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P6856

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ID Number: P6856
Item Name: Image
Title: Laying the Last Rail in Leamington / Pose du dernier rail à Leamington
Title (Fre): Pose du dernier rail à Leamington
Date: 1908
Description: Black and white photograph of the intersection of Talbot & Erie Streets in Leamington during the laying of the last rail of the Windsor, Essex & Lakeshore Rapid Railway in 1908; the foreground and centre of the photograph is full of spectators; a man standing in the centre of the crowd is holding a mallet and appears to be the one who will hammer in the last rail; commercial buildings are visible on both sides of the street including Dr. Watson's Dentist office on the left corner; the railway track extends toward the top left corner of the photograph
History: Charter for the Windsor, Essex & Lakeshore Rapid Railway (Interurban) was enacted in 1901. Construction began in 1905 and, following several delays, two cars, Republic and Earl Gray, opened the line to Kingsville. Service opened to Windsor town centre on November 2nd and the Leamington service commenced on April 22, 1908. Pantograph power pick-up cars operated on 6600 volts AC power supplied from the company's Kingsville powerhouse. During the first years ridership grew, peaking in 1921, however, by 1923 highway completion began taking its toll. In 1927 the Hydro-Electric Power Commission (HEPC) purchased the WE&LS for $296,000. In 1930 the HEPC purchased five modern cars, converted the power system from AC to 600 volts DC and built three substations at Maidstone, Cottam and Ruthven, closing the Kingsville powerhouse. Revenues continued to drop during the depression and on September 15, 1932, the last car operated on the line. Equipment was stored for later sale and in 1935 the rail was removed and sold.
Place made: Canada - Ontario - Leamington
Collection Name: Museum Windsor