Edmonton Interurban Railway

Overview

I wrote this post in 2019 or so, before a lot of changes in the world and my own life. I meant to get some photos to replace the Google Streetview imagery, but never got around to it.

This post is a very long read, but totally worth it. And, if you aren’t up for the read, then I suggest checking out the photos and maps. They are very interesting on there own.

Cheers,

Jaron

Raymond Brutinel and the Montreal Syndicate

Raymond Brutinel’s first attempt to build an interurban railway was based upon acquiring the unused charter of the Strathcona Radial Tramway Ltd. This attempt was rejected on August 20, 1909, which led Brutinel to seek a new charter from the Province. It took some time, but he and his backers, known in Edmonton as the Montreal Syndicate, eventually worked out an agreement to operate within the City of Edmonton.

 August 1909

19090818 – The Edmonton Bulletin, August 18, 1909 (5 P.M. EDITION), Page 8, Item Ar00819

19090820 – The Edmonton Bulletin, August 20, 1909 (5 P.M. EDITION), Page 1, Item Ar00121

19090827 – The Edmonton Bulletin, August 27, 1909 (3 P.M. EDITION), Page 10, Item Ar01007

19090828 – Saturday News, August 28, 1909, Page 1, Item Ar00104

September 1909

19090909 – The Edmonton Bulletin, September 9, 1909 (5 P.M. EDITION), Page 1, Item Ar00109

19090911 – The Edmonton Bulletin, September 11, 1909 (3 P.M. EDITION), Page 8, Item Ar00808

March 1910

19100316 – The Edmonton Bulletin, March 16, 1910 (5 P.M. EDITION), Page 1, Item Ar00108

Brutinel had ambitions in Prince Rupert too. – 19100330 – The Edmonton Capital, March 30, 1910, Page 1, Item Ar00106

May 1910

19100330 – The Edmonton Capital, March 30, 1910, Page 1, Item Ar00106

19100504 – The Edmonton Bulletin, May 4, 1910, Page 2, Item Ar00210

19100504 – The Edmonton Capital, May 4, 1910, Page 1, Item Ar00118

19100512 – The Edmonton Bulletin, May 12, 1910, Page 1, Item Ar00118

19100513 – The Edmonton Bulletin, May 13, 1910, Page 3, Item Ar00314

19100518 – The Edmonton Bulletin, May 18, 1910, Page 8, Item Ar00803

19100525 – The Edmonton Bulletin, May 25, 1910, Page 12, Item Ar01208

19100528 – The Edmonton Bulletin, May 28, 1910, Page 5, Item Ar00502

June 1910

19100602 – Raymond Brutinel set his eyes on yet another potential interurban railway in the Edmonton area. This one would go from Edmonton to Lake Wabamun using Canadian Northern Railway trackage. – The Edmonton Bulletin, June 2, 1910, Page 5, Item Ar00505

19100604 – The Edmonton Bulletin, June 4, 1910, Page 3, Item Ar00311

19100618 – The Edmonton Capital, June 18, 1910, Page 2, Item Ar00207

September 1910

The Edmonton Interurban Railway line to St. Albert to be ready by June 1911. Meanwhile, the company is installing a 75 kilowatt power plant to provide electricity to St. Albert. – 19100926 – The Edmonton Bulletin, September 26, 1910, Page 1, Item Ar00122

November 1910

19101110 – Bill 35: An Act to Incorporate the Edmonton Interurban Railway Company. (Note: Zoomable PDF available via the Alberta Legislature.)

The locations that are mentioned in Bill 35 include St. Albert and Fort Saskatchewan, but go as far from Edmonton as Athabasca and Beaver Lake. This is truly astonishing, and an utter shame. Here is the complete list of chartered locations that the Edmonton Interurban Railway could have gone:

• Athabasca Landing
• Beaver Lake
• Camrose
• Fort Assiboine
• Fort Saskatchewan
• Lac Ste Anne
• Mewassin
• Morinville
• Pigeon Lake
• St. Albert
• Wetaskiwin

To put the distances into perspective, here is a trip plan with a few of these destinations included. Though we cannot be sure what routes the Edmonton Interurban Railway’s lines would have followed, this gives an idea of what kind of distances they would have covered.

