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50 Years of Public Operations at the Streetcar Museum

Our museum, the Halton County Radial Railway, has entered it’s 50th year of public service!

On June 25th, 1972, the Official Opening ceremonies were held at the west end of the property with crane car C-1 being used as a podium. Early arrivals to the event saw the last adjustments being made to the overhead wire in front of Rockwood Station, after which M-5 pulled line car #45 back down the mainline towards Barn #1. Two hours later at the time of the opening ceremonies, the first car to arrive was C-1, moving under its own power for the first time in 5 years. L&PS #8 then arrived over at Rockwood Station, with TCR #55, and #327 behind it.

Speakers for the event stood on the deck of Ex-Toronto Railway Company crane car C-1. This photo was taken by Brian MacDonald.

Standing on C-1 was R.H. Johns, President of the OERHA, E.E. MacPhail, TTC representative, J.N. Lowe, CNR representative, R. Whitting, Member of Parliament, N. MacGuiness, area candidate for Parliament in next election, Mrs. McArthur, Reeve, Nasaagaweya Township, and John Mills, Author and one of the founding members of our museum.

John Mills speaking in front of the rest of the official party. Gord McOuat photo.

London & Port Stanley Railway (L&PS) interurban #8 out front of Rockwood Station. This photo is from the Dick Vincent Collection, which is now in our museum’s archives.

This photo is from the Dick Vincent Collection, which is now in our museum’s archives.

Gord McOuat photo.

The TTC’s 1934 replica of 1893 Toronto Railway Company streetcar #327 was out for the event. This photo was taken by Brian MacDonald, who still volunteers for our museum to this day!

Another photo of #327 on opening day by Brian MacDonald.

Keep scrolling to see more photos of our museum over the decades since it opened to the public!

1970s

West end of our mainline in 1970. Richard Glaze photo.

Rockwood Station arriving to the west end of our property in 1971. Photo by David Johns.

L&PS #8 arriving at Barn #1 in the east end of our museum in 1971. Richard Glaze photo.

Facing east towards our Barn #1 in 1973. Photo by Richard Glaze.

Barn #2 under construction, 1976. This photo is from the Lorne Hymers Collection.

Gord McOuat’s photo of our museum in 1978.

1979 from the roof of Barn #2 in 1979. Gord McOuat photo.

1980s

Richard Glaze shot of the inside of Barn #2 in 1980.

Museum gift shop under construction in 1980. Richard Glaze photo.

M&SC #107 at Rockwood Station on December 5th, 1982. Photo by Richard Glaze.

West loop under construction in 1983. Lorne Hymers Collection.

The east loop under construction in 1982. Richard Glaze shot.

Another Richard Glaze shot of our east loop under construction on July 21st, 1984.

Barn #3 under construction in 1984. This photo is from the Lorne Hymers Collection.

1980s photo of the new addition being built onto the side of barn #2. Photo by David Johns.

1990s

416 in 1991. Lorne Hymers photo.

#416 in the yard out front of Barn #2 in 1991. Photo by Lorne Hymers.

Lorne Hymers photo of TTC G car #5098 unloading at our museum in 1991.

Ted Wickson photo, September 10th, 1994.

2000 to Present

LSR #23 in 2006.

Facing west to the back of Barn # 3 in August 2008. Construction had begun on the new Barn #4.

Barn #4 under construction on October 1st, 2008.

David John’s photo of Barn #4 on Sept. 10th, 2010.

David John’s photo of Barn #4 on Sept. 10th, 2010.

One of the horse-drawn omnibuses was donated from the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa to our museum in April of 2019.

ALRV #4204 at our museum on November 16th, 2019. Photo by Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

The first “Christmas on the Rails” event to feature a CLRV at our museum. December 7th, 2019.

L&PS #8 with our artsy streetcar CLRV #4178 and CNR caboose on September 12th, 2021.

May 22nd, 2022.

Inside Barn #2 on May 7th, 2022.

Please follow our museum on Facebook and Instagram where photographs like this are posted daily!

50 Years of Public Operations at the Streetcar Museum2022-06-27T00:07:02-04:00

Ontario’s Lost Electric Railways

Our museum’s Social Media Manager Trevor Parkins-Sciberras has been creating this series of history articles called “Ontario’s Lost Electric Railways”, which focuses on photographs by town or city, rather than by organized by railway as usually done. This is a way for those who don’t use social media to see what Trevor has been publishing on behalf of our museum.

Covered so far: Simcoe, Brantford, Paris, Grand River at Blue Lake, Niagara Falls, and St. Thomas!

CLICK THE IMAGES BELOW TO GO TO EACH ARTICLE:

Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram where we share new and archival photos on a regular basis!

Stay tuned for more articles in the series “Ontario’s Lost Electric Railways”!

Coming soon: Port Stanley, Port Dover, Hespeler, and more!

Ontario’s Lost Electric Railways2022-04-15T12:38:29-04:00

Lost Electric Railways: Niagara Falls, ON

Article #6 in the series “Ontario’s Lost Electric Railways” will take a look at Niagara Falls. This will include photos of the Niagara Falls Park & River Railway and the Niagara, St. Catharines & Toronto Railway.

Map scanned from John Mill’s NS&T book. Click for a closer look!

Before we get to the age of electric railways, here’s a brief history of the dawn of public transit in Niagara Falls:

Niagara Falls, Wesley Park & Clifton Tramway Company

In 1886 the Niagara Falls, Wesley Park & Clifton Tramway Company opened a horse-drawn streetcar (horsecar) line from Main St. & Culp St. to Bridge St. & River Rd. The company was never very successful; in later years it suffered from being an archaic horsecar line in a very electricity-conscious city. In 1899 the NS&T acquired Niagara Falls’ horsecar line and electrified it by 1900.

Niagara Falls horsecar at Kick’s Hotel, 136 (now 5951) Main Street. This photo is from the Niagara Falls Public Library.

This was the second last horsecar line in Canada when it was electrified while Sarnia’s horsecars were the last to go.

Wide-shot of a Niagara Falls horsecar at Kick’s Hotel, 136 Main Street. This photo is from the Niagara Falls Public Library.

Kick’s Hotel was opened in 1860 and burned down in 1920, being replaced by a theatre. This theatre was known throughout the years as the Webb Theatre, the Hollywood Theatre, and finally the Princess Theatre. The building was then changed to the Serbian Cultural Centre and has since been torn down for a parkette and walkway connecting the Farmers’ Market area and Main Street.

There is currently a new development being constructed on this site. April 10th, 2022 photo by Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

Learn more about Niagara Falls’ early hotels here.

The Niagara Falls Park & River Railway

opened for passenger service on May 24th, 1893 from Chippewa through Niagara Falls to Queenston.

Early NFP&RR open car #16 during the 1890s. This photo taken was along along the Niagara River south of the falls on the Chippewa route.

NFPRR open car at Clifton Hill in 1895. The old building to the left was the station for the Clifton Incline, which opened in 1894. The incline was renamed to the Maid of the Mist Incline in 1973, and continued to operate until it was shut down in 1990. The old incline sat abandoned for almost 30 years until it was re-opened as the Hornblower Niagara Funicular in 2019.

Clifton Hill at the Niagara Parkway on Apr. 10th, 2022.

Table Rock Loop, facing southwest towards the NFP&RR Powerhouse, which opened in 1892. This was located where the Table Rock bus stop is now on the Niagara Parkway.

Same spot as the Park & River Railway’s Table Rock Loop and Powerhouse, now occupied by a bus loop for WEGO Visitor Transportation System. Apr. 10th, 2022 photo by Trevor P.S.

Niagara Falls Park & River Railway Brochure preserved at the Niagara Falls Public Library.

Close-up of the Park & River Railway brochure, showing the trestle by the whirlpool.

The NFP&R was acquired by the Buffalo Railway Company in 1899 which was purchased by the International Railway Company in 1902. This merged many railways including the NFP&R with the Great Gorge Route and created the “Niagara Gorge Belt Line.”

NFP&RR trestle at the Bowman Ravine, overlooking the whirlpool rapids, circa 1900. This photo is from Library & Archives Canada.

All 4 trestle abutments are still visible to this day. The northeast abutment seen in the 1900 photo is now hidden in the bushes on the hill side. Apr. 11th, 2022 photo by Trevor P.S.

Buried trestle at Bowman’s Ravine, 1920s.

The 4 bridge abutments mark the ends of the buried trestle, with a historic plaque in the middle.

A metal beam from the buried trestle is still visible along the hillside. Apr. 10th, 2022.

