Discovery of 1913 streetcar tracks captivates Edmonton transit enthusiasts

Construction work on the Valley Line West light rail transit project recently uncovered a piece of Edmonton's transit history.

The uncovering of streetcar tracks near 142nd Street and 102nd Avenue has captivated local transit history enthusiasts.  

"Seeing evidence of the old streetcar system just brings back memories of what the city went through," said Edmonton Radial Railway Society president Chris Ashdown. "It was a really well-used system and it's just remarkable." 

The streetcar system in Edmonton started in 1908, and in the fall of 1913, the 102nd Avenue streetcar was built to serve the community of Glenora, which was in its infancy at the time. 

However, the line struggled to maintain sufficient ridership. Economic difficulties following First World War and the delay in development of Glenora resulted in a limited number of passengers. By 1932, the line was discontinued and replaced by Edmonton's first gas-powered bus.

According to the railway society, after Second World War, the little gas bus was replaced by a trolleybus, which would provide service to Jasper Place.

Marigold Infrastructure Partners is the firm operating the Valley Line West construction.

The uncovering of the historic tracks this summer was an "exciting" moment for the construction team.  

"It's really exciting for me and my crew," said construction manager Jonathan Cox. "We feel like we're building history as well. The railway that we put in place is similarly going to be here for a hundred years or more, and provide great use to Edmontonians." 

The artifacts from the discovery, including seven rail spikes, have been donated to the Edmonton Radial Railway Society. The society restores, maintains and operates historic streetcars. 

The rail spikes are the only verified rail spikes in the society's collection from the Edmonton Radial Railway, which later became Edmonton Transit Service.  

The new Valley Line West LRT will follow a section of the old streetcar route. According to Ashdown, the line will add a modern touch, and is expected to see much higher ridership, reflecting how the city's public transit history is inspiring the present. 

The area around 142nd Street is currently an active construction zone and the site is no longer accessible to the public. The uncovered spikes are now housed at the radial society's archive building and will be preserved through photographs and a display in the society's museum.