19101111- Trouble begins, as the Edmonton Municipal Improvement League opposes one of the most lucrative elements of the Edmonton Interurban Railway. The Edmonton Municipal Improvement League, led by Joe Clarke, voices their opposition the the Edmonton Interurban Railway based on the fact that the railway’s charter would allow it to mine (and distribute) coal. The league argued that this would give the railway a monopoly on coal over other coal producers. – The Edmonton Capital, November 11, 1910, Page 1, Item Ar00122

December 1910

19101205 – The Edmonton Capital, December 5, 1910, Page 1, Item Ar00113

19101206 – The Edmonton Bulletin, December 6, 1910, Page 1, Item Ar00105

19101206 – The Edmonton Capital, December 6, 1910, Page 1, Item Ar00119

19101207 – The Edmonton Capital, December 7, 1910, Page 4, Item Ar00403

19101208 – The Edmonton Bulletin, December 8, 1910, Page 1, Item Ar00114

19101209 – The Edmonton Capital, December 9, 1910, Page 1, Item Ar00116

19101209 – The Edmonton Capital, December 9, 1910, Page 1, Item Ar00123

19101214 – The Edmonton Capital, December 14, 1910, Page 1, Item Ar00102

19101215 – The Edmonton Capital, December 15, 1910, Page 1, Item Ar00113

19101216 – The Edmonton Bulletin, December 16, 1910, Page 1, Item Ar00112

19101216 – The Edmonton Capital, December 16, 1910, Page 4, Item Ar00403

February 1911

19110207 – The Edmonton Capital, February 7, 1911, Page 1, Item Ar00103

19110224 – The Edmonton Capital, February 24, 1911, Page 2, Item Ar00205

March 1911

19110310 – Undeterred by the loss of mining and power utility rights, the Montreal Syndicate continues the coal venture under a different company, but with the same Board of Directors. – The Edmonton Capital, March 10, 1911, Page 1, Item Ar00117

19110322 – Evanston is advertised as having “Interurban Railway Service a few blocks away, at no distant date.” – The Edmonton Bulletin, March 22, 1911, Page 10, Item Ad01002_6

19110324 – Brutinel and his Montreal Syndicate announce they are abandoning their efforts to build the Edmonton Interurban Railway. – The Edmonton Capital, March 24, 1911, Page 4, Item Ar00405

November 1911

19111121 – Brutinel and his Montreal Syndicate have a change of heart, and ask for more time to build the first line of the Edmonton Interurban Railway. – The Edmonton Capital, November 21, 1911, Page 4, Item Ar00405

M. Kimpe and the English Syndicate

19111123 – Brutinel and his Montreal Syndicate sell the Edmonton Interurban Railway charter to a new group of financiers, the “English Syndicate.” – The Edmonton Capital, November 23, 1911, Page 4, Item Ar00410

December 1911

19111206 – The Edmonton Bulletin, December 6, 1911 (Morning Edition), Page 4, Item Ad00405_4

19111207 – The Edmonton Capital, December 7, 1911, Page 9, Item Ar00906

January 1912

19120125 – The Edmonton Bulletin, January 25, 1912 (MORNING EDITION), Page 3, Item Ar00329

February 1912

19120222 – Mirror Journal, February 22, 1912, Page 4, Item Ar00408

April 1912

19120418 – Glenlyon – The Edmonton Bulletin, April 18, 1912 (MORNING EDITION), Page 8, Item Ad00802_1

June 1912

19120619 – The Edmonton Bulletin, June 19, 1912 (MORNING EDITION), Page 9, Item Ad00901_2

August 1912

19120820 – The Edmonton Bulletin, August 20, 1912 (MORNING EDITION), Page 10, Item Ad01001_4

September 1912

19120930 – The Edmonton Bulletin, September 30, 1912 (Morning Edition), Page 6, Item Ar00603

October 1912

19121003 – Glenlyon – The Edmonton Bulletin, October 3, 1912 (5 O’CLOCK EDITION), Page 5, Item Ad00502_1

19121015 – Glenlyon – The Edmonton Bulletin, October 15, 1912 (Morning Edition), Page 3, Item Ad00303_3

