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!