P6864

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Details

ID Number

P6864

Item Name

Image

Title

Electric Railway Car at Ruthven / Wagon de chemin de fer électrique à Ruthven

Title (Fre)

Wagon de chemin de fer électrique à Ruthven

Description

Black and white photograph of an electric railway car at Ruthven; the car is stopped on a set of tracks running vertically through the centre of the photograph; a dirt road runs parallel to the tracks; a man is getting on the train and has one leg raised to the step; a small building is visible to the left and grass and trees are visible to the right.

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 - Ruthven

Collection Name

Museum Windsor

Subjects

Electric railroads / Tramways électriques

Men / Hommes

Passengers / Passagers

Railroad cars / Wagons

Railroad companies / Compagnies de chemin de fer

Railroad stations / Gares

Ruthven (Ont.)

Windsor, Essex & Lakeshore Rapid Railway / Compagnie de chemin de fer Windsor, Essex & Lakeshore Rapid Railway