19121018 – EIR Route Map – The Edmonton Bulletin, October 18, 1912 (Morning Edition), Page 10, Item Ad01002_1

19121018 – Glenlyon – The Edmonton Bulletin, October 18, 1912 (Morning Edition), Page 10, Item Ad01002_1

19121018 – Potential for extensions to Big Lake and Cooking Lake. – The Edmonton Bulletin, October 18, 1912 (Morning Edition), Page 11, Item Ar01104

19121025 – Mirror, October 25, 1912, Page 3, Item Ar00304

November 1912

19121104 – Glenlyon – The Edmonton Bulletin, November 4, 1912 (Morning Edition), Page 2, Item Ad00223_5

19121116 – Grading of the Edmonton Interurban Railway in Glenlyon – The Edmonton Bulletin, November 16, 1912 (Morning Edition), Page 4, Item Ad00403_5

19121127 – Construction on the Edmonton Interurban Railway has started. – The St. Albert Star-Étoile de St. Albert, November 27, 1912 (English), Page 1, Item Ar00104

December 1912

Plan 1260AQ, seen here blended with 2018 imagery, was registered with the Government of Alberta. This blended image shows the full extent of completed Edmonton Interurban Railway trackage, as well as Edmonton Radial Railway trackage (including Kingsway Avenue trackage built in 1915-1916). Plan 1260Q is available via the Government of Alberta’s SPIN2 Database.

January 1913

19130115 – Building materials for the EIR have arrived and four McKeen Motor Cars have been ordered (Note: The order of McKeen Motor Cars was evidently cancelled, as they never served the line). – The St. Albert Star-Étoile de St. Albert, January 15, 1913 (English), Page 1, Item Ar00102

February 1913

19130214 – The Edmonton Bulletin, February 14, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 8, Item Ar00803

May 1913

19130513 – The Edmonton Bulletin, May 13, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 12, Item Ar01206

19130514 – Interurban to establish a terminal at the City Market on 101 Street and a terminal on the South Side. – The St. Albert Star-Étoile de St. Albert, May 14, 1913 (English), Page 4, Item Ar00402

0 19130530 – Belgian-built Hele-Shaw type cars to be used. – The Edmonton Bulletin, May 30, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 4, Item Ar00410

June/July 1913

19130702 – Interurban expected to eventually use trackage along Portage Avenue (Kingsway) to reach City Market on First Street (101st). – The St. Albert Star-Étoile de St. Albert, July 2, 1913 (English), Page 1, Item Ar00103

July 1913

19130703 – Alderman Lundy believes the Edmonton Radial Railway should build a line out to Gull Lake, Big Lake, or Cooking Lake and have nothing to do with the EIR. –  The Edmonton Capital, July 3, 1913 (LAST EDITION), Page 7, Item Ar00706

19130712 – The last spike is driven. A Drake Automatrice Hele-Shaw type interurban car on order from Chicago. – The Edmonton Bulletin, July 12, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 20, Item Ar02005

19130715 – Drake Automatrice interurban car. – The Edmonton Bulletin, July 15, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 1, Item Pc00103_4

19130730 – Trouble for the EIR’s agreement with the City. – The Edmonton Capital, July 30, 1913 (LAST EDITION), Page 1, Item Ar00121

August 1913

19130801 – The Edmonton Capital, August 1, 1913 (LAST EDITION), Page 15, Item Ad01503_9

19130802 – The Edmonton Capital, August 2, 1913 (LAST EDITION), Page 1, Item Ar00114

19130804 – EIR has taken out a permit to construct their (temporary) car barn. The Edmonton Bulletin, August 4, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 5, Item Ar00518

19130806 – The Edmonton Capital, August 6, 1913 (LAST EDITION), Page 2, Item Ar00215

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19130809 – The Edmonton Capital, August 9, 1913 (LAST EDITION)

19130809 – The Edmonton Capital, August 9, 1913 (LAST EDITION), Page 18, Item Ar01804

19130809 – Not purpose to stop line at St. Albert – The Edmonton Capital, August 9, 1913 (LAST EDITION), Page 20, Item Ar02009

