Niagara, Welland and Lake Erie railway
Encyclopedia
The Niagara, Welland and Lake Erie Railway operated a streetcar service in Welland, Ontario
from 1912 until 1930.
On July 4, 1910, the Niagara, Welland and Lake Erie Railway Company was granted a 20 year franchise to operate a street railway in the Town of Welland. On April 4, 1911, the company was federally incorporated to construct an interurban
railway linking Welland with Niagara Falls
, Fort Erie
, Port Colborne
, and Port Dover
, as well as to operate ferries across the Niagara River
. However, this large interurban network was never constructed. Had such a network been built, it would have been in direct competition with the established Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto Railway
. The only portion ever completed was the local Welland streetcar line.
The first spike for the railway was driven by Welland mayor George Sutherland on October 4, 1911, and service began March 22, 1912. The single track line operated on 1.74 miles (2.8 km) of track from the crossing with the Grand Trunk Railway
line on East Main Street, along East Main to South Main Street (now known as King Street). It operated along this street to the Canada Southern Railway
station.
In 1912 and 1913, additional tracks were laid on West Main Street and North Main Street (now, Niagara Street). However, these tracks were not operated due to weight restrictions on the Alexandra Bridge over the Welland Canal
(in the location of the present day Main Street lift bridge
). While permission was obtained in 1915 to operate lighter cars over this bridge, such vehicles were not obtained until 1922. Service on the west side of the canal operated for only about 6 months. The distance traveled was so short that the majority of people preferred to walk, and service was cut back to the original line on the east side of the canal.
Workers traveling to the Page Hersey Tubes Ltd., located in the south end of Welland, provided much of the railway's traffic, and it is likely that Page Hersey contributed to its operating expenses. The railway had offices at 30 South Main Street (King Street) in a building known as the Weller Block. C. J. Laughlin is listed as the superintendent.
Fare on the service was 5 cents, or 6 tickets for 25 cents. This fare remained unchanged for the entire existence of the line. The line never operated at a loss. In its peak year of 1917, the line carried over 693,000 passengers and earned profits in excess of $16,000. As of the expiry of the franchise, the City of Welland was not willing to take over the service. The line ceased to operate on July 4, 1930.
Welland, Ontario
Welland is a city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara in Southern Ontario, Canada.The city has been traditionally known as the place where rails and water meet, referring to the railways from Buffalo to Toronto and Southwestern Ontario, and the waterways of Welland Canal and Welland River,...
from 1912 until 1930.
On July 4, 1910, the Niagara, Welland and Lake Erie Railway Company was granted a 20 year franchise to operate a street railway in the Town of Welland. On April 4, 1911, the company was federally incorporated to construct an interurban
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
railway linking Welland with Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
, Fort Erie
Fort Erie, Ontario
Fort Erie is a town on the Niagara River in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located directly across the river from Buffalo, New York....
, Port Colborne
Port Colborne, Ontario
Port Colborne is a city on Lake Erie, at the southern end of the Welland Canal, in the Niagara Region of southern Ontario, Canada...
, and Port Dover
Port Dover, Ontario
Port Dover is an unincorporated community and former town located in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada on the north shore of Lake Erie.The community was the subject of an American raid during the War of 1812, on May 14, 1814....
, as well as to operate ferries across the Niagara River
Niagara River
The Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the river...
. However, this large interurban network was never constructed. Had such a network been built, it would have been in direct competition with the established Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto Railway
Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto Railway
The Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto Railway is a historic Canadian railway that operated in southern Ontario from 1899 to 1959.The NS&T was an interurban electric railway located in the Niagara Peninsula. It was based in St...
. The only portion ever completed was the local Welland streetcar line.
The first spike for the railway was driven by Welland mayor George Sutherland on October 4, 1911, and service began March 22, 1912. The single track line operated on 1.74 miles (2.8 km) of track from the crossing with the Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
line on East Main Street, along East Main to South Main Street (now known as King Street). It operated along this street to the Canada Southern Railway
Canada Southern Railway
The Canada Southern Railway was a railway in southern Ontario, Canada, founded on February 28, 1868 as the Erie and Niagara Extension Railway. It adopted the Canada Southern Railway name on December 24, 1869. In 1904 the railway was leased to the Michigan Central Railroad for 99 years; in 1929 it...
station.
In 1912 and 1913, additional tracks were laid on West Main Street and North Main Street (now, Niagara Street). However, these tracks were not operated due to weight restrictions on the Alexandra Bridge over the Welland Canal
Welland Canal
The Welland Canal is a ship canal in Canada that extends