There are more remnants of this lost railway further north in Queenston, but we’ll cover those in a separate article!

Facing south to Bridge St. Station, 1910. Niagara Falls Public Library.

Facing south along the Niagara Parkway to the old Michigan Central Railway bridge in 2021.

International Railway Company streetcar line-up in Queen Victoria Park. This photo is from the Niagara Falls Public Library.

Great Gorge car on River Rd. at the Tower Inn Terminal circa 1928. This photo was from the Al Patterson Collection and scanned from John Mill’s NS&T book.

Old Park & River Railway car barns west side of River Road by the Whirlpool Rapids.  The Super 8 by Wyndham Motel is now located just southeast of where this streetcar yard once was. This photo was taken in September of 1932 and is now in the archives of the Niagara Falls Public Library.

Same spot as the long-gone Park & River Railway carbarns, on the westside of the Niagara Parkway just north of the Super 8 Motel. Apr. 10th, 2022.

Incline Railway Station at the base of Clifton Hill. September 10th, 1932.

Niagara Parkway at Clifton Hill facing south in 2020.

Facing north. Photo is from the Niagara Falls Public Library. To the left you can see the Ontario Power Plant Overflow Building and Surge Tank in Queen Victoria Park, built 1906.

Last day of service on the Belt Line, September 11th, 1932. This photo is from the Niagara Falls Library.

Same spot on April 10th, 2022.

Last day of service, September 11th, 1932. This photo was taken facing north to Victoria Park, and is now in the Niagara Railway Museum Collection.

Same view facing now along the Niagara Parkway in 2022.

The Niagara Falls Belt Line ended service on the Canadian side (Park & River Division) on September 11th, 1932, and the remaining American side (Great Gorge Division) ended service in 1935.

Niagara St. Catharines & Toronto Railway

The NS&T was created in 1899 and acquired Niagara Falls’ horsecar line that year.

Horsecar tracks on Ferry St. at Clark St., 1900. Niagara Falls Public Library.

By 1900 the NS&T had electric streetcars operating on the “Niagara Falls Local Line.”

Queen St. at Erie St., facing west in 1910. This photo was scanned from John Mill’s book “The Niagara, St. Catharines & Toronto Railway.”

Queen St. at Erie St. facing west in 2021.

Streetcar on Main St. circa 1910. This postcard is from the collection of Author John Mills.

Brand new NS&T streetcar #303 on Lundy’s Lane in 1926. Built as a part of a 12-car order (301-312) in 1925. The cars were shipped in pieces from Cincinnati to the NS&T who assembled them.

NS&T streetcar turning south from Bridge St. on to Erie St. in 1938. This photo is from the Al Patterson Collection.

Niagara Falls Transit bus turning south from Bridge St. on to Erie St. in 2021.

TOWER INN TERMINAL

Once called the world’s most beautiful electric railway station, the Tower Inn Terminal opened in July of 1928 and featured an observation tower that overlooked the falls.

Tower Inn Terminal postcard.

About the same location along the Niagara Parkway on April 9th, 2022.

Tower Inn Terminal, circa 1930. This photo is from the H.E. Battel Collection and scanned from John Mills’ NS&T book.

May 16th, 1937. Facing west to the Brock Hotel in the background.

About the same spot as there the NS&T interurbans were once parked, but 1 story-up from track level. Apr. 9th, 2022.

NS&T interurbans approaching the Tower Inn Terminal during the 1930s.

Facing north to NS&T cars at Tower Inn Terminal. Photo from the collection of Walter Keevil.

About the same spot facing north on April 9th, 2022.

Tower Inn Terminal circa 1939. J. Hood Collection and scanned from John Mills’ NS&T book.

1940 photo of the Tower Inn Terminal from the Niagara Railway Museum Collection.

Despite being less than 14 years old, the Tower Inn Terminal was shut down on September 27th, 1940, and demolished shortly after. This was done at the demands of the Ontario Highway Authorities who at the time were in engaged with the construction of the Queen Elizabeth Way and wanted the space for the new highway. This lost electric railway station would have been located where the Niagara Parkway is today, near the Rainbow Bridge.

Behind Kimerely Clark Bridge and Victoria Ave., May 16th, 1937. Barry Dunham Collection.

NS&T streetcar 309 on Bridge St. at River Rd., July 1939. Niagara Railway Museum Collection.

NS&T streetcar #309 heading northbound on Victoria Ave. at Hunter St. in June of 1946. This photo was taken by Richard T. Loane and is now in the collection of Walter Keevil.

Niagara Falls Transit bus on Victoria Ave. at Hunter St. on April 10th, 2022. Photo by Trevor P.S.

NS&T interurbans #132 and #135 on Victoria Ave. at Queen St. in June of 1946. This photo was taken by Richard T. Loane and is now in the collection of Walter Keevil.

The same spot facing north on Victoria Ave. to Queen St., April 9th, 2022. Niagara Falls Transit buses now use Valley Way to turn between Queen St. and Victoria Ave.

Fallsview Blvd. and Livingstone St., July 20th 1946. Photo taken by John F. Huminston, scanned from John Mill’s book “The Niagara, St. Catharines & Toronto Railway.”

Facing east on Livingstone St. to Fallsview Blvd., July 20th, 1946. Jack Knowles photo, scanned from John Mill’s book “The Niagara, St. Catharines & Toronto Railway.”

Facing east on Livingstone St. from Stanley Ave. to Fallsview Blvd. on April 10th, 2022.

Bridge St. at River Rd., July 20th 1946. John F. Huminston, scanned from John Mill’s book “The Niagara, St. Catharines & Toronto Railway.”

Facing east on Bridge St. to River Rd. (now the Niagara Parkway) on Apr. 9th, 2022.

NRHS fan trip on September 1st, 1946. This photo was taken on Queen St. at Erie St. and is now in the collection of Peter Warwick.

Niagara Falls Transit bus #2119 on Queen St. heading west from Erie St., Apr. 10th, 2022.

Another shot of the NRHS fan trip on September 1st, 1946. This photo was taken on Queen St. at Erie St. and is now in the collection of Peter Warwick.

NS&T streetcar #307 on Queen St. heading westbound away from Victoria St. circa 1947.

Queen St. facing west towards Victoria St. in 2021.

Bridge St. facing east towards River Rd., circa 1947. From the collection of Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

In 1947 the NS&T ended interurban service to Niagara Falls as well as the local streetcar line.

Removing NS&T streetcar tracks from Bridge St., June 3rd 1948. Photo from the Niagara Falls Public Library.

Removing NS&T streetcar tracks from Bridge St., June 3rd 1948. Photo from the Niagara Falls Public Library.

Bridge St. at Cataract Ave. and the Niagara Parkway. March 10th, 2022 photo by Trevor P.S.

Unfortunately, our museum was unable to preserve any passenger equipment from the NS&T. There was interest in saving NS&T car #83 at the time of its retirement in 1959, but our museum was in its infancy and scrap values we high, so it was not saved. However, we did manage to save Oshawa Railway line car #45, which was built by the NS&T in 1925.

Today there are some former NS&T tracks on the right-of-way between Stanley Ave. and the Hydro Canal. After the NS&T ended service to Niagara Falls in 1947, these rails were used by CN until the 1980s.

Facing east from the NS&T tracks to Stanley Ave. April 10th, 2022.

Facing west along the NS&T tracks on April 10th, 2022.

The tracks that ran west to the bridge over the Hydro Canal are now cut off by a fence. The bridge can be seen from the Paisley Janvary-Pool Pathway on the west side of the canal.

You can learn all about the electric railway equipment that our museum has lovingly preserved by clicking here.

Please stay tuned for more articles in this series on Ontario’s lost electric railways. You can follow our museum at Facebook and Instagram where photographs like this are posted daily!

 

Lost Electric Railways: Niagara Falls, ON2022-04-14T23:52:43-04:00

Lost Electric Railways: Paris, Ontario

Our 5th article in the historical series “Ontario’s Lost Electric Railways” will focus on Paris, Ontario, which is located along the Grand River in Brant County.

Facing southeast in Paris on March 31st, 2022.

Map of Paris and it’s railways from John Mill’s book “Ontario’s Grand River Valley Electric Railways.” This map shows the GVR station in its current location, which it was moved to shortly after service ended in 1929. It was originally located at the northwest corner of Willow & William, across from the first GVR Station, which is also not marked on the map.

This scenic small town had 2 electric railways that ran through it: the Grand Valley Railway (GVR) and the Lake Erie & Northern Railway (LE&N.) The GVR began passenger service from Brantford to Paris in 1903, with the line reaching downtown Galt in 1905.

