August 6, 2024

1913 Glenora Streetcar Service Uncovered, In-Situ…

Marigold Infrastructure Partners – Valley Line West uncovered something amazing a couple of weeks ago near the 142 Street Stop of the Valley Line West at 102 Avenue.  They uncovered, in-situ, the 102 Avenue streetcar track!

The 102 Avenue stub line opened in the fall of 1913 to provide streetcar service to the planned neighbourhood of Glenora. Masterminded by financier James Carruthers, the neighbourhood was to be the finest in the city, with streetcar service secured by Carruthers via the bridge he paid to build over Groat Ravine. The line is identified as “A” on the 1930 map, below.

Unlike the popular line on nearby 124 Street, the 102 Avenue stub was never well-ridden.  Thanks to the economic strife brought on by WW1 and the local doldrums of the 1920’s, Glenora had not been built out to its full extent.  Even by the end of the 1920’s, most of the land was still uncleared brush and forest, interspersed with grand houses facing the trees.  This was not an ideal place for a streetcar, with long distances on rough track serving few local riders.  In 1932, streetcar service on the 102 Avenue line ended, replaced by Edmonton’s first (rather small) gas bus.

102 Avenue would become key for transit later on, however.  After WW2, the little gas bus was replaced by a trolleybus, running out to the then city limit of 149 Street.  This bus would provide service to Jasper Place, and was very well-used.  This is the “trolley” most people now associate with 102 Avenue.

The Valley Line arriving at 142 Street is special – aside from Jasper Avenue, this is the only place where Edmonton’s modern LRT runs along an old streetcar route, (124 Street, Quarters, etc. are just crossings).  Ironically, it’s running along Edmonton Radial Railway (ERR) least used stub!  We know the Valley Line West will be a lot more successful.

Edmonton Radial Railway Society (ERRS) would like to thank Marigold Infrastructure Partners and City of Edmonton – Local Government for donating 7 rail spikes to our archive, the only verified ERR rail spikes in our collection, as well as their crews for putting up with us taking photos!  Please note the area is an active construction site, and the ties are now gone; there is no need to trespass to see the tracks.

Note:  Article and photos are Courtesy of the Edmonton Radial Railway Society.