World's Highest Streetcar Crossing - Edmonton Streetcars
Edmonton was incorporated as a town in 1892 and experienced rapid growth following incorporation. It was quickly apparent that an efficient, modern transportation solution was needed for the population. Horses were expensive to keep and created a mess and streets would often be muddy, difficult, and uncomfortable to travel upon.
The City of Edmonton operated an extensive streetcar system for 43 years between 1908 and 1951 ranging from Glenora to Northlands and Calder to Whyte Avenue. At its peak, the Edmonton Radial Railway had around 80 cars and two streetcar maintenance and storage barns.
What are Streetcars?
Streetcars, trolleys, or trams are public transportation vehicles run on rails usually powered by electricity via an overhead catenary or power line.
Streetcars started out as basically horse drawn wagons on rails to provide less rolling resistance and a smoother ride. Over time this was abandoned in favor of stream and ultimately DC electricity due to reduced expense and cleaner operation.
A Brief History of Edmonton Streetcars
The Edmonton Radial Railway opened in 1908 and was envisioned to serve a population of 23,000 in the then separate towns of Edmonton and Strathcona. It started out with seven cars manufactured by the Ottawa Car Company and the cars arrived by train only to actually have to be assembled in the Edmonton shops!
After a few hiccups the streetcar rapidly became a success and the 5-cent fare was charged to passengers. If passengers needed to travel to Strathcona via the Low Level Bridge, they would be charged an additional 5 cents. The network quickly grew as was the need for more vehicles (rolling stock). More vehicles were added to the fleet from various manufacturers such as the St. Louis Car Company and Preston Car Company.
Edmonton and Strathcona were amalgamated into the City of Edmonton with the completion of the High Level Bridge shortly after in 1913. This bridge provided a valuable link between the two population centres via three tracks on the top (two for streetcars and one for trains) with a deck below for wagons and pedestrians.
The next few years proved tumultuous for the railway. Wartime stresses of World War I caused financial strain resulting in route changes, conversion of the cars from a two-man operation to a single motorman, and fare increases.
The system went through boom and bust cycles with a significant increase in ridership during WWII due to resource rationing towards the war effort overseas.
Streetcar Decline
Across North America streetcar systems quickly disappeared following World War II. Despite record levels of ridership, the systems quickly dropped off following 1945 for the following reasons:
- Economic prosperity encouraged the use of private automobiles
- Wartime material rationing had left the tracks and cars in very poor shape that would require a large investment to rehabilitate
- Car and tire companies such as General Motors and Firestone bought streetcar systems and built roads forcing cities and people to buy cars or buses and/or convinced city councils to scrap streetcars in favor of diesel buses citing lower operating costs
The City of Edmonton closed the streetcar system entirely on September 2, 1951. While some rails and ties were removed, many lengths of track were buried under pavement and are still found during the rebuilding of roads today.
The streetcars lived on, in a way, using electric trolley buses. They operated on many routes in the city between 1939-2009 where they too were removed in favor of buses.
Resurrection of Streetcars (LRT)
Despite the removal of the streetcars, the population of Edmonton continued to explode. In 1961, just 10 years after the removal of streetcars, the population of the city had grown by 130,000! A solution needed to be found. Diesel buses had not provided a solution as promised as they got stuck in traffic jams like all other transportation modes.
Studies were commissioned to investigate a mass transit solution and one was found with the proposal of the light rail transit (LRT) in 1970 spurred by the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Construction started in 1974 and the system came online in 1978 serving five stations (Belvedere, Coliseum, Stadium, Churchill, and Belvedere).
Despite being considerably newer, the technology is essentially the same as the streetcar and operates on the same 600-volt current, just with a few more computers and batteries!
The Edmonton Radial Railway Society
The Edmonton Radial Railway Society (ERRS) was founded in 1980 with the mission to maintain, operate, and restore historic streetcars. The society is 100% volunteer based.
They began operating streetcars in Fort Edmonton Park in 1981 with regular service in 1984 on Car Edmonton #1 (the only original car saved from Edmonton service).
Further in 1997, the society established a separate line on the High Level Bridge.
Both lines continue to operate today from May to October.
To Log This Virtual
This virtual cache is seasonal based, this means there are two different sets of tasks based on the season. Only one set of tasks needs to be completed to log this virtual. All tasks can be completed in one visit.
You will need to complete the tasks below in order to prove your visit as there is no physical geocache container to find. E-mail me the answers through my Geocaching profile. Logs with no associated answers will be deleted without warning.
Between Victoria Day and Canadian Thanksgiving is considered the Spring/Summer season. Days that follow Thanksgiving are considered Fall/Winter season until Victoria Day.
Spring/Summer - Go to the posted coordinates and visit the High Level Streetcar during operating hours. Going for a ride is encouraged but not required and there is a minor cost. Visit the ERRS website for current fares (cash only).
1) What is the year of the streetcar you rode on? They have three cars and I know the schedule so I will know if you are lying.
2) Was the car restored or obtained by the ERRS?
3) Post a photo (optional)
Fall/Winter - Go to the posted coordinates to visit the mural dedicated to the streetcar in 2017.
1) How many tiles tall and how many tiles wide is it?
2) How many musical instruments do you see?
3) Post a photo (optional)...but don't give away the answers!
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.