The Grand Valley Railway’s first Paris Station at the northeast corner of corner of Willow St. and William St. on the east side of the Grand River, circa 1910. Photo is from the collection of Ken Chrysler.

Grand Valley Railway “toast-rack” open-bench trolley up the hill from Paris, Ontario, in 1904. This photo is from the Paris Museum & Historical Society.

Facing the other direction on Paris Hill along the Grand River in 1904. This photo is from the Paris Museum & Historical Society.

The GVR was poorly constructed and plagued with track issues throughout its short life. The following 4 photos depict just one of many derailments that happened on the railway, this one on January 15th, 1908. The car toppled off a small trestle that ran parallel to the Grand Trunk Railway between Paris and Brantford.

1908 photo from the Paris Museum & Historical Society.

Wreck on G.V.R. near Paris, Jan. 18 1908. Photo from the Paris Museum & Historical Society.

Interior shot of GVR car #56.

The GVR’s Galt to Paris line ended service in 1916, being replaced by the new Lake Erie & Northern Railway (LE&N), which operated between Galt and Port Dover. Service continued on the GVR between Paris and Brantford until 1929.

Early Lake Erie & Northern Railway electric freight train approaching Paris Station. The Grand Trunk Railway underpass can be seen in the background. Note-the early use of a pantograph, which was later discontinued. Roger Chrysler Collection.

In 1931 the LE&N and the Grand River Railway (GRR) were amalgamated to create the Canadian Pacific Electric Lines (CPEL.) Equipment from the 2 different railways began operating in mixed service as well.

LE&N interurban #955 in Paris, circa 1950. Roger Chrysler Collection.

LE&N interurban #973 at Paris Station during the 1950s. This photo was taken by Bob Sandusky, one of the founding fathers of our museum.

Grand River Railway (GRR) interurban #846 at Paris Station during the final days of service on April 23rd, 1955. This photo is from the Paris Museum & Historical Society.

Passenger service ended on the Canadian Pacific Electric Lines on April 24th, 1955 and electric freight service ended on October 1st, 1961.

Facing north to Paris Station in 1974. This photo was taken by Roger Chrysler.

A.W. Mooney shot of LE&N’s Paris Station, April 2nd, 1978.

The former LE&N tracks looking north towards the CN underpass in Paris. 1978 photo by A.W. Mooney.

The last CP freight train to use the old LE&N tracks ran on July 31st, 1990, and the tracks were ripped up shortly after. Today there is a public trail along this lost electric railway’s right-of-way.

The Grand Valley Railway once ran along Willow Street under the Grand Trunk Railway bridge, which is now used by CN. March 31st, 2022 by Trevor P.S.

The Grand Valley Railway’s original Paris Station at the northeast corner of Willow St. and William St. on the east side of the Grand River. This building was a corner variety store for many years. March 31st, 2022.

Grand Valley Railway’s second Paris Station opened at the northwest corner of William and Willow, across from the much smaller first station. GVR Paris Station closed in 1929 and was moved 2 blocks north to Willow at Joseph Brant St. Photo taken March 31st, 2022.

LE&N underpass below the CN Railway on March 31st, 2022. This photo was taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

A concrete pad is all that’s left of railway buildings that were here. March 31st, 2022.

Abandoned access road for Paris Station. March 31st, 2022.

A large coal transfer used by the lost railway and trucks is still located on the hillside. March 31st, 2022.

Lake Erie & Northern Railway trail on March 31st, 2022.

Lake Erie & Northern Railway trail on March 31st, 2022.

Roger Chrysler’s scale model the yard in Paris.

Roger’s scale model of the LE&N’s Paris Station.

We have the LE&N’s last passenger car #797 preserved at our museum. 2021 photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor P.S.

LE&N electric locomotive #335 outside in yard #2 during the Covid lockdown of 2020. Photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor P.S.

Click here for photos of the Grand River at Blue Lake area, around 5km north of Paris, Ontario!

Click this image to see photos of the lost electric railways of Brantford, Ontario!

You can learn more about the Lake Erie & Northern Railway here: http://www.trainweb.org/elso/len.htm

More archival photos of the Grand Valley Railway here: https://images.ourontario.ca/brant/details.asp?ID=65039

Some of the information and photographs in this article can be found in John Mill’s book “Ontario’s Grand River Valley Electric Railways” and also “Steel Wheels Along the Grand” by George W. Roth.

Please stay tuned for more articles in this series on Ontario’s lost electric railways. You can follow our museum at Facebook and Instagram where photographs like this are posted daily!

Lost Electric Railways: Paris, Ontario2023-01-02T18:22:45-05:00

Lost Electric Railways: Grand River at Blue Lake

For article #4 in our historical series “Lost Electric Railways of Ontario” we’ll be looking at the east side of the Grand River near Blue Lake, which is about 5km north of the Town of Paris, Ontario.  This article will be focused on photos of the lost electric railways of this area, but will not be an in-depth history of those railways. There are links at the bottom for further reading.

CLICK THE PHOTOS BELOW FOR A CLOSER LOOK:

Map of the railways in the Blue Lake area along the Grand River scanned from John Mill’s book.

Long before the arrival of electric railways in this area, the Great Western Railway (GWR) built a bridge across the Grand River in 1854. The GWR was taken over by the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR) in 1882.

Facing southeast towards a Grand Trunk Railway steam train crossing the Grand River in this photo from the collection of Ken Chrysler.

The Grand Valley Railway was built by the Von Echa Company, under the charter rights of the “Port Dover, Brantford, Berlin & Goderich Railway.” The interurban company was legally separate from the Brantford Street Railway, which was also owned by the Von Echa Company at the time. Service began on the GVR from Brantford to Paris in 1903, with the line reaching downtown Galt in 1905.

Facing east along the Grand Trunk Railway to the Grand Valley Railway trestle circa 1904. This photo was scanned from John Mill’s book “Ontario’s Grand River Valley Electric Railways.”

Facing east at the same spot as the 1904 photo on March 31st, 2022. This photo was taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

Facing north to the Grand River circa 1910. The GVR trestle over the GTR is visible to the far right in this photo is from the collection of Ken Chrysler.

Blue Lake near St. George, Ont., & the Portland Cement Co. The Grand Valley Railway tracks can be seen in the foreground. Photo taken circa 1910.

From John Mill’s book: “In 1904, a start was made on a 5 3/4 mile branch from Blue Lake to St. George. Most of the grading was eventually done, but rails were laid only 2.2 miles to the Grand Trunk Railway, where an interchange was located to handle shipments of coal for the powerhouse. This connection was a short electrified siding off the St. George line that met end on with the GTR spur from South Dumfries that served the sprawling Ontario Portland Cement Company (OPCC) complex at Blue Lake. OPCC also had its own small industrial narrow gauge railway and fleet of muck cars for hauling dredged marl from the lake to the nearby processing plant. The GVR St. George Branch kept to the north side of the lake. No further track was laid, though the company often stated that completion of the branch was about to be undertaken. It was abandoned in 1915, after the Blue Lake powerhouse was closed down in favour of purchased power.”

Grand Trunk Railway bridge construction over the new LE&N line in 1916. This photo was taken facing east and is from the collection of Ken Chrysler.

Same spot facing east where the GTR bridge once crossed the LE&N line on March 31st, 2022.

LE&N railway under construction in 1916. This photo is taken facing north towards the old Grand Trunk Railway bridge over the Grand River.

The LE&N set a flag stop at Blue Lake, or Mile 10.8. Passenger service along this line between Galt and Port Dover began later that year in 1916.

Same view as 1916 construction shot on March 31st, 2022.

The Grand River Railway’s (GVR) Blue Lake Powerhouse in 1916, a year after it had closed. This photo is from the Paris Museum and was scanned from John Mills’ book “Ontario’s Grand River Valley Electric Railways.”

While not an electricity-powered railway, its still worth mentioning the last Grand Trunk Railway train passed through this area in 1927 and the tracks were removed during the 1930s. The railway bridge over the Grand River was dismantled in 1941 but the 3 support piers still stand to this day.

GRR #862 heading southbound at Blue Lake on April 23rd, 1955. This photo was taken by Bob Sandusky.

Another Bob Sandusky shot in 1955.

The Canadian Pacific Electric Lines (CPEL), which had operated both the Lake Erie & Northern Railway (LE&N) and Grand River Railway (GRR) since 1931, ended passenger service on April 24th, 1955. Electric freight service ended on October 1st, 1961, and the railway was converted to diesel-electric locatives.

