drass 2008