19130809 – The rolling stock is to be suited to the road. Two interurban cars, one American Drake Automatrice car and one English Pratt car, constructed and ready so far. The Pratt car was completed on July 21, 1913 and tested on England’s Midland Railway. – The Edmonton Capital, August 9, 1913 (LAST EDITION), Page 19, Item Ar01907

19130809 – The Edmonton Capital, August 9, 1913 (LAST EDITION), Page 20, Item Ar02005 – Between Edmonton and St. Albert

19130821 – Drake Automatrice interurban car arrives at Canadian Border. – The Edmonton Bulletin, August 21, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 4, Item Ar00415

19130827 – The agreement between the EIR and City is off. – The Edmonton Capital, August 27, 1913 (LAST EDITION), Page 3, Item Ar00305

19130830 – The Edmonton Bulletin, August 30, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 13, Item Ar01311

19130830 – The Edmonton Capital, August 30, 1913 (LAST EDITION), Page 5, Item Ar00514

September 1913

19130904 – The Edmonton Bulletin, September 4, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 10, Item Ar01008

19130919 – The Edmonton Capital, September 19, 1913 (LAST EDITION), Page 13, Item Ad01303_3

Operations Begin (September 30, 1930)

19130930 – na-1328-2054 – Residents and land promoters welcoming first inter-urban train, Summerland, Alberta – Sept 30 1913

19130930 – na-1328-2056 – Edmonton inter-urban street railway car, Summerland, Alberta. – Sept 30 1913

19130930 – Provincial officials have inspected the EIR line and found it satisfactory. The line begins operations and the EIR orders another (larger) car from Drake Automatrice (this interurban car order seems to have been cancelled later, as no such car is known to have arrived). The Edmonton Bulletin, September 30, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 8, Item Ar00803

19130930 – The Edmonton Capital, September 30, 1913 (LAST EDITION), Page 4, Item Ad00415_6

October 1913

19131001 – The Edmonton Bulletin, October 1, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 8, Item Ar00813

19131001 – The Edmonton Bulletin, October 1, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 8, Item Ad00804_8

19131002 – The Edmonton Bulletin, October 2, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 5, Item Ad00502_2

19131008 – The St. Albert Star-Étoile de St. Albert, October 8, 1913 (English), Page 1, Item Ar00102

As noted in clippings above, stops of the Edmonton Interurban Railway included the following:

• Brandon Avenue & Edward Street (127 Avenue & 124 Street)
• Car barns (near 137 Avenue & 124 Street)
• Summerland (Approximately 143 Avenue & 131 Street, today Cumberland Road & 131 Street)
• St. Albert Trail (Today approximately 144 Avenue & Mark Messier Trial)
• Government Road (Today 170 street, just south of Anthony Henday Drive)
• Hilltop (Today approximately Grandin Road & Gilcrest Place)
• Piron Street (Perron Street, just a few yards south of the bridge to Mission Hill)

19131014 – The Edmonton Capital, October 14, 1913 (Last Edition), Page 1, Item Ar00111

19131015 – The Edmonton Capital, October 15, 1913 (Last Edition), Page 1, Item Ar00108

December 1913

19131219 – Schedule Update – The Edmonton Bulletin, December 19, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 4, Item Ad00403_2

January 1914

19140103 – 18×24 Waiting Room – The Edmonton Capital, January 3, 1914 (Last Edition), Page 3, Item Ar00304

19140112 – The Edmonton Capital, January 12, 1914 (Last Edition), Page 10, Item Ar01004

March 1914

19140304 – The St. Albert Star_Étoile de St. Albert, March 4, 1914, Page 1, Item Ar00105

19140318 – Timetable – The St. Albert Star_Étoile de St. Albert, March 18, 1914, Page 1, Item Ar00106

19140319 – Cooking Lake line announced. Oddly, it appears to be planned by a separate company, but possibly utilizing the EIR charter. – The Edmonton Capital, March 19, 1914 (Last Edition), Page 5, Item Ar00502

The Beginning of the End

April 1914

Ar00333 (EIR Car Barn Fire Apr 1, 1914)

19140402 – Car barn fire – The Edmonton Bulletin, April 2, 1914 (Morning Edition), Page 7, Item Ar00714

19140429 – The EIR Schedule is still advertised four weeks after the fire. – The St. Albert Star_Étoile de St. Albert, April 29, 1914, Page 1, Item Ar00103

