Uncovering the past: Railway ties from historic streetcar line found under 124 Street
Contractors working on a streetscape project on 124 Street have uncovered a piece of Edmonton’s history.
While digging up the east side of 124 Street near 114 Avenue, a number of old wooden railway ties were found under the pavement.
The ties were likely part of the Edmonton Radial Railway, a streetcar service that ran from 1908 to 1951.
The Edmonton Radial Railway line is seen in red in this map of the cities of Edmonton and Strathcona. (Source: City of Edmonton Archives)
The ERR had lines running from Jasper Avenue, up 124 Street, and across the river to what was then the City of Strathcona.
Marlis Foth of the City of Edmonton says plans were already in the works to honour the railway as part of the streetscape project, and they now hope to incorporate the historic ties.
“There is going to be a theme around trolleys and the railway lines that used to go there historically, so some of those pieces you’ll see in the streetscape elements like the bike racks and the benches that will ultimately be out there.”
Construction on the streetscape is expected to be complete by the end of the 2023 construction season.
While the original line may be long gone, several of the ERR streetcars are still in operation in Edmonton.
The Edmonton Radial Railway streetcar Edmonton 1, which is still in operation at Fort Edmonton Park, is seen on Jasper Avenue in this public domain photo from 1910.
Three of the original streetcars, which were built in 1908, 1912, and 1930, have been fixtures at Fort Edmonton Park for years.
A fourth streetcar, built in 1912, carries passengers over the High Level Bridge from May to October.
The streetcars were restored by the Edmonton Radial Railway Society, which operates the High Level Bridge Streetcar.
The society has also restored historic streetcars from Toronto, Melbourne, Australia, and Osaka, Japan.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It really hurts': The impact of Trump's lies in Springfield, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio was once a manufacturing hub. Now, people know it for Trump's comments at September's presidential debate, when he famously - and falsely - told an audience of 67 million people that Haitians eat their pets, echoing claims that had circulated on social media.
Auto theft probe leads to arrest of 59 suspects, recovery of more than 300 stolen vehicles: Toronto police
Toronto police say 59 suspects are facing a total of 300 charges in connection with an auto theft and re-vinning probe.
Ont. woman posed as registered nurse in Simcoe County for 4 years: OPP
An Ontario woman is facing serious charges after police allege she pretended to be a registered nurse at several Simcoe County facilities, despite being unqualified.
B.C. mayor's 'luxury' trip to Dubai climate conference was against ethics rules: commissioner
New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone's all-expenses-paid trip to Dubai for a climate conference last December violated the city's Code of Conduct for Council Members and the Community Charter, the city's ethics commissioner has ruled.
At-home brain stimulation relieves symptoms of depression, study finds
A headset worn at home that zaps the brain with the energy of a 9-volt battery could help relieve symptoms of depression, a new study shows.
WATCH 'It's mind-boggling': Drought reveals U.S. town submerged in the 1940s
Hundreds of people are flocking to see a rare site in Pennsylvania: remnants of a historic town that is usually underwater.
Eva Longoria is still making money off of 'John Wick'
In an interview with Business Insider, Longoria talked about investing in the 2014 hit movie after the budget fell short before filming began.
Democrats Abroad Canada warns U.S. voters to take action ahead of possible Canada Post strike
Democrats Abroad Canada is warning Americans that a potential postal workers strike this weekend could affect the ability to vote in next week's election.
Caught on camera: Edmonton police run over woman during welfare call
An Edmonton Police Service officer was caught on camera running over a woman with a marked cruiser last month.