Edmonton High Level Bridge & Edmonton Streetcar
If you like street cars ( and who doesn't ? ) , the streetcar historical society is the place to study the history of Edmonton Streetcars and historic maps, charter a streetcar for an office party, visit the streetcar museum.
Tramways or street railways were common throughout the industrialized world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They disappeared from many North American and British cities in the mid-20th century with the advent of the automobile. In recent years, they have made a huge comeback in many places around the world, because they are efficient and help cities cope with high population density.
The efforts of volunteer members, the society seeks "to preserve and interpret the history and technology of street railways with particular emphasis on Edmonton's streetcar system."
The organization also collects and restores important artifacts and maintains an operating street railway in Edmonton.
The Strathcona and the High Level Bridge have a long association with Edmonton streetcars.
The Edmonton Radial Railway had become famous throughout the continent because of this unique streetcar ride over the North Saskatchewan River, which is one of the highest river crossings by streetcar in the world. The top deck of the bridge initially had three sets of tracks, the centre one for the Canadian Pacific Railways (C.P.R.) steam trains, while and the outer tracks served the E.R.R. streetcars. Today it is possible to take the same trip and travel the way our grandparents did.
In early 1979 a group of volunteers began to restore the last Edmonton streetcar #1 to full operating condition. During the city's 75th anniversary celebrations, the old streetcar gave service across the High Level Bridge during the Thanksgiving Weekend 1979.
Edmonton's Public Transportation has opened a small streetcar museum in the Streetcar Barn at Strathcona. The displays include photographs, the history of Edmonton's streetcars, uniforms, tickets, and model street cars. During the 2011 season Edmonton streetcar #33 will be on the High Level Bridge and make this heritage line complete. Take the street car and spend the afternoon exploring old Strathcona!