A New Beginning? (Not Really…)

May 1914

19140518 – EIR Extension to Ft. Sask along Ft. Road – The Edmonton Capital, May 18, 1914 (Last Edition), Page 10, Item Ar01009

19140518 – The Edmonton Bulletin, May 18, 1914 (Morning Edition), Page 1, Item Ar00113

19140520 – Potential expansions of the EIR to Ft. Sask, Lac St. Anne, etc – The Edmonton Capital, May 20, 1914 (Last Edition), Page 4, Item Ar00403

July 1914

19140707 – The Edmonton Bulletin, July 7, 1914 (Morning Edition), Page 7, Item Ad00702_36

19140721 – Interurban to be electrified and resume October 1, 1914 – The Edmonton Bulletin, July 21, 1914 (Morning Edition), Page 7, Item Ar00703

19140727 – The EIR and Tramways Limited each try to enter into agreements with the City of Edmonton. – The Edmonton Bulletin, July 27, 1914 (Morning Edition), Page 5, Item Ar00511

Operation of the EIR Already Forgotten

July 1916

19160719 – A radial railway – The Edmonton Bulletin, July 19, 1916, Page 7, Item Ar00719

August 1917

19170817 – EIR Annual Meeting Announced. – The Edmonton Bulletin, August 17, 1917, Page 9, Item Ad00902_3

April 1918

19180401 – The Edmonton Bulletin, April 1, 1918 (CITY EDITION), Page 3, Item Ar00316

Glenlyon Subdivision Plan (5968AH) is Partially Cancelled

January 1921

19210125 – Glenlyon subdivision plan (5968AH) partially cancelled and lots (including those of the Edmonton Interurban Railway) are exchanged. – The Edmonton Bulletin, January 25, 1921 (CITY EDITION), Page 3, Item Ad00302_2

Images of the Edmonton Interurban Railway

Perron Street, St. Albert – Looking North: 1913 and 2014

2010s view of approximate location of image mhm-2039-is-mhm-671 – Interurban Railway

St. Anne Street, St. Albert – Looking North: 1913 and 2014

Although the newspaper identifies this spot as outside St. Albert, looking that the track map versus the scenery in the photo makes present-day St. Anne street the only possible location.

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Midway between Edmonton and St. Albert: 1913

Summerland, 145 Ave Edmonton – Looking Northeast: 1913

Read more about the Summerland community here.

na-1328-2054 – Residents and land promoters welcoming first inter-urban train, Summerland, Alberta – Sept 30 1913. Today, this is space is occupied by suburban homes and is south of Cumberland Road near Hudson Road/131 Street.

19130930 – na-1328-2056 – Edmonton inter-urban street railway car, Summerland, Alberta. – Sept 30 1913

201607 – Roughly the same perspective as photo na-1328-2056 above, but in July 2016.

2018 & 1913 Map Showing Area of Summerland EIR Stop. The stop, as indicated in the photos above this, was just after the curve in the track. It would have been within meters of the present-day ETS stop at Hudson Road & Cumberland Road (Stop: 6860).

Car Barn and Yard, 124 Street and 137 Avenue: 1913

The car barn and yard were located near 124 Street on the south side of 137 Avenue.

2018 & 1913 Map Showing Area of EIR Yard

191310 – na-1328-1877 – Stacks of ties for street railway track, Edmonton, Alberta. – Looking north from present-day 136 Avenue. – October 1913

201508 – August 2015 approximate view of image na-1328-1877 – Stacks of ties for street railway track, Edmonton, Alberta.

191310 – NC-6-500 – Edmonton Interurban Railway. – Looking north from present-day 136 Avenue. – October 1913

191310 – NC-6-502 – Looking northwest in the Edmonton Interurban Railway yard. – October 1913

1913 – na-1328-1886 – Looking west towards the EIR car barn.

191310 – na-1328-1880 – Stacks of ties for street railway track, Edmonton, Alberta. – Looking east towards 124 street. – October 1913

191310 – NC-6-501 – Edmonton Interurban Railway yard, looking southwest towards present-day 136 Avenue. – October 1913

191310 – nc-6-499 – Edmonton Interurban Railway yard, looking southeast. – October 1913

201807 – July 2018 approximate view of image nc-6-499 – Edmonton Interurban Railway yard, looking southeast.