CP Railway train heading south towards Paris on April 19th, 1976. Photo taken by Greg McDonnell.

The last CP freight train to use these tracks ran on July 31st, 1990.

The tracks were ripped up shortly after, and today there is a public trail along this old right-of-way.

RAILWAY REMNANTS

April 15th, 2016 drone shot taken by Bill Miller.

The supports for the old Grand Trunk Railway bridge still stand in the Grand River, now known as the “Three Sisters.” They can be viewed from the Murray Overlook on the east side of the river.

The Three Sisters: the old supports for the Grand Trunk Railway bridge over the Grand River. 2021 photo taken facing west from the Murray Overlook by Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

Grand Valley Railway (GVR) right-of-way facing north, with the LE&N path on the left. October 2021 photo by Trevor P.S.

GVR trail facing south with the LE&N trail on the far right. Photo taken March 31st, 2022 by Trevor P.S.

Facing north along the old LE&N right-of-way from the location of the old Grand Trunk overpass. 2021 photo by Trevor P.S.

Blue Lake Powerhouse ruins in 2021.

Outline of the powerhouse ruins are highlighted by green moss. Photo taken on March 31st, 2022.

A rail switch for the GVR was once located in this exact spot. The path to the right of the bushes took you to the trestle over the GTR, while the path to the left was the Blue Lake Branch. Photo taken March 31st, 2022.

The concrete footing for the Grand Valley Railway’s lost trestle over the Grand Trunk Railway. March 31st, 2022.

Another footing for the GVR trestle over the GTR line. March 31st, 2022.

The GVR’s Blue Lake Branch, facing east on March 31st, 2022.

We have the LE&N’s last passenger car #797 preserved at our museum. 2021 photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor P.S.

LE&N electric locomotive #335 outside in yard #2 during the Covid lockdown of 2020. Photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor P.S.

Click this image to see photos of the lost electric railways of Brantford, Ontario!

You can learn more about the Lake Erie & Northern Railway here: http://www.trainweb.org/elso/len.htm

More archival photos of the Grand Valley Railway here: https://images.ourontario.ca/brant/details.asp?ID=65039

Much of the information and photographs in this article can be found in John Mill’s book “Ontario’s Grand River Valley Electric Railways” and also “Steel Wheels Along the Grand” by George W. Roth.

Please stay tuned for more articles in this series on Ontario’s lost electric railways. You can follow our museum at Facebook and Instagram where photographs like this are posted daily!

Lost Electric Railways: Grand River at Blue Lake2023-07-20T15:47:07-04:00

Lost Electric Railways: St. Thomas, ONT

Introduction

Continuing our series of articles about Ontario’s lost electric railways, today we’ll be taking a look St. Thomas, the Railway City! This will not be an in-depth history of the London & Port Stanley Railway, but rather a pictorial history of the L&PS and streetcars in St. Thomas.

ST. THOMAS STREET RAILWAY

1879-1926

The city’s first horse-drawn streetcar line opened in 1879, and would eventually be electrified in 1898. The St. Thomas Street Railway Co. was acquired by the City in 1902.

Photograph of St. Thomas streetcar #30 from the Elgin County Archives.

Another shot of St. Thomas streetcar #30.

Talbot St., facing west from Ross St. circa 1900.

“Wilson Ave” streetcar on Wilson Ave. Bridge, photo facing south circa 1901.

St. Thomas Municipal Railway streetcar crosses the L&PS tracks on December 31st, 1915. This photo is from the Library and Archives of Canada.

St. Thomas Municipal Railway streetcar on Ross St. at Wellington St. facing south in 1920.

The streetcar in this photo can be seen turning south from Talbot St. to Ross. This car might be a Loop Line car turning back to the west along Wellington or a Local heading cross-town down Ross to Hemlock. This photo was taken from the YMCA, which used to be on the southeast corner. Thanks Chris Meredith for sharing this photo to the “St. Thomas Railway Heritage” group on Facebook!

Street Railway car barn on Talbot St. at Stanley in 1920.

St. Thomas’s streetcar system was shut down after 47 years on February 12th, 1926, and replaced by buses.

Mural of a St. Thomas streetcar painted on the wall of a building on Talbot St. 2020 photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

Another mural of a St. Thomas streetcar painted on the wall of a building on Talbot St. 2020 photo taken by Trevor P.S.

London & Port Stanley (L&PS) Railway

1856-1965

This railway began service with steam trains way back in 1856, and was one of the first railways to be built in Ontario at the time. In 1914 the railway was leased by the City of London, which proceeded to electrify it. The L&PS began electric passenger service on July 1st, 1915.

The first new L&PS electric locomotive to arrive at St. Thomas in June of 1915. This photo was scanned from Frank and Nancy Prothero’s book “Passport to Pleasure: A History of the L&PS Railway.”

The old St. Thomas L&PS station at Kains St. and Station St. in 1916. This was built during the L&PS steam days and replaced in 1920 by Talbot St. Station.

In the summer of 1919, this shelter and ticket kiosk served the L&PS customers in St. Thomas.

New Talbot St. Station under construction shortly before opening in 1920. This photo was scanned from Frank and Nancy Prothero’s book “Passport to Pleasure: A History of the L&PS Railway.”

The new L&PS Talbot St. Station opened in 1920.

Workers clearing snow near St. Thomas circa 1920.

L&PS electric locomotive L3 hauling the R.C.A.F. Troop Train through St. Thomas in March of 1941.

Talbot St. Station circa 1945. This photo is from the collection of Larry Broadbent.

L&PS #16 at St. Thomas Station circa 1950. #16 is now preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum in the USA.

L&PS train approaching Barwick St. in St. Thomas, 1954.

L&PS #8 at New York Central Station in St. Thomas, 1954.

Crossing Ross Street away from NYC Station in St. Thomas. The station still stands to this day as an event and office space. This photo is from the collection of Larry Broadbent.

Ross St. facing east towards the old train station in 2020.

L&PS #2 passing the BX tower as it heads eastbound towards NYC Station. 1954.

Same view in 2020.

Facing south away from Talbot St. Station on Feb. 28th, 1954.

Talbot St. Station, February 28th, 1954.

Talbot St. Station, February 28th, 1954.

L&PS at Talbot St. Station. Photo facing north from Talbot St. in 1955.

L&PS cars #14 and #10 at Tolbot St. Station in September of 1955. L&PS #14 is now preserved at the Elgin County Railway Museum and #10 is at Exporail in Quebec. This photo was taken by R. Cerne and is now in the collection of Larry Broadbent.

Facing north from Talbot St. in 2020.

L&PS L2 heading southbound at Talbot St. Station circa 1955. L2 is now preserved at our museum! This photo is from the collection of Larry Broadbent.

Looking southwest towards Talbot St. Station in 1956.

L&PS train crossing Sunset Drive at the southern end of St. Thomas in 1956. This photo is from the collection of Ryan Belanger.

Facing north across Sunset Drive towards the L&PS Pinafore Yard in 1955.

Facing north across Sunset Drive in 2020.

L&PS Pinafore Yard, located between Elm St. and Sunset Drive in St. Thomas. This photo was taken on August 11th, 1956, and is now in the collection of Larry Broadbent.

L&PS diesel locomotive L4 in 1956.

L&PS #12 crossing the CN Diamond. 1956 photo from the collection of Ryan Belanger.

Fan trip in 1957. Lorne Hymers Collection.

The last day of passenger service on the L&PS was on February 18th, 1957. The electric railway continued with freight operations until that too was ended in the 1960s.

Facing north along the former-L&PS tracks to Kains St. and the old L&PS Station, which was in use as a freight shed at the time.

Both L&PS stations in St. Thomas would eventually be demolished, but the Talbot St. Station was rebuilt as a 2/3 scale replica in 2010 by the Elgin and St. Thomas Homebuilders’ Association. It was relocated to the site of the original station in 2013.

The 2/3 scale replica of L&PS Talbot St. Station, photographed by Trevor P.S. in 2020.

Northern end of the old L&PS tracks just north of Talbot St. Station, facing south in 2020.

We have L&PS electric locomotive L2 and cars #8 and #4 in our museum’s collection.

L&PS #8 at our museum in 2020.

L&PS #4 at our museum in 2020.

Learn more about what is in our museum’s collection here.

Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram where we frequently post new and archival photographs!

The Elgin County Railway Museum

is located in St. Thomas and has L#PS car #14 and locomotive #L1 in their collection. Learn more about the ECRM here!

