Edmonton Streetcar System 1949 - 1950 Foster Palmer

This footage was shot in 1949-50 by Foster Palmer, a Harvard librarian who filmed North American streetcar networks in the 1940s and 1950s. He also took a number of photographs of Edmonton's streetcars.
Noteworthy shots include the Calder line, which used to be part of the main system, but was isolated in May 1948 due to connecting tracks being paved over; Palmer filmed it the same summer it shut down permanently, and all the streetcars on it (including the library car) were scrapped. As well, Palmer filmed the Whyte Ave/104 St. terminus in 1949 (which closed that same year), and the new 84 Ave/109 St. terminus in 1950. Thus, Palmer was able to capture three very unique, and brief moments of Edmonton's streetcar history in stunning colour footage.
1949 footage: 00:00-15:28
1950 footage: 15:29-25:32
All rights belong to the New England Electric Railway Historical Society, which Palmer donated his works to. I obtained this footage from a copy that is presented at the Edmonton Radial Railway Society's streetcar museum.
Review of Edmonton's streetcar system co-authored by Foster Palmer, published shortly after his second visit to the city:
drive.google.com/file/d/1Bcss...
More reading about Edmonton's streetcar system:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonto...
Photos of Edmonton's streetcar system:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ca...
Edmonton Radial Railway Society streetcar museum:
www.edmonton-radial-railway.ab...
New England Electric Railway Historical Society (Seashore Trolley Museum):
trolleymuseum.org/
Rule book for Edmonton streetcar motormen and conductors, published in July, 1914, and currently in the ERRS archive:
drive.google.com/file/d/1H1Yd...
Recommended readings: "Edmonton's Electric Transit" by Colin K. Hatcher and Tom Schwarzkopf; "Ride of the Century" by Kenneth Wayne Tingley

[@the1andonly]

Amazing historical footage. Makes me sad to see that Alberta had a more advanced transportation system in 1949 than it has today.

[@oofa45]

This is absolutely fantastic footage!

[@JamesProtz]

That was really interesting to see. Thankyou!

[@georgemachtans180]

Fond memories!

[@donaldinho62]

The CPR passenger trains serving Edmonton at that time were those to and from Calgary (three daily and one daily except Sunday), the "Great West" - trains 51 and 52 on the Edmonton-Saskatoon-Winnipeg route (6x per week), and the daily except Sunday trains (531-532) to/from Wetaskiwin, Camrose and Hardisty AB.

[@billdang3953]

This confirms that passenger rail service from Calgary used to go all the way into downtown Edmonton. I guess that when they started using the Budd Car instead of a "real train", this was when passenger rail service was truncated at South Edmonton.

[@christopherspencer8110]

@@billdang3953The CPR station was at 109th Street and Jasper Avenue, quite the handy location. It was torn down in 1978.

[@synthfreakify]

Were some of those wye switches spring-loaded, like in 13:04? Also no one was guiding the rope while the streetcar backed up- pretty gutsy.

[@synthfreakify]

14:13 looks like Birch Ave in Hamilton, Ontario. I'm from Edmonton, but I've never heard any old-timers talk about this. Edmonton had real interurban/radial service!

[@user-hj5cn1zz9l]

It was quit an experiance traveling across the bridge and meeting one more street coming the other way

[@thesandsie13the2nd]

i see Edmonton drivers were stupid even back in the '50's