1913 – na-1328-1881 – Work camp for interurban railway. – Looking east on 137 Avenue towards 124 Street.

201807 – July 2018 approximate view of image na-1328-1881 – Looking east on 137 Avenue towards 124 Street.

1913 – na-1328-1886b – Interurban railway crew. – Looking northeast at the intersection of 124 street and 137 Avenue.

201607 – July 2016 approximate view of image na-1328-1886b – Looking northeast at the intersection of 124 street and 137 Avenue.

Track Construction at Unknown Locations: October 1913

nc-6-498 – Edmonton Interurban railway, Edmonton, Alberta. – October 1913

Unknown Locations: Circa 1913

na-1328-1883 – Work crew beside interurban rail car, Edmonton, Alberta. – ca 1913

na-1328-1884 – Crew with Edmonton interurban railway car number 1 – Possibly on present-day Grandin Road in St. Albert. – ca 1913

A2095 – Edmonton Inter Urban Railway Street Car – Circa 1913

na-1328-1885 – Edmonton interurban railway car – ca 1913

Sources…

Tramways Limited

Another Interurban Railway

You have probably heard of the Edmonton Interurban Railway, which operated from Edmonton to St. Albert for only a single year (granted, it began with much greater ambitions than that!).

This is not that railway. Tramways Limited was organized in 1913, and had a charter to go from Edmonton to such suburban locations as Namao, Bon Accord, and Fort Saskatchewan. There is no physical evidence remaining of this railway on our landscape, and I would have to guess that, although Tramways limited had shovels in the ground in October of 1914, this interurban railway was never completed.

Newspaper articles below were taken from the Peel Prairie Provinces website.

January 1913: The Beginning

Tramways Limited publishes notice of its intent to incorporate as a street railway company. – The Edmonton Bulletin, January 29, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 6, Item Ad00602_22. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

February-March 1913: A Company is Created

Act to Incorporate Tramways, Limited (assented to in March 1913) provides many of the details we know about this interurban railway. As seen below, the railway could not use steam and was permitted to generate electric power. It is likely that this railway would have followed the same plan as the Edmonton Interurban Railway, using Gasoline powered interurban cars (with a mix of space for passengers and freight) initially and then eventually erecting overhead lines to utilize electric power. It was also possible that Tramways, Limited would have used gasoline power outside of Edmonton and then electric once their interurban streetcars entered the City and came under the control and operation of the City of Edmonton (as per the agreement later made with the City of Edmonton).

“7. The company may lay out, construct and operate a line of railway to be operated by any motive power other than steam with a gauge of four feet eight and one-half inches from a point as follows:

(a) From a point at or near the boundary of the City of Edmonton northerly to or near Bon Accord;

(b) From a point upon the last mentioned line easterly to a point in the Fort Saskatchewan Settlement;

(c) From a point at or at the boundary of the City of Edmonton or from a point on the firstly mentioned line northerly to a point in the Fort Saskatchewan Settlement;

(d) From a point on the boundary of the City of Edmonton easterly and northerly on the south bank of the Saskatchewan River to a point in the Fort Saskatchewan settlement;

together with such branches as may be convenient not extending more than six miles in length.”

…

“12. The company may generate or acquire electric or other power or energy and may transmit, sell and dispose of the same.”

…

One particularly curious part of the Act, for an interurban tramway at least, is the requirement that they accept and transport farmers’ grains, as outlined below:

“15. The company shall at all stations upon their railway always permit the loading of grain into cars from farmers’ vehicles or flat warehouses, subject to reasonable regulations to be made by the said company, and shall at all reasonable times afford roper facilities therefor.”

This makes me wonder if the interurban railway would have ended up being more like an electric railway, with electric locomotives pulling passenger and freight cars. The limited size (6 miles) and the name of this railway (Tramways, Limited) seem to indicate this is not the case though. Furthermore, the agreement later made between Tramways Limited and the City of Edmonton stipulated that the interurban streetcars operated by Tramways Limited be of the same general design as the City’s streetcars.

