The trams were discontinued April 30, 1959. The grassy parks along Richmond Rd used to be the train tracks, and the confederation building downtown was the central station for the big trains. Just Right self storage was the central depot for servicing the street cars, and sparks St was a major route. Awesome video👏 👏 👏
What a FABULOUS collection of photos! I have fond memories of riding the streetcar with my dad from Beechwood Street (in "Eastview") to Britannia Beach in the late 50's. It seemed to take forever but was always worth it. I loved riding the streetcar. I drive for OC today. Thanks for sharing, Jean. :)
We had everything set up with rail downtown, street cars and then some people without vision for our city destroyed it. Our founding families that built Ottawa did a beautiful job. Our city planners are trying to make light rail sound if it's a new idea, meanwhile we had it all at one time. Great collection of photos, thank you for sharing Jean. It would be nice to see our family homes in Sandyhill around 1900.
I saw. as an adolescent, the final parade of streetcars in 1958. It was civic idiocy to turn the streets of Ottawa over to automobiles. Streetcars WORKED!!! They lasted for 30 years of service of more. They connected all areas of the city. .Oh well, "progress:" is not always progress.
Great footage and music. Love the look on the guy's face at 2:06. 6:21 reminds me of how packed the LTR was the days before March 16, 2020. A few times I didn't have to hold onto anything because there were so many people aboard.
I remember riding in these in the 50's, great memories. Some of the scenes are familiar, of course the classic photos with either the Chateau Laurier or Union Station behind the streetcars, but some of the others were interesting to spot some old Ottawa businesses, now long gone. I remember they would sometimes bomb down St. Patrick Street later in the evening, causing the back end to sway back and forth on some tracks that were a little uneven. Great fun! I only ventured out to Brittania a couple of times, that was a long way from the "east end" of the day (Beechwood was considered pretty far east then, as Manor Park wasn't built yet, and Eastview wasn't really part of Ottawa). Thanks for posting.
I have this memory of going out on Byron to visit friends with my brother and mother some time in the early 50s. The friends had moved to Windermere from the Glebe so we must have take the street car on Bronson then transferred to Carling then Holland and onto Byron. It was so cold that day that there was hardly any heat at all. And then of course we made the return journey.
Thanks for the memories Jean. As a kid growing up in Carleton Heights, I used to take the bus to the Preston Street loop and change to the streetcar. I remember the old Dow Brewery warehouse at the food of Preston.
Great photo essay of Ottawa back in the day. I remember catching a "car" (as my mother called them) at the corner of Somerset and Bayswater to ride uptown. As I recall, many automobile owners including my father were glad to see the streetcars and eventually the tracks removed. Enjoyed seeing the old Rialto theater ( also known as the "Rat Hole") and the Capitol Theater (very elegant in the day) Very nostalgic well done video, thank you Jean.
My grandfather was a street car mechanic in Ottawa in those days. He use to tell me stories of the harsh conditions they use to have to work in. People today are spoiled !!
Thank You Jean. Really enjoyed. I was fortunate enough to have seen the Ottawa Streetcars one time in my youth when we traveled to Ottawa for a wedding. Sadly I did not get to ride them.
2:12 taken atop Ottawa Union Train station, facing southwest looking down Sparks St. 2:17 Sparks and Metcalfe, looking west down Sparks. Blackburn building would be immediately right. 2:34 is Booth St Bridge at the new Zibi development. 4:41 Bank at Gladstone, facing north with Frank St. at right. The Rialto is now a Staples and Fauna is in the building with the turret on the 2nd floor. 4:47 ?McKellar Avenue. Carling to your left? Fight me ;) 7:20 Queen facing west standing on Elgin. 7:31 Sparks and Elgin again. 9:37 Somerset West facing north (Eastbound Somerset) at Preston St. Bath house behind you at your 4 o'clock. 9:15 Britannia Beach 9:48 Sparks St at Metcalfe, facing east... see Union station at the end of the picture. 9:50 Somerset St bridge over the O-train facing west. 9:53 Sparks St. again. 10:20 Elgin and Sparks facing west in the snow. Thanks Jean!