L&PS interurban #14 undergoing restoration at the Elgin County Railway Museum.

L&PS electric locomotive L1 on display inside Elgin County Railway Museum in 2020.

Scale model of L&PS L1 on a street in St. Thomas. This is a part of a large model railway inside the Elgin County Railway Museum.

You can learn more about the history of the London & Port Stanley Railway here: https://www.pstr.on.ca/history.htm

We also have a Youtube channel featuring colour film footage of the L&PS Railway in the 1950s: https://youtu.be/BYUfHHjlk3w

Lost Electric Railways: St. Thomas, ONT2022-03-20T00:35:12-04:00

TTC Exhibit at the Ex – 1984

 

1984 was a year of celebration for the City of Toronto as it turned 150 years old! To contribute to the special anniversary, the TTC’s held an exhibit indoors at the Exhibition grounds during the Canadian National Exhibition. This included 2 TTC artifacts from the Canada Science and Technology Museum, the Ford Transit bus from our museum, a Thomas-Mighty Might Wheeltrans bus, a new Scarborough RT car, and the Info bus!

CLICK THE PHOTOS BELOW FOR A CLOSER LOOK:

This photo was taken by Ted Wickson on August 8th.

TTC double-deck bus #1 being unloaded into the display building at the CNE grounds. This was the TTC’s first bus when it was purchased from the 5th Avenue Coach Co. in 1921. The bus was retired only a couple years later and kept by the TTC as a historic vehicle until it was donated to the Science & Tech Museum in 1968.

Ted Wickson photo from August 8th, 1984.

Ex-Kitchener Ford Transit bus #792 from our museum’s collection was sent to Toronto for the temporary exhibit. This bus was built in 1945, retired in 1968 and donated to our museum that same year. The bus was painted blue for Kitchener Transit but eventually got a TTC-tribute paint job for a movie shoot, and the bus has stayed that way ever since.

Bus #792 on Prince Edward Island Crescent on the Exhibition grounds. This photo was taken by Ted Wickson on August 9th, 1984.

Photo of the CNE exhibit taken by Ted Wickson on August 16th, 1984.

Also borrowed from the Science and Tech Museum was Toronto Railway Company (TRCo) streetcar #306, which was built in 1892 and retired in 1921. It was kept as a part of the TTC’s historic fleet until it was sent to Ottawa in 1968.

Photo taken on August 16th, 1984 by Ted Wickson.

Photo taken by Rob McMann on August 17th, 1984.

TRCo streetcar #306 has a “people-catcher” on the front, also known as a pedestrian-guard or safety fender. 2 of the old streetcars (#327 and #23) in our museum’s collection have people-catchers just like this!

This photo was taken by Ted Wickson.

The Scarborough Rapid Transit (SRT) line opened for service on March 24th, 1984 between Kennedy and McCowan. One of the new ICTS cars from the SRT line was displayed at the CNE outside of the display building.

Outside of the TTC’s CNE exhibit where the SRT car and Info-Bus were displayed. This photo was taken by Ted Wickson on August 31st, 1984.

Inside the TTC’s Info-Bus. This photo was taken by Ted Wickson.

C.S. Bridges photo of TRCo #306 being removed by crane from the display building on September 6th, 1984.

Another C.S. Bridges photo of TRCo #306 being removed by crane from the display building on September 6th, 1984.

Our Ford bus back on museum property in October of 1984. Behind the bus was a variety of artifacts from our collection.

2016 photo of our Ford bus from Can Pac Swire’s page on Flickr.

This bus is now preserved in Barn #3 and you can see it when we re-open!

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR ENTIRE COLLECTION

Stay tuned for more history articles on this website. Also, please follow us at @streetcarmuseum on Instagram and Twitter.

CLICK THE IMAGES BELOW TO SEE THE OTHER TTC CNE EXHIBITS!

 

TTC Exhibit at the Ex – 19842022-02-09T01:37:38-05:00

TTC Exhibit at the Ex – 1967

 

To celebrate Canada’s centennial in 1967, the TTC exhibited part of it’s historic fleet at Exhibition Place during the CNE. This included 2 horse-drawn buses (omnibuses), a horse-drawn streetcar (horsecar), the TTC’s replica of old streetcar #327, and their first bus, double-decker #1, from 1921. At the time the TTC had 2 Toronto Street Railway (TSR) omnibuses in its heritage fleet: one red and one green. The red TSR omnibus was a replica and gave rides around the inside of the building where the exhibit was held.

Click the photos below for a closer look!

Children loading into the back of the TSR omnibus.

Note the TTC’s “HORSECAR RIDE” sign despite the operating vehicle being an omnibus.

Colour slide of the TSR omnibus operating at the CNE. This image is from the collection of Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

Richmond Hill omnibus, built in 1880 and heavily restored by the TTC circa 1930.

Toronto Street Railway (TSR) horsecar #16, built in 1874 and converted to a trailer in the 1890s. It was restored back to a horsecar by the TTC during the early 1920s.

Ted Wickson’s photo of TSR horsecar #16.

The TTC’s first bus, double-decker #1, was built in 1921 by the 5th Avenue Coach Company in New York.

Ted Wickson’s photo of TTC bus #1.

Rear view of TTC bus #1.

There was a staircase that led to the open upper deck of the bus. This feature was not popular in the winter and the bus was retired from service after only a couple of years.

The TTC’s replica of Toronto Railway Company streetcar #327. The original was built in 1893, scrapped in 1921 and rebuilt in 1934 for Toronto’s centennial.

Ted Wickson photo of streetcar #327.

The year after this exhibit at the CNE, the TTC donated 9 of its historic vehicles to the Canada Science and Technology Museum. This included the red and green TSR omnibuses, the Richmond Hill omnibus, TSR horsecar, TTC bus #1 and more. The TTC’s replica of streetcar #327 was also given away in 1968 but to our museum instead, where it continues to be operational to this day. In 2019, 51 years after the TTC relics arrived in Ottawa, the Science & Tech Museum donated the green TSR omnibus to our museum and it is now preserved in Barn #4.

The green TSR omnibus shortly after it arrived at our museum in April of 2019.

TRCo #327 passes CLRV #4039 at our museum on September 25th, 2021.

Click the image below for the TTC Exhibit at the CNE – 1978:

Stay tuned for more history articles on this website!

Also, please follow us at @streetcarmuseum on Instagram and Twitter.

TTC Exhibit at the Ex – 19672022-02-09T01:39:53-05:00

Lost Electric Railways: Brantford, Ontario

INTRODUCTION

Brantford is part 2 of our series of history articles titled “Lost Electric Railways of Ontario.” If you haven’t seen it yet, please click here for part 1: Simcoe, Ontario (which was south of Brantford on the Lake Erie & Northern Railway.) This article will focus on archival photos taken in Brantford of electric railways including Brantford’s streetcars, the Grand Valley Railway, the Brantford & Hamilton Electric Railway and the Lake Erie & Northern Railway.

CLICK THE PHOTOS BELOW FOR A CLOSER LOOK!

Map of Brantford’s electric railways scanned from John Mill’s book “Ontario’s Grand River Valley Electric Railways.”

BRANTFORD’S STREETCARS: 1886 to 1940

Brantford Street Railway (BSR)

Original horsecar barns and offices of the BSR on Oxford St. (now Colborne St. West) at Oak St., circa 1886. Photo scanned from John Mill’s book “Ontario’s Grand River Valley Electric Railways.”

The BSR began operating horse-drawn streetcars (horsecars) on September 9th, 1886. Free rides were available for all, and while the horsecars derailed “rather frequently”, they were light and easy to lift back onto the tracks. Stables and car sheds were at Gilkison and Oxford (now West Colborne) streets.

Rails were laid on three routes: to the GTR station on Colborne St. at Clarence (later extended to Park Ave.), to the GTR main line station at the north end of Market St., and via King, Darling, William, Richmond, and Brant Ave. to the School for the Blind.

 The streetcars were electrified in 1893.

Early electric streetcar operated by the Brantford Street Railway.

An old postcard showing Colborne St. facing east from King St. in downtown Brantford.

In 1902 the BSR was purchased by Doctor Ritter Ickes and his Von Echa Company who would combine it with his unbuilt “Port Dover, Brantford, Berlin, & Goderick Railway.” The company was then renamed the Grand Valley Railway (GVR) in 1904. In 1906 Dr. Ickes disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared years earlier, and left behind unpaid bills and creditors. He couldn’t be found for some time, but in April of 1906 word was received that he had died in April 1906 in Seattle, Washington, leaving behind a tangle of legal and financial problems. The Von Echa Company sold its railway assets in May of 1906 and it was reported that the company was practically out of business without Dr. Ickes in charge.

