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Edmonton’s Electric Transit by Hatcher & Schwarzkopf w/Dust jacket
Edmontons Electric Transit by Hatcher & Schwarzkopf
Edmontons Electric Transit
The Story of Edmontons Streetcars and Trolley Buses
Colin K. Hatcher And Tom Schwarzkopf
Hard Cover with Dust Jacket
209 Pages
Copyright 1983
CONTENTS
Introduction 4
IFrom Ordinance to Construction 7
Street Names in Edmonton 12
2The First Car Operates 13
3Streetcar Service Begins 17
4Preston Cars Introduce PAYE Fare Collection 21
5The Railway and the Cities Grow 31
6Plans Become Reality 41
7The High Level Bridge Opens 53
8Edmonton Interurban Railway 69
9Economic Instability 75
10Stability Returns 87
11The Twenties and Thirties 94
12Streetcar Service Declines 109
Mileage and Passenger Statistics 124
How to Rebuild a Streetcar 126
13Streetcar Epilogue 128
14Return to the Rails 135
15The Trolley Bus 147
16The War Years and Beyond 155
17The Not-So-Final Years 165
AppendixPage
1Equipment Roster Rail 180
11LRT Extensions 193
IIITrolley Coach Roster 195
IVTrolley Coach Extensions 196
VFootnotes 198
VIAcknowledgements 205
VII Bibliography 207
Maps
1908 Track Diagram 20
1912 Track Diagram 57
1913 Edmonton Interurban Railway 71
1924 Track Diagram 86
1938 Track Diagram 106
1950 Track Diagram 117
1978 LRT Line 144
1945 Trolley Coach Wire Diagram 163
1970 Trolley Coach Wire Diagram 171
1981 Clareview LRT Extension 193
1943 Route Map Rail 208
1982 Trolley Coach Network 209
Edmonton boasted the northern-most system of electric transit in the Americas and, some say, in the world. It all began in 1908 with eleven miles of track . . . and ended, for the streetcars, in 1951. In the years between, there were many fascinating events which are now recounted in "Edmonton Electric Transit".
You'll read about the formation of the Edmonton Radial Railway under municipal ownership. You'll become embroiled in the politics surrounding route extensions and the amalgamation of Strathcona with Edmonton. Read how Edmonton actually suffered an energy crisis! Because of breakdowns at the electricity-producing plant, the street railway frequently shut down at the height of power demand, because domestic and industrial users were given priority.
Read how, in June 1914, a lady passenger didn't quite make it to her physician, and gave birth to a newborn son in the railway's waiting room. And about the Great Streetcar Chase! How, on New Year's Day 1918, the Edmonton police commandeered a streetcar to chase down an automobile driver who was still under the influence! They caught him! Find out what happened when streetcars and trains shared the same track on the Low Level Bridge and how this led to a few unexpected confrontations in which the streetcars lost out! And the Leyland trolley bus which had been equipped with a streetcar air whistle. Imagine the surprise when you looked down the trackless track for . . . a bus?
A delightful section of the book tells about Edmonton's "Return to the Rails", with the 1978 opening of the new Light Rail Transit operations. Already extended, the system is functioning well, and is featured in many full-colour photos.
You'll read about the Diamond Jubilee Pageant Car decorated with 1000 ten-watt coloured lamps, in honour of Canada's fiftieth birthday. Imagine the colourful spectacle of this car, as it paused "on display" in the middle of the High Level Bridge. "Edmonton's Electric Transit" gives you details on the many different routes travelled by the cars, including the complicated "Belt Line" concept by which all cars were operated for several years. There are maps to show you where the tracks were built, where the cars and buses went.
There are over 200 photographs in all several in full colour plus many maps and sketches. Also included are reproductions of tickets and transfers from various periods.
All pictures are of the actual item. There may be reflection from the lights in some photos. We try to take photos of any damage. If this is a railroad item, this material is obsolete and no longer in use by the railroad. Please email with questions. Publishers of Train Shed Cyclopedias and Stephans Railroad Directories. Large inventory of railroad books and magazines. Thank you for buying from us.
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