Tramways Limited is officially incorporated by Bill 51. – The Edmonton Bulletin, March 26, 1913 (Morning Edition), Page 7, Item Ar00702. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

 

March 1914

Tramways Limited (of 14 Howard Street) proposes to build a tramway line from Edmonton to Bon Accord. – The Edmonton Capital, March 13, 1914 (Last Edition), Page 4, Item Ar00406. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

June 1914: Survey Map

On June 29, 1914, Tramways Limited submitted a survey map to the Government of Alberta This fascinating map — available via SPIN2 (Survey Map 6222AZ) — shows the interurban tramway traveling a different route than the one laid out in the legislation above. It runs north from Edmonton to (just east of ) Namao, then through Duagh, northeast (almost) to New Lunnen, and east to almost reach the North Saskatchewan River.

July 1914

Tramways Limited is looking for a way to enter Edmonton.

Tramways Limited proposes to operate an electric tramway from Edmonton to Namao and Fort Saskatchewan. – The Edmonton Bulletin, July 1, 1914 (Morning Edition), Page 1, Item Ar00113. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

Tramways Limited is attempting to have trackage all the way to the Edmonton City Market at 10707-101 Street. Interestingly, this article mentions Tramways Limited having a “present terminal point”. This could either be land the company had secured or an actual functioning terminal (though the former is more likely). – The Edmonton Capital, July 16, 1914 (Last Edition), Page 7, Item Ar00720. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

Agreements for the Edmonton Interurban Railway and Tramways Limited to go before ratepayers. – The Edmonton Bulletin, July 17, 1914 (Morning Edition), Page 2, Item Ar00205. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

Another article that seems to speak of Tramways Limited’s service in the present tense. This blurb suggests the idea that their streetcars could travel over Edmonton Radial Railway trackage to get to 101 street and 107 avenue. – The Edmonton Capital, July 21, 1914, Page 1, Item Ar00108. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection). Tramways Limited proposes having service all the way south to the City Market at 101st Street.

The City of Edmonton’s agreement with Tramways Limited continues to take shape. – The Edmonton Capital, July 25, 1914 (Last Edition), Page 1, Item Ar00114. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

More on the Tramways Limited agreement. – The Edmonton Bulletin, July 29, 1914 (Morning Edition), Page 2, Item Ar00209. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

Yet more on the Tramways Limited agreement. – The Edmonton Capital, July 29, 1914 (Last Edition), Page 12, Item Ar01205. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

August 1914

Another article on the Tramways Limited agreement. Interestingly, this one indicates that its suburban lines are still just proposed. – The Edmonton Capital, August 6, 1914 (Last Edition), Page 4, Item Ar00406. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

Tramways Limited is eager to begin construction of its line to Namao (which could be operational by November 1st) and then further northeast. They also are considering a line northwest to the Pembina River (which may have been the Edmonton Northwestern Radial Railway Company). This article notes that the engineer connected to Tramways Limited (A.E. Farncombe) is also connected to the (nearly complete) Gull Lake line (Possibly the Lacombe and Blindman Valley Electric Railway). – The Edmonton Capital, August 7, 1914 (Last Edition), Page 1, Item Ar00109. . (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

Work held up on Tramways Limited. – The Edmonton Capital, August 22, 1914 (Last Edition), Page 2, Item Ar00208. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

September 1914

The agreement further evolves. Now, the City of Edmonton will permit Tramways Limited to build lines within the City to connect to Edmonton Radial Railway trackage, but the City will take over operation of Tramways, Limited streetcar upon their entry to the City. – The Edmonton Bulletin, September 9, 1914 (MORNING EDITION), Page 6, Item Ar00605. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

City Council officially approves the agreement with Tramways Limited. – The Edmonton Bulletin, September 17, 1914 (MORNING EDITION), Page 8, Item Ar00805. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

City Council officially approves the agreement with Tramways Limited. – The Edmonton Capital, September 18, 1914, Page 8, Item Ar00808. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

October 1914

Tramways Limited has three gangs of men at work building its line from 101 street and 107 avenue to Namao. The Edmonton Northwestern Radial Railway Company may be using this trackage for their own service to enter the City in the future. – The Edmonton Capital, October 17, 1914 (Last Edition), Page 5, Item Ar00503. This is the only evidence found (so far) that any of this railway was ever constructed.. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

