High Level Bridge Streetcar

The High Level Bridge Streetcar is a historic streetcar ride over the High Level Bridge in Edmonton, Alberta. It travels from the Strathcona Streetcar Barn & Museum, just north of the Strathcona Farmers Market, in Old Strathcona, to Jasper Plaza south of Jasper Avenue, between 109 Street and 110 Street, in downtown, with three intermediate stops. It operates between the Victoria Day weekend in May, and Thanksgiving weekend in October.[2] It is operated by the Edmonton Radial Railway Society, which operates five more streetcars on a second line in the river valley at Fort Edmonton Park.

High Level Bridge Streetcar
High Level Bridge Streetcar restored from Japan
Overview
OwnerEdmonton Radial Railway Society
LocaleEdmonton, Alberta, Canada
Transit typeheritage streetcar
Number of lines1
Number of stations4
HeadquartersStrathcona Streetcar Barn & Museum
53°31′12″N 113°29′45″W
Operation
Began operationOctober 6, 1979 (1979-10-06)[1]
Number of vehicles3 cars
Train length1 car
Technical
System length3.0 kilometres (1.86 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Minimum radius of curvature24 metres (79 ft)
ElectrificationOverhead lines
High Level Bridge Streetcar
former
 CN
former
 CN yard
km
former
 Edmonton CPR Station
0.0
 Jasper Plaza Terminal
0.5
 Grandin
0.6
97 Avenue
1.1
North Saskatchewan River
1.6
 Garneau
1.9
109 Street & Saskatchewan Drive
2.2
 107 Street
2.6
 1891 Railway Station
 Streetcar Barn & Museum
3.0
 Strathcona Terminal
former
 Strathcona CPR Station
 CPR yard
Calgary and Edmonton Railway

Starting from the Strathcona Streetcar Barn & Museum it travels on the former CP Rail line in a north west direction. It first passes the Calgary & Edmonton Railway Station Museum at present-day 105 Street; this is a replica of the station that was the northern anchor of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway from 1891 to 1908. After a level crossing stop at 107 Street, the streetcar goes under the Saskatchewan Drive, 109 Street, and Walterdale Hill intersection. While turning north, the middle stop is in the neighbourhood of Garneau at 90 Avenue, before getting on the High Level Bridge. After travelling high over the surface of the North Saskatchewan River, it continues over River Valley Road, and 97 Avenue, entering the Ribbon of Steel multi-use corridor. The Ribbon of Steel is a corridor designated by Alberta Infrastructure and the City of Edmonton for the preservation of streetcar rail in Edmonton, and to provide a running/cycling path between 109 Street and 110 Street, from 97 Avenue to Jasper Avenue. The first stop on the Ribbon of Steel is the Grandin stop, with walking access to the Grandin LRT Station, and the Legislature grounds. The northern terminus of the High Level Bridge Streetcar ride is at Jasper Plaza, just south of Jasper Avenue. The streetcar system that existed in Edmonton until 1951 ran through the downtown core, including down Jasper Avenue. The former rail line continued north, where 110 Street is now, to the Old CN Rail yard (north of 104 Avenue).

In the near future, the Edmonton Radial Railway Society hopes to extend the line south towards Whyte Avenue for a new terminus.[3][4] To do this, the rail crossing on Gateway Boulevard will have to be reconstructed; it was removed to separate the streetcar line from the active CP lines. During summer festivals, such as the Fringe, service is extended to accommodate the increase in crowds.

Fleet

Three restored streetcars make up the fleet of ERRS cars currently based at the High Level Bridge Streetcar line.[5]

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References
  1. "History". ERRS. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  2. "High Level Bridge Streetcar Service". The City of Edmonton. Archived from the original on 2011-11-26. Retrieved 2011-07-25.
  3. "High Level Bridge Streetcar". ERRS. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  4. "Streetcar service could extend to Whyte Avenue". CBC News. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  5. "Streetcar Collection". ERRS. Retrieved 2010-03-03.

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