I enjoyed the combination of photos and music, but I noticed that at 3:32 the photo is of the intersection of Granville and Hastings Streets, in Vancouver, B.C. The 1908 Bank of Commerce is now the Birk's Jewellery Store, and the 1913 Rogers Building is still in place. The streetcars here are running on the left side of the road, which was the case in Vancouver until 1922. The photo is probably from about 1917. And there was a Bank of Ottawa here at one time, as shown on the photo, and that building is also still in use. Alas, the streetcars were gone by 1955. Angus.
I, and others, would sometimes sit on the towing bar sticking out at the back of the streetcars to hitch a ride. The section of track where Lincoln Fields now exists was open field between the McKeller and Britannia stops and the streetcars would really pick up speed. The ride on the towing bar was scary. Dangerous? Yes. I took the streetcar to school, by myself, at 5 years of age. Once, getting on at Britannia, I was behind some adults; the conductor didn't see me and closed the doors on me. He had a German name. I thought of that incident every time I saw that conductor for many years afterwards.
Although I missed all that I still remember the old rails under Beechwood Avenue that cracked the pavement every spring until they finally removed them. Funny part about this is if you followed them they went into someones back yard. In one of your pictures there is one called Rockliffe Park that would have been that line as it went into and around Rockliffe. If your ever on Sir George-Ethienne Cartier Parkway close to the Governor Generals there is still a short retaining wall made of rock, that is where the line ran now called Ottawa River Pathway.
There are a couple of pictures showing the streetcars as dark green. Most people don't realize that our streetcars were not always bright red, the way looked in the 1950s. It wasn't to the 1930s, that the familiar bright red colour scheme was implemented. That is when one person operations was phased in. The dark green cars meant that there was a conductor on board as well as the operator. The bright red cars only had an operator. In the old days, it was the conductor who collected the fares. About the same time, headlights were also added. Before the 1930s, the streetcars had no headlights as shown in some of the pictures. I believe that Montreal never implemented headlights on their streetcars, which also lasted until 1959.
I remember riding the street cars while shopping with my mother in the 50's. The conductor turned a big wooden wheel like a steering wheel to engage the power from the line above the street to the electric motor in the street car and off we'd go. Quiet like electric vehicles today. We'd take the "tram" to the Byward market then back. Those were the days.
Wow ! Can you just imagine if we still had the tracks in place, and run some electric street cars. We would have the most modern transportation system in the world,, oh wait what am I thinking.
1959, May 1 - Last revenue run of the Britannia streetcar line at 03:25 when OTC car 831 eased into the Coburg barn. Formal closing ceremonies, with a parade of 17 vehicles, were held on May 2.
Jean Ouellette Hi and thank you for it all its just wonderful to go back to those beautiful and peaceful years. Would you know if the music is available to buy and who is at the piano?
Francine Nault The music was downloaded from old piano rolls that were available on TH-cam. If you search TH-cam you can find many versions of these piano rolls. I hope this helps you.
Now the O Train is gone for 2 years (slow workers). The LT$hit is working great (LOL.), with only 20% full it should be great. 2.5 Billion for nothing and it doesn't work in norman time, wait till Phase II after 4.2 billion.
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The trams were discontinued April 30, 1959. The grassy parks along Richmond Rd used to be the train tracks, and the confederation building downtown was the central station for the big trains. Just Right self storage was the central depot for servicing the street cars, and sparks St was a major route. Awesome video👏 👏 👏
Merci Jean absolument fantastique, grandement apprécié!
Ottawa born and raised. Love these videos. City has so much history.
What a FABULOUS collection of photos! I have fond memories of riding the streetcar with my dad from Beechwood Street (in "Eastview") to Britannia Beach in the late 50's. It seemed to take forever but was always worth it. I loved riding the streetcar. I drive for OC today. Thanks for sharing, Jean. :)
Ahhhh Eastview, my old stomping grounds... you're welcome Paul Latour and I'm glad it rekindled some fond memories for you.
Omg my grandfather was a driver of a streetcar that went to Britannia beach. They lived on Beechwood. His name was Patrick Smith
We had everything set up with rail downtown, street cars and then some people without vision for our city destroyed it. Our founding families that built Ottawa did a beautiful job. Our city planners are trying to make light rail sound if it's a new idea, meanwhile we had it all at one time. Great collection of photos, thank you for sharing Jean. It would be nice to see our family homes in Sandyhill around 1900.
This is so awesome, looking at what Ottawa had as transportation ba k in the day. Wish they would of kept them running. Just like Toronto
More beautiful footage. Loved your soundtrack choices on this one!