December 1914

Tramways Limited cars will use “gasoline and electric power, but they may be fitted to use electricity from the city when within the city.” – The Edmonton Bulletin, December 11, 1914 (MORNING EDITION), Page 4, Item Ar00411. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

Below, you will find the most thorough overview of this railway that I have found. Begin at “Public Notice”…

The best known overview of Tramways Limited and their agreement with the City of Edmonton. – The Edmonton Bulletin, December 12, 1914 (MORNING EDITION), Page 15, Item Ad01502. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

January 1915

Tramways Limited fails to convince the necessary two-thirds of Edmonton’s electorate at the polls. – The Edmonton Bulletin, January 27, 1915, Page 1, Item Ar00110. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

Tramways Limited to try a new strategy for funding which does not require ratepayer approval. – The Edmonton Bulletin, January 27, 1915, Page 1, Item Ar00111. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

February 1915

Tramways Limited bylaw on hold. – The Edmonton Bulletin, February 3, 1915, Page 5, Item Ar00516. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

As seen above, the bylaw authorizing the Tramways Limited agreement was passed on February 9, 1915, and remained in force until at least 1917. – Peel 10969: Edmonton (Alta.). City Council. (1917). By-laws of the City of Edmonton as revised and consolidated down to 30th November, 1917.

Tramways Limited passes a resolution, likely to align with the agreement passed by City Council – The Edmonton Bulletin, February 17, 1915, Page 7, Item Ar00711. (Courtesy of the Peel’s Prairie Provinces Collection).

And this is the last I have found in the news on Tramways Limited. It just seems to have faded away…

Edmonton’s McKeen Motor Cars: Interurban Railway Service to Lac La Biche via the Alberta & Great Waterways Railway

 

McKeen Motor Cars and Edmonton Interurban Service to Lac La Biche

McKeen Motor Car at Lac La Biche – 1910s

Article on service to Lac La Biche – The Edmonton Bulletin, June 19, 1916, Page 26, Item Ar02603 (Peel Prairie Provinces Collection)

No Blank Slugs marred first bulletin picnic at lac la biche – The Edmonton Bulletin, July 3, 1916, Page 5, Item Ar00508 (Peel Prairie Provinces Collection)

Timetable – The Edmonton Bulletin, June 19, 1917, Page 11, Item Ad01102_9 (Peel Prairie Provinces Collection)

Inn at Lac La Biche, Alberta – 1916

Near The End

Dunvegan Yards – old cars, Dunvegan, Alberta. – 1929

The McKeen Motor Car Company

 McKeen Motor Car graphic (shiawasseehistory.com)

McKeen Motor Car diagram (shiawasseehistory.com)

McKeen Motor Car interior (shiawasseehistory.com)

Dunvegan Rail Yard & Area

Overview

Peel Prairie Provinces

Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway Yard

Railway Station

 

Karl Clark’s Oil Sands Separation Plant (1924-1925)

North West Lumber Company Limited Mill

Looking Southeast

Looking South

Looking East

Looking Southeast

Surrounding Subdivisions

Courtesy of Peel Prairie Provinces Collection: The Dunvegan Yard was in the space identified on this map as “J.D. MacArthur”. Brown Estate and Sunset Park can be seen to the southwest of the Dunvegan Yard.

Brown Estate

Advertising: June 1912

Failing: October 1919

Sunset Park

 

Canadian Northern Western Railway Station (Southside – 80th Avenue)

Overview

Edmonton once boasted many beautiful railway stations–the last preserved one is the Canadian Pacific Railway Station near Whyte Ave, and there were three large stations downtown. But did you know that there was once another station in Edmonton’s core, only a block away from the preserved Canadian Pacific Railway station?

This station was operated under the Canadian Northern Western Railway charter by the Canadian Northern Railway (which built stations near 104 avenue and 101 street downtown).

Have a look on this 1917 map hosted by the University of Alberta and see images of the station below.

1914 (Looking North)

EdHGIS: 1914 & 2016 Imagery

As of the 2010s, a strip mall stands in the space once occupied by the railway station.