The Once And Future Tram Alignment by KatesFriend
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Description
Ideas do not die. They just wait to be reborn. Like many small cities in Canada, Kitchener and Waterloo abandoned their overly worn streetcar systems shortly after the Second World War. First electrified around 1895, streetcars supported both communities for five decades as part transit, part interurban, part freight service. For two generations people were shuttled to work, goods were delivered to businesses along the King Street Line. An influence still felt today as many key destinations of what is now Waterloo Region continue to hug the old alignment of the King streetcars. But decay from nine years of depression followed by the strain of six years in the war effort took their toll upon the tracks and trains. That and the short term social thinking which emerged with the automobile was sufficient confluence to doom streetcars in KW. The lone King Line was converted to electric buses, the rails were ripped up and scrapped with the surviving trams. The rest was buried as King was paved over. Fast forward to 2015. The past and future of Waterloo Region dovetail on King Street in Kitchener. Kitchener and her twin Waterloo are about ninety (90) minutes by car to the west of Toronto and one of the fastest growing regions in Canada today - sic aiunt. In building this future, the region has dug down and turned up more than a few slivers of its transit history. These are (at least) ninety (90) year old wooden railway ties which had been embedded into the foundation of King Street just to the west of Kitchener's downtown. The same ties which were once (prior to 1947) the foundation for Kitchener and Waterloo's long lost streetcar system. Forgotten for nearly seventy (70) years, brought back to light this last week as King Street is rebuilt in preparation for - as fate would have it - a modern light rail system called the iON. Much has changed and both cities have grown in seven decades. Still, in places, the new trams will follow the well defined path built by their streetcar predecessors. The LRT link between the downtowns of Kitchener and Waterloo will run on King Street just as the old streetcars once did. Though, this time double tracked and separated from other traffic. And the new ties will be insulated steel set into reinforced concrete and not the cancer baiting, creosote encrusted wooden ties of old. One has to move with the times. The historical symmetry is easy to appreciate. The return of the tram is now at hand. And if all goes according to plan, one day in the Summer of 2017 the circle will be complete. Trams will return to King Street. Perhaps we should invite (former mayor) Rob Ford to the event? If only to see his head explode My thanks to all of you for taking the time to visit. Cheers!
Comments (20)
Faemike55
this is very cool news indeed. Wonderful capture now, if they could only make a limited production of the old trams and have them run, then that would be priceless
tetrasnake
Something similar is happening here in New York. They are almost finished extending the 7 train to the west side of Manhattan, and they are still working on the money pit, known as the 2nd Avenue subway line! Look up the MTA. Fab capture!
prutzworks
nice pic and interesting story
renecyberdoc
heavy duty ahead.
android65mar
What goes around comes around :)
Cyve
Fantastic capture my friend !
magnus073
Clayton, I very much enjoyed this informative and detailed presentation.
giulband
Beautiful capture, great shot !!
eekdog
Great capture and description my friend.
Mulltipass
Awesome Capture!!!
RodS
A great capture, and an interesting look at how history repeats itself. Much the same here in Kansas City. Electric streetcars once were a common sight in the downtown area. That all came to a close in much the same time and fashion as you describe. Now, as the city government is trying to rejuvenate downtown, they are looking at light rail, and even resurrecting the streetcars in certain areas.
MagikUnicorn
Great to see renovation...stimulate the economy !
lyron
Fantastic capture!!!!
flavia49
wonderful
soffy
Awesome capture and so interesting info**
nefertiabet
Wonderful capture and info!!! Even here in Germany the tram returns again! Happy Easter my friend!
DennisReed
cool
A_Sunbeam
Splendid news. We need more trams and less cars. Our (UK) double-deckers were done away with in the '50s (when I was at school). They'd make a great project for a Poser modeller. Some of our cities are bringing the trams back; but I don't think we'll see the old ones running again outside of a museum track!
ACue
Great piece. Thanks for the background. Was not aware of much of this. Totally with you on public transit for our cities. If our leaders spent less time pissing in parks and smoking crack, we might be getting ahead on our critical infrastructure needs
Deane
Very similar circumstance in the UK, with modern trams making a welcome return to some of the bigger cities. In some instances, the original lines were found still perfectly preserved underneath the roads from decades ago!