I saw. as an adolescent, the final parade of streetcars in 1958. It was civic idiocy to turn the streets of Ottawa over to automobiles. Streetcars WORKED!!! They lasted for 30 years of service of more. They connected all areas of the city. .Oh well, "progress:" is not always progress.
Merci bien. Cela me rappelle de précieux souvenirs!
Fantastic film !!
Thanks
Both my Dad and Uncle drove streetcars in Ottawa. Thanks for the video!
Great footage and music. Love the look on the guy's face at 2:06. 6:21 reminds me of how packed the LTR was the days before March 16, 2020. A few times I didn't have to hold onto anything because there were so many people aboard.
I remember riding in these in the 50's, great memories. Some of the scenes are familiar, of course the classic photos with either the Chateau Laurier or Union Station behind the streetcars, but some of the others were interesting to spot some old Ottawa businesses, now long gone. I remember they would sometimes bomb down St. Patrick Street later in the evening, causing the back end to sway back and forth on some tracks that were a little uneven. Great fun! I only ventured out to Brittania a couple of times, that was a long way from the "east end" of the day (Beechwood was considered pretty far east then, as Manor Park wasn't built yet, and Eastview wasn't really part of Ottawa). Thanks for posting.
I have this memory of going out on Byron to visit friends with my brother and mother some time in the early 50s. The friends had moved to Windermere from the Glebe so we must have take the street car on Bronson then transferred to Carling then Holland and onto Byron. It was so cold that day that there was hardly any heat at all. And then of course we made the return journey.
Wonderful, thank you! Streetcars didn't look very comfortable but they sure had style and charm.... loved this!
Thanks for the memories Jean. As a kid growing up in Carleton Heights, I used to take the bus to the Preston Street loop and change to the streetcar. I remember the old Dow Brewery warehouse at the food of Preston.
I luv the 'city' shots .. trying to pinpoint where that spot is and how it looks 2day. and the cars // horses .. etc Gratitude ;)
Thank you Jean Ouellette. Great to see many structures in the scenes still stand today. A great way to connect with Ottawa's past!
You’re welcome peterw4141, it’s my pleasure.
I 'arrived' in Ottawa over 40 years ago, and this is an honest portrait of the region and it's attraction.. thanks
I remember the streetcars in the 1950s going to Britannia Adult fare was 7 cents!
Great photo essay of Ottawa back in the day. I remember catching a "car" (as my mother called them) at the corner of Somerset and Bayswater to ride uptown. As I recall, many automobile owners including my father were glad to see the streetcars and eventually the tracks removed. Enjoyed seeing the old Rialto theater ( also known as the "Rat Hole") and the Capitol Theater (very elegant in the day) Very nostalgic well done video, thank you Jean.
My grandfather was a street car mechanic in Ottawa in those days. He use to tell me stories of the harsh conditions they use to have to work in. People today are spoiled !!
I like the brief clip from Metropolis at the end . .
Now we just sit around coughing.
Thank You Jean. Really enjoyed. I was fortunate enough to have seen the Ottawa Streetcars one time in my youth when we traveled to Ottawa for a wedding. Sadly I did not get to ride them.
You're quite welcome Walter Ryan.
2:12 taken atop Ottawa Union Train station, facing southwest looking down Sparks St.
2:17 Sparks and Metcalfe, looking west down Sparks. Blackburn building would be immediately right.
2:34 is Booth St Bridge at the new Zibi development.
4:41 Bank at Gladstone, facing north with Frank St. at right. The Rialto is now a Staples and Fauna is in the building with the turret on the 2nd floor.
4:47 ?McKellar Avenue. Carling to your left? Fight me ;)
7:20 Queen facing west standing on Elgin.
7:31 Sparks and Elgin again.
9:37 Somerset West facing north (Eastbound Somerset) at Preston St. Bath house behind you at your 4 o'clock.
9:15 Britannia Beach
9:48 Sparks St at Metcalfe, facing east... see Union station at the end of the picture.
9:50 Somerset St bridge over the O-train facing west.
9:53 Sparks St. again.
10:20 Elgin and Sparks facing west in the snow.
Thanks Jean!
5:41 Street car is coming up Charlotte Street from Rideau. Buildings at centre and right are still there.
