Seldom discussed or even remembered is Ottawa’s Streetcar system.
Back when we had the ‘green new deal’ but didn’t know it.
Never rode it or even saw it as it was tore up before I visited Ottawa.
RIP 1959
… wonder if NDG knows stuff or if Dave Klepper even rode it.
Nations capital and they threw away their streetcars, center of the city Union Station ( it’s a convention centre thingie for swivel servants) , all the rails into the city ( it’s an expressway). Not good.
Wonder if the HO-HO Cafe is still around?
Ottawa Electric Railway
1893-1959
Open car 226 in Rockcliffe Park enroute downtown Ottawa. Turn of the Century (circa 1900).
Public Archives Canada PA-8797
Note guard rail to prevent derailment on sharp curve.
I never rode a streetcar in Ottawa, but saw enough of them.
After the War my Uncle lived in Ottawa, had a good job as a Consultant w the Federal Govt. and had a great house on Holland Ave. which featured Streetcar Service right outside. Approaching cars would shake the house and I would run to the window to watch them by.
We traveled up to Ottawa by train into the old station right downtown, Royal Hudson up front, by way of Vankleek Hill et all, and my Uncle would pick us up in his CAR!! Many were car-poor after The Depression and The War. Automobiles were still a fairly new Invention in the Forties.
We would drive downtown following the streetcars at times, I noting that some of the streetcars had Green/Red signals on their rear to the left of the Trolley Rope retriever.
With Controller Open, the Green Light was Illuminated. When Coasting, neither of the Lights were Lit, when Air Brake Applied, the Red Aspect was Lit.
Anyway, in 1959, we went up to Ottawa and the streetcars were gone.
He said they had taken them all off a few weeks before and we went in his car out to the end of the line @ Brittania Loop where about fifteen streetcars lined up around the loop, there.
Glad you could share all that with the Forum. Pictures are very nice but a person who there with recollections and tales makes it all real. Stored at the Brittania Loop and rocks being thrown at them. Who knew?
I also arrived in the downtown Union Station, from Toronto, 60’s . For those that may not know Ottawa Union Station is a scaled down replica of the torn down Pennsylvania Station in the Big Apple. No longer a train station though, it is a meeting centre for government functions.
The train station in Ottawa is way out in the boonies as a glorified bus shelter thing.
As old ways disappear, those that know what is happening in the photos are also disappearing.
Same with locations shown, after 100 years of change.
I look on Google and ’ Travel ’ to places I once knew well, and Surprise! I can no longer identify some of the location at all. Was at Eglington and Yonge on Google, once the end of steel for the Yonge line ex Union Station and a major hub for buses and trolley coaches with several stalls aboveground for all the routes with stairs descending to a Concourse underground with small shops lining the walls where one could purchase newspapers ( Remember Them?? ) coffee and tea and confections to sip and munch on the way downtown.
All Gone!!! The trolley bus garage to the South now the Terminal.
Just luv that observation car for the Coronation Scot. I’m sure the Milwaukee Road was paying attention! Great picture.
When they tore up the Hamilton Street Rwy I was very unhappy and so sad. Boy they made a mess. Just awful. No more clang clang, cool doors, warm lighting and feeling of excitement.
Every reason in the world to dislike the Ottawa Senators NHL team. How many of those filled seats are on the taxpayers dime? Every government department, commission, whatever, has season tickets. Bad ju-ju. Everyone offended by everything. Expense accounts coming out their ears. Smarmy town.
Yeah Young and Eglington was ‘it’. That’s not even mid town anymore.
There was always a Fran’s nearby subway stops along Young… 24 hours a day, good old fashioned burgers and breakfast, specials and such. Coffee cups built like brick/concrete bunkers. If you threw one against a solid wall it would just bounce. Totally chip free. I miss Fran’s at 2 am.
To cool off that warm feeling you have about Toronto, remember that the Maple Leafs are the Evil Empire that has repeatedly prevented Hamilton from getting a NHL team.
No worries, I despise the Leafs. I like the TTC though, but I’m glad I don’t live there anymore… too big, too everything.
Oh yeah the Hammer is the best.
Dude, you know what’s odd is that there are 3 fellas, all ex-Hamilton residents teaching here at the College, way the heck and gone in Northern Saskatchewan. We get together here and there talking about past times in the Hammer, the restaurants, the night life and of course the far easier climate. Good for some laughs and rememberances.
Let’s leave the hockey prejudice at the door as we can agree on how cool those videos were, awesome. Does anyone know if there’s something similar shot in Toronto?
I am trying to put together a tram HO layout and have some bits here and there but finding it tough to acquire any newly produced items. Do you know of any CDN traction clubs interested in our trolley history? i would love to model the Hamilton Radial Railway
There is a goodly number of model railroad clubs in Toronto and within a 50 km radius out. A google search will get you started. Also go to the model train shows in the area and visit the hobby shops that can direct you.
You might want to go to the Halton County Radial Railway Museum in Campellville, a short drive from the big smoke. They have operating streetcars and Hamilton Street Railway equipment and can tell you a lot more.
I no longer live in the area but am way up in Northern Saskatchewan so I’m a bit out of the loop as to what’s what these days but there is a lot of information and helpful people available at these places.
I have been to the Halton Railway Museum and enjoy that very much but will have to look at their historical data in more detail. I am part of a group here in Oakville but focus in trains and not trolleys. As you mention, I’m sure there are other groups in the GTA with the same interest. thanks for the advice
