Our Streetcar Collection
Fort Edmonton Park provides the perfect stage for the historic ERRS streetcars.
© Hans Ryffel, ERRS
It all started with one single car (Edmonton #1) in 1980 and has since grown into a collection of eight operational streetcars and three more in various stages of restoration. Three additional cars are stored in complete, but non-operational condition. Furthermore, 11 bodies of former streetcars await eventual restoration or rebuilding. Work for ERRS volunteers is guaranteed for decades to come!
With few exceptions, historic streetcars are not readily available for purchase. Most have decayed for a much longer time than they were actually operating, taking into consideration that the Edmonton system was abandoned as early as 1951. The trend to individual motorization led to the demise of all but one Canadian system (Toronto). Most cars at the time were stripped of their metal parts and electric equipment and the bodies sold for further use as cottages, sheds, barns or even roadside diners. It took great efforts and detective skills to bring some of them back to Edmonton. The restoration task is not an easy one as the bodies are usually in decayed condition and missing parts have to be found from sources all around the world. It takes many years and countless hours of volunteer work to restore a car back to operational condition. Justifiably, the members of the Edmonton Radial Railway Society are very proud of their achievements.
It is the aim of the ERRS to eventually restore at least one car of each type that once operated in Edmonton. In addition we hope to restore some significant examples from other Canadian Cities and countries overseas. The following pages will showcase what has been achieved so far, what is currently being done and what waits for future consideration.