6:00 - note the pedestrian safety device on the front😊
Merci Jean Ouellette.
De rien Marc… ça fait plaisir.
I enjoyed the combination of photos and music, but I noticed that at 3:32 the photo is of the intersection of Granville and Hastings Streets, in Vancouver, B.C. The 1908 Bank of Commerce is now the Birk's Jewellery Store, and the 1913 Rogers Building is still in place. The streetcars here are running on the left side of the road, which was the case in Vancouver until 1922. The photo is probably from about 1917. And there was a Bank of Ottawa here at one time, as shown on the photo, and that building is also still in use. Alas, the streetcars were gone by 1955. Angus.
i was 13 in 58 i rember it all they wre great windows open swaying to brittania beach
I, and others, would sometimes sit on the towing bar sticking out at the back of the streetcars to hitch a ride. The section of track where Lincoln Fields now exists was open field between the McKeller and Britannia stops and the streetcars would really pick up speed. The ride on the towing bar was scary. Dangerous? Yes. I took the streetcar to school, by myself, at 5 years of age. Once, getting on at Britannia, I was behind some adults; the conductor didn't see me and closed the doors on me. He had a German name. I thought of that incident every time I saw that conductor for many years afterwards.
Although I missed all that I still remember the old rails under Beechwood Avenue that cracked the pavement every spring until they finally removed them. Funny part about this is if you followed them they went into someones back yard. In one of your pictures there is one called Rockliffe Park that would have been that line as it went into and around Rockliffe. If your ever on Sir George-Ethienne Cartier Parkway close to the Governor Generals there is still a short retaining wall made of rock, that is where the line ran now called Ottawa River Pathway.
Thanks for your comments.
What a fabulous group of photos. Thank you Jean. I'm assuming Ottawa never had PCC's.
There are a couple of pictures showing the streetcars as dark green. Most people don't realize that our streetcars were not always bright red, the way looked in the 1950s. It wasn't to the 1930s, that the familiar bright red colour scheme was implemented. That is when one person operations was phased in. The dark green cars meant that there was a conductor on board as well as the operator. The bright red cars only had an operator. In the old days, it was the conductor who collected the fares. About the same time, headlights were also added. Before the 1930s, the streetcars had no headlights as shown in some of the pictures. I believe that Montreal never implemented headlights on their streetcars, which also lasted until 1959.
I remember riding the street cars while shopping with my mother in the 50's. The conductor turned a big wooden wheel like a steering wheel to engage the power from the line above the street to the electric motor in the street car and off we'd go. Quiet like electric vehicles today. We'd take the "tram" to the Byward market then back. Those were the days.
Wow ! Can you just imagine if we still had the tracks in place, and run some electric street cars. We would have the most modern transportation system in the world,, oh wait what am I thinking.
Much better than the new multibillion LRT.
Thank you.
It's an interesting game of guess where that is....
Are the cars and track wider than the usual ones we see, they appear to be?
When were the streetcars discontinued? (I saw a couple of 1958 automobiles.)
1959, May 1 - Last revenue run of the Britannia streetcar line at 03:25 when OTC car 831 eased into the Coburg barn. Formal closing ceremonies, with a parade of 17 vehicles, were held on May 2.
Why has the aspect ratio of the photos been changed? It makes everything appear squat.
He was probably editing in 4:3 aspect ratio and then exported in 16:9.
I rode the streetcar to work
Yeh and was green energy imagine the cost to put that back in
Very nice ! Name that piano tune please.
Thank you, and the music used is :
1. The Continental
2. Walking My Baby Back Home
3.Shine On Harvest Moon
4. As Time Goes By
Jean Ouellette Hi and thank you for it all its just wonderful to go back to those beautiful and peaceful years. Would you know if the music is available to buy and who is at the piano?
Francine Nault The music was downloaded from old piano rolls that were available on TH-cam. If you search TH-cam you can find many versions of these piano rolls. I hope this helps you.
Ottawa used to be as good as Europe
2:38 sparks st./elgin st.
Now the O Train is gone for 2 years (slow workers). The LT$hit is working great (LOL.), with only 20% full it should be great. 2.5 Billion for nothing and it doesn't work in norman time, wait till Phase II after 4.2 billion.
Then we ditched them and got the shit LRT.
Absence of Frenchiness?!?