Edmonton Radial Railway Society

Nankai Electric Railway (Osaka, Japan) tram 247 on High Level Bridge line

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

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 along Gateway Boulevard 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.

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] 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.

Fort Edmonton Park streetcar
Terminus near pond 1905 Street stop #1 1905 Street stop #2 1920 Street stop #1 1920 Street stop #2 Steam train route Terminus near entrance/exit Streetcar barn

Streetcars 80 and 247 in the barn at Fort Edmonton Park

ERRS operates a double-tracked 1 km (0.62 mi) long streetcar line within the living history museum at Fort Edmonton Park, with stops on 1905 and 1920 streets. There are turning loops at each terminus, near the park entrance and at Egge's barn.[4]

Within the park, a replica of the south side streetcar barn has been constructed to house restored streetcars and the ERRS maintenance and restoration workshop.[4]