In 1905 the system was purchased by a Toronto group headed by A.J. Pattison but sold to M.A. Vernor of Pittsburgh. The new owner formally amalgamated the BSR, the GVR and Woodstock, Thames & Ingersoll under the Grand Valley Railway (GVR) name in 1907.

Colborne St. & Echo Place district, 1908. Al Patterson Collection.

Oxford Street and Mount Pleasant, West Brantford 1909. This streetcar was a part of the first electric group introduced to Brantford in 1893.

GRAND VALLEY RAILWAY (GVR)

1904-1930

This interurban railway was built by the Von Echa Company, under the charter rights of the “Port Dover, Brantford, Berlin & Goderich Railway.” The interurban company was legally separate from the Brantford Street Railway, which was also owned by the Von Echa Company at the time. Service began on the GVR from Brantford to Paris in 1903, with the line reaching downtown Galt in 1905.

Grand Valley Railway open car #53 at Grand Valley Park circa 1904. The railway-owned park was located between what is now Hardy Road and the Alexander Graham Bell Parkway on the west side of Golf Rd.

When the GVR controlled the Brantford Street Railway between 1904 and 1914 the rolling stock for both systems was pooled.

Grand Valley Railway (GVR) car #50 at the Brantford terminus on Colborne St. at George St., in front of the Kerby House Hotel, circa 1910. This photo is from the R.F. Corley Fonds at Exporail’s archives.

In 1916 the GVR company was closed and service on the interurban line was operated by the Brantford Municipal Railway. In 1929 the GVR line from Brantford to Paris was discontinued, with limited service continuing as far as Ava Golf Club, near then closed Grand Valley Park.

BRANTFORD MUNICIPAL RAILWAY

1914-1935

In 1912 the company went into receivership and the interurban line was deemed in too bad of shape for safe operations. The City of Brantford assumed ownership of the system in 1914 and 9 new cars and a snow sweeper were ordered from Preston.

BMR open car #82 with a large freight motor behind it in Grand Valley Park, 1917. This photo was scanned from John Mill’s book “Traction on the Grand.” His newer version of this book, “Ontario’s Grand River Valley Electric Railways” has this photo incorrectly labeled as “Mohawk Park circa 1902.”

1928 – Large Preston car #204 on Colborne St. at Market St. in Brantford and on route to Paris (ON.) Brant Museum.

Colborne St. facing west towards Market St. on Google Streetview. All of the buildings in the 1928 view have long since been demolished.

Brantford Municipal Railway streetcar #137 in 1935.

BRANTFORD PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION

In 1935 the Brantford Municipal Railway (BMR) was replaced by Brantford Public Utility Commission, as the local hydro distribution system and railway were amalgamated.

Brantford streetcar #131 at Market St. at Colborne St., 1937. Photo credit: Frank E. Butts and scanned from John Mill’s book “Ontario’s Grand River Valley Electric Railways.” There is a pedestrian walkway on Market St. now on the north side of the intersection.

Sweeper on Market St. near Colborne, in January of 1938. Photo taken by O.P. Maus, now in the collection of Brant Museum.

Brantford Carhouse April 1939 O.P.Maus J.W.Hood Collection

1939 Murray Street, CNR’s Brantford to Fort Erie Dunnville subdivision Al Patterson Collection

The last of Brantford’s streetcars were retired and replaced by buses on January 31st, 1940.

BRANTFORD & HAMILTON ELECTRIC RAILWAY (B&H)

1908-1931

The B&H was one of Hamilton’s radial railways, that would eventually be owned by Cataract Co. Passenger service began between Brantford and Hamilton on May 23rd, 1908. A small wooden station was built on Market St. in Brantford and used until the Lake Erie & Northern Railway (LE&N) opened a station at the Grand River in 1916.

Postcard of the Brantford & Hamilton Electric Railway.

Brantford substation for the B&H line, 1919. It was located on Murray Street near Greenwhich St. and today only the foundation remains on an overgrown and fenced off lot.

Looking east from the bridge over the Grand River in 1920.

Looking east from the bridge over the Grand River in 2021.

Brantford Station circa 1920.

B&H Schedule, scanned from John Mill’s book “Ontario’s Grand River Valley Electric Railways.”

The B&H ended passenger service on June 30th, 1931. The last trip was made by car #225 which had made the first trip to Brantford in 1908. You can learn more about Hamilton’s lost radial railways here: http://www.trainweb.org/hamtransithist/radials.html

The Lake Erie & Northern Railway (LE&N)

opened for passenger service on June 2nd, 1917 between Brantford and Simcoe. LE&N cars did not start servicing Port Dover regularly until July 22nd.

Brantford’s LE&N station was built as a 2-story structure at the south-west corner of Brant Ave. and Colborne St. with trains passing through the station’s lower level.

August 17th, 1916 issue of the Canadian Engineer, featuring the newly opened LE&N station in Brantford.

Grand River 1920, facing north.

Grand River 2021, facing north.

In 1931 the Lake Erie & Northern Railway (LE&N) was amalgamated with the Grand River Railway (GRR) to create the Canadian Pacific Electric Lines (CPEL.) Equipment from the 2 different systems was mixed together for service between Kitchener and Port Dover.

(LE&N) electric interurban #975 heading southbound towards Brantford Station, 1948. This slide is from the collection of Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

2021 view of the same spot, photographed by Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

1948 postcard of GRR #848 heading southbound away from Brantford Station.

2021 shot of the same spot, taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor P.S.

GRR electric baggage car #622 in 1950. This slide is from the collection of Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

1952 shot of CPEL train heading northbound from Brantford Station. This photo is from the Walter Keevil Collection.

Same spot facing east towards Lorne Bridge in 2021. Trevor PS photo

1952. This photo is from the Walter Keevil Collection.

Lake Erie & Northern Railway (LE&N) line truck M-6 in 1952. Walter Keevil Collection. M-6 was built as a Pepsi-Cola delivery truck and the LE&N put steel wheels on it and converted it to an overhead line work vehicle. Now preserved in Barn #4 of our museum!

1953 shot of Brantford from the Walter Keevil Collection.

END OF SERVICE

When news broke out that CPEL was ending passenger service, rail flans flocked to document the final days of the system. A charter was held on April 24th, 1955 for a “last run” to Port Dover and back.

Charter on April 24th, 1955. Richard Glaze shot.

Charter on April 24th, 1955. Richard Glaze shot.

Charter on April 24th, 1955. Richard Glaze shot.

Brantford Station closed and sat empty for 3 years before being demolished in 1958. CPEL continued operating electric freight trains along this route until 1961, when those too were retired from service. Tracks remained here and in use until as recent as 2015, when they were finally ripped out. Today there is a public trail along the Grand River next to where the old LE&N right-of-way used to be.

Facing north west from under the Lorne Bridge in 2021. Photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

2021 photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

2021 photo taken facing southeast by Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

The old loading platform beneath Lorne Bridge is still visible in 2021. Photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

Outline of the old staircase from LE&N’s Brantford Station. 2021 photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor P.S.

Public trail on the north bank of the Grand River. This land was filled in between the old retaining wall and the current water line. 2021 photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor P.S.

We have the LE&N’s last passenger car #797 preserved at our museum. 2021 photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor P.S.

LE&N electric locomotive #335 outside in yard #2 during the Covid lockdown of 2020. Photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor P.S.

You can learn more about the Lake Erie & Northern Railway here: http://www.trainweb.org/elso/len.htm

Much of the information and photographs in this article can be found in John Mill’s book “Ontario’s Grand River Valley Electric Railways” and also “Steel Wheels Along the Grand” by George W. Roth.

Please stay tuned for more articles in this series on Ontario’s lost electric railways. You can follow our museum at Facebook and Instagram where photographs like this are posted daily!

Lost Electric Railways: Brantford, Ontario2024-01-15T21:06:00-05:00

Lost Electric Railways: Simcoe, Ontario

INTRODUCTION

This article is part of the LOST ELECTRIC RAILWAYS OF ONTARIO series, and will focus on photographs taken in specific towns and cities along these lost routes. Today we will be taking a look at the town of Simcoe, Ontario, which was one of the stops close to the southern end of the Lake Erie & Northern Railway.

44 years before the electric railway arrived in Simcoe, the town’s first steam railway, known as the Canada Air Line Railway, opened from Fort Erie in December of 1873. The town’s second railway, the Port Dover & Lake Huron Railway, opened in 1875 between Port Dover, Woodstock, and Stratford. In 1889 the town’s third railway, the South Norfolk Railway, opened and in 1893 the 3 railways became part of the Grand Trunk Railway. When the Lake Erie & Northern Railway opened in 1916 between Galt and Port Dover it was the last electric interurban line to be built in Canada, while its partner, the Grand River Railway, was almost the first.

 We’ll add more photos to this article if we find more, so check back once in a while! Click on the images below for a close look:

ELECTRIC RAILWAY COMES TO SIMCOE

Planning of this route began in Brantford in 1910, with the idea being that Port Dover would be a good ferry terminal to connect to. The LE&N originally planned to have it’s interurbans street-running through Simcoe, but when the Canadian Pacific Railway took control of the project in early 1911, the idea was dropped. A private right-of-way was constructed that cut straight north/south through Simcoe past the east bank of the Lynn River, along with a passenger station, small freight yard, trestle, and bridge. Simcoe Station opened for business in 1916 on the south side of Argyle St. at the east side of the Lynn River.

Facing south across Argyle St. towards Simcoe Station, 1916. The station had a rotary converter for 1200v operations, which would later be replaced by the square brick building that still stands today.

Facing south across Arygle St. towards the former site of the station in 2021. This photo was taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

Victoria Street facing east over the LE&N tracks towards Sherman Ave. some time around 1920. On the south side of the street was the Brook Woolen Mills, which was constructed in 1888 after a fire had destroyed the previous building from 1882. The company would be one of Canada’s most progressive and prosperous woolen mills.

 

Victoria St. facing east in 2021. Photo by Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

Fan trip at Simcoe Station in 1947. Photo taken facing north by M.D. McCarter and is now in the Exporail Archives.

Same spot facing north to Argyle St. in 2021. Photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

Grand River Rwy. 226 northbound at Simcoe Station. Note the vintage, outside-frame, wooden hopper (Obsolete even in 1951.) Photo taken by Bob Sandusky on June 16th, 1951. You can see the newer voltage rectifier building behind the station which was built after WW2 and still stands today.

GRR 844 at Simcoe, May 15, 1954, Alan Williams photo, W.R. Keevil Archive.

GRR 624-844 at Simcoe, Train 11, 440 PM, May 15, 1954, Alan Williams photo, W.R. Keevil Archive.

GRR 624-844 NB at Simcoe, moving, May 15, 1955, Alan Williams photo, W.R. Keevil Archive

April 8th, 1955. Bill Hood photo, now in the collection of HCRR volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras. Last Day of passenger service April 24th, 1955. Lorne Hymers photo.

Lynn River Trestle, photographed by Bob Sandusky on April 23rd 1955.

END OF SERVICE

When news broke about the GRR & LE&N going out of business, rail fans and photographers flocked to document the final years of the electric lines. A charter with a special 5-car train made a ceremonial final run from Preston to Port Dover and back. The chartered train made a stop at Simcoe when these photos were taken:

Last day charter, April 24th 1955. Lorne Hymers.

Richard Glaze’s photo of the occasion.

Another Richard Glaze photo of the occasion.

Facing north from the Lynn River Trestle towards the CNR diamond. Richard Glaze took this shot from the back window of the chartered CPEL train.

For 6 years after the end of passenger service, CPEL continued freight operations until an official “last run” charter was held on September 30th, 1961.

Chartered train on “last run”, Sept. 30th 1961. Lorne Hymers Collection.

The following day on October 1st, an electric locomotive had to be used once last time on the line due to the operator not yet being trained on diesels. The LE&N tracks between Simcoe and Port Dover were torn up between 1962 and 1964.

Same spot as last electric freight run photo, 2021. Facing south towards Victoria St. in the distance.

Brook Woolen Mills 1970. Facing south from Victoria St.

Victoria St. facing south in 2021. The old mill is now a nursing home. Photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

The station at Argyle St. remained standing for years, and was an overgrown spot known as “the Jungle” during the 1970s. Apparently the station was briefly used as a residence before it was finally demolished in 1978.

Friday, December 22nd, 1978 issue of the Expositor newspaper, featuring Simcoe’s LE&N Station in its final year.

REMNANTS OF LE&N RAILWAY IN SIMCOE 2021

Today you can walk or bike along the old right-of-way in Simcoe. The LE&N right-of-way in Simcoe is still mostly intact from the old CNR diamond south of Victoria St. all the way north through Waterford, Mt Pleasant, to Brantford. At the former location of the CNR diamond crossing south of Victoria St., the LE&N public trial deviates along the CN right-of-way southeast to Port Dover.

The LE&N trail facing south from between 14th St. and Davis St., 2021.

Facing south along the rail trail from south of Victoria St. 2021 photo by Trevor P.S.

The supports for the old trestle in 2021. The water level has dropped significantly in the 7 decades between the this and the previous photo. The old Mill’s dam was opened up causing the Lynn River to drop noticeably.

Another look at the old trestle in 2021.

Former right-of-way facing south to remnants of bridge in 2021.

Old steps leading down both sides of the north abutment of the lost bridge, with newer fencing for safety.

West side view of the old Lake Erie & Northern Railway bridge in 2021.

East side view of the Lynn River Bridge in 2021.

The bridge abutment viewed from the south side of the Lynn River on March 9th, 2022.

Cattle underpass beneath the LE&N right-of-way between the Fleet & Facilities Division road and Lynn Valley Road. The underpass is stamped 1913, which was 3 years before service began on the railway above. Photo taken on March 9th, 2022 by Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

Close-up of the 1913 date stamp on the LE&N cattle underpass. March 9th, 2022 photo by Trevor P.S.

Cattle underpass east side of LE&N right-of-way, 2022.

Only surviving building of the electric railway that passed through Simcoe.

The brick rectifier building is still standing to this day. It was built after the war to change voltage with solid state equipment, rather than the rotary converter that was inside Simcoe Station. The rotary converter was an AC motor driven off the Hydro grid turning a DC generator to provide 1200 VDC for operation.

Old insulators.

HO SCALE MODELS BY ROGER CHRYSLER

Local Historian Roger has created a fleet of HO scale replicas of the CPEL interurbans and some of the stations from the line. He created his own blueprints for Simcoe Station based on many old rail-fan photos from various angles. The freight shed on the north side of Argyle Street was a bit harder for him to figure out, due to there being only one poor quality photo he could find of it.

HO Scale model of LE&N car #953 and Simcoe Station.

Looking north towards station and Argyle St.

Lynn River Trestle.

Lynn River Trestle.

Lynn River Bridge, just south of the Lynn River Trestle.

See more photos of Roger’s creations at Grand River Car Shops on Facebook. 

MUSEUM ARTIFACTS

We have the last passenger car and locomotive from this lost electric railway, LE&N #797 and #335, in our museum’s collection.

LE&N #797 inside Barn #3 on July 6th, 2021. Photo by Trevor P.S.

LE&N electric locomotive #335outside in yard #2, 2020.

See what else is in our museum’s collection here: https://hcry.org/collection/

You can learn more about the Lake Erie & Northern Railway here: http://www.trainweb.org/elso/len.htm

Please stay tuned for more articles in this series on Ontario’s lost electric railways. You can follow our museum at Facebook and Instagram where photographs like this are posted daily!

Many of the photographs in this article can be found in John Mill’s book “Ontario’s Grand River Valley Electric Railways” and also “Steel Wheels Along the Grand” by George W. Roth.

Watch 16mm film footage of CPEL electric freight trains in Cambridge, Ontario, in the late 1950s on our Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/0Xfo-4KC0j8

Lost Electric Railways: Simcoe, Ontario2022-03-13T17:22:18-04:00

The Odyssey of Interurban #8

One of our museum’s artifacts, London & Port Stanley Railway interurban #8, has been on a long and eventful odyssey through time since it was built 106 years ago! This article is only about car #8, so if you want to learn more about the London & Port Stanley Railway there are links for further reading at the bottom of this page.  Below you’ll find many photos depicting #8’s story:

New Interurban Cars Built 1915

L&PS cars at St. Thomas Depot, July 1915, with #8 on the left. These electric interurbans were built by Jewett Car Co. earlier that year for the newly electrified London & Port Stanley Railway.

Inside the L&PS shops in London, Ontario, circa 1915. #8 is on the far right side. This photo is from the Komoka Railway Museum‘s collection and was on display on the wall inside the Elgin County Railway Museum.

Exterior of the L&PS shops in London, ON at the southeast corner of Philip St. and Maitland St., 1915.

L&PS shops at Philip St. and Maitland St. in 2020, taken by HCRR volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras. The old building had a 3rd floor added shortly after opening and is now occupied by fruit & vegetable wholesalers.

Locations of the L&PS Station, yard and shops in London, Ontario from Google Earth.

L&PS #8 after a fire in the 1926, which was apparently started by a short circuit in the wiring. The car was restored by Canada Car & Foundry and this photo is from the Elgin County Archives.

The interior of #8 in 1926 shortly after the fire damage had been fixed. Photo is from the Elgin County Archives.

Passengers on the L&PS in the 1920s. Photo is from the Western University Archives: Hines Collection.

L&PS #8 hauling a train near St. Thomas on July 7th, 1946.

New York Central Station in St. Thomas, Ontario in 1954. Photo from the collection of Larry Broadbent.

#8 crossing Ross Street, St. Thomas, ON. #8 still had it’s stained glass windows in this photo, but they were removed shortly after. 1954 photo is from Larry Broadbent’s collection.

Locations of Talbot St. Station, NYC Railway Station and Elgin County Railway Museum in St. Thomas, Ontario. Screenshot from Google Earth.

Cars #12 and #8 crossing Thames River Bridge in London, 1955. Note that #12 still had it’s stained glass windows while #8 didn’t have them anymore.

#8 and #14 heading northbound across Bridge Street towards Port Stanley Station, ca. 1956. L&PS #14 is now preserved at the Elgin County Railway Museum.

Google Earth view of Port Stanley, showing the location of the Bridge Street Station and Beach Terminal. The tracks south of Bridge Street are all long gone, with many houses having been built on the old right-of-way.

Cab view from #8 at Bathurst St. in London, ON, May 1962. Despite L&PS passenger service ending in 1957, #8 continued in freight service for a few more years before finally being retired.

RETIREMENT

#8 in storage at the TTC’s Hillcrest Yard in June 21st, 1967. The Ontario Government had preserve #8 for a proposed transit exhibit at the Ontario Science Centre, but this plan fell through and #8 was put up for sale before our Association purchased the car in 1968. Photo was taken by Howard Wayt, and is now in the Transit Toronto Collection.

In 1971 #8 was finally picked up Charles Matthews Building Movers and trucked to our museum. Here it is about to leave Hillcrest Yard in this Richard Glaze photo from 1971.

The truck carrying #8 about to turn onto Town Line. Richard Glaze photo 1971.

Turning into the museum’s old entrance on 4th Line. Richard Glaze photo 1971.

Unloading #8 next to Barn #1 at our museum. Richard Glaze photo 1971.

#8 sitting on wood ties at our museum in this Richard Glaze photo. The car was delivered without it’s trucks, since they would have made the car sit too high to pass under bridges on it’s way to our museum. #8’s trucks were sent to National Steel Car in Hamilton for re-gauging to TTC streetcar gauge, which is what our museum operates on, and the trucks were delivered in 1972.

Returned to Life at the Halton County Radial Railway

By the time this shot was taken by Richard Glaze in 1974, #8 had been repainted and was operating at our museum. The car was powered by 1500 volts on the L&PS line and had to be converted to the museum’s 600 volt operation by volunteers Tony Barnshaw and Bob Veitch, who were also Electrical Engineers at Canadian Westinghouse.

Richard Glaze’s shot from 1982, showing #8 with a much brighter Tremclad green paint scheme. This was only meant to be temporary until the car could be given a proper restoration. Shortly after this photo was taken, work began on fully restoring the car which was led by the late Bob Johnson, who had assistance from other museum members including Brian Hume, Jim Borland, Dave Andrew and the McOuat brothers. Bob did the restoration as a tribute to his late wife, and wouldn’t accept any shortcuts or shoddy workmanship under his watch. As restoration progressed it became apparent that back in 1955 the L&PS had given #8’s stained glass windows out to anyone who wanted them, and most of the windows were gradually donated back to the museum during the late 80s/early 90s.

In 1998 the freshly restored #8 was unveiled at our museum, with many people turning out for the special occasion. The car had been restored to it’s 1915 “as-built” paint scheme. These photos were taken by HCRR volunteer Dave Reigate.

Phil Vanderpost’s shot from 1998, showing #8 driving out of our Restoration/Maintenance barn.

Phil Vanderpost’s shot of #8 in Yard #2 from 1998.

Museum members working on the roof of #8 in 2006.

L&PS #8  on June 4th, 2019. This photograph was taken by HCRR volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

The interior of #8 in 2019, photographed by HCRR volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

Pete Byerlay’s shot of one of L&PS #8’s stained glass windows.

Pete Byerlay’s shot of one of our museum’s volunteers, Kevin Brown, operating #8.

Our museum’s Master Mechanic Gord McOuat has put in a lot of work on #8 in the past decades at the museum. Photo by HCRR volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

Maintaining these old cars is hard work, but it has to be done if we want them to be operational!

#8 next to the “new cars” at our museum in 2020, photographed by HCRR volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

Photo by HCRR volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras, 2020.

L&PS #8 with our artsy streetcar CLRV #4178 and CNR caboose on September 12th, 2021.

 

You can learn more about the history of the London & Port Stanley Railway here: https://www.pstr.on.ca/history.htm

See what’s in our museum’s collection here: https://hcry.org/collection/

Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram where we frequently post new and archival photographs!

We also have a Youtube channel featuring colour film footage of the L&PS Railway in the 1950s: https://youtu.be/BYUfHHjlk3w

The Odyssey of Interurban #82021-11-10T21:04:40-05:00

Transit Exhibit at the Ex – 1978

In 1978 the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), also known as Toronto’s Exhibition (the Ex), turned 100 years old! That same year the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) had unveiled it’s new streetcar, the Canadian Light Rail Vehicle (CLRV), and GO Transit rolled out it’s new bi-level train coaches to replace the older single-deck cars. To celebrate these new vehicles and the C.N.E.’s centennial, the 3 organizations put on a large display of buses, streetcars, and trains. 2 old streetcars from our museum’s collection were at the event as well. Below you’ll find many great images of this exhibit.

CLICK THE PHOTOS FOR A CLOSER LOOK!

EXHIBIT SET-UP

Ex-Toronto Railway Company (TRCo) streetcar #1326 arriving at the CNE. This streetcar was built by the TRCo in 1910, acquired by the TTC in 1921, was their last wood streetcar when it was retired in 1951, and was the first artifact in our museum’s collection when we received it in 1954. This Kodachrome photo was taken by Transit Photographer Richard Glaze and donated along with many other slides to our archives.

Peter Witt streetcar #2894 arriving at the CNE. Witt #2894 wouldn’t be donated to our museum until 1986. Photo by Richard Glaze.

Peter Witt streetcar #2894 being unloaded in this photo taken by the late Transit Photographer Rob McMann.

The brand new CLRV arriving at the CNE. Photo by Rob McMann.

CLRV #4000 and part of Mike Filey’s replica of the Industrial Exhibition Electrical Railway, which ran through the exhibition grounds in 1885. Photo by Rob McMann.

The operator’s car for the Industrial Exhibition Electrical Railway replica photographed by Rob McMann.

The exhibit set-up was nearing completion in this photo by Alan Gryfe.

PUBLIC DISPLAY

Photo taken by L. Swanson.

CLRV #4000 photographed by Kevin Nicol.

The TTC’s first bus, a double-decker from 1921, was preserved as a historic relic and donated to the Canada Science and Technology Museum in 1968. This shot was taken by Kevin Nicol.

The rear of TTC bus #1. This photo was taken by an unknown photographer and is now in the collection of HCRR volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

Photo of PCC #4456 by Kevin Nicol.

Mike Filey’s replica of the Industrial Exhibition Electrical Railway from 1885. Photo by L. Swanson.

(more…)

Transit Exhibit at the Ex – 19782022-02-09T01:41:16-05:00

Our Mission

To collect, preserve, restore, operate and display electric railway-related objects, and interpret their historical significance through the operation of the Halton County Radial Railway.

Come ride the streetcars! The Halton County Radial Railway (HCRR) is a full-size operating electric railway and museum, featuring historic electric railcars operating on two kilometers of scenic track. The HCRR is owned and operated by the Ontario Electric Railway Historical Association (OERHA), a non-profit, educational organization. The HCRR is proud to be Ontario’s first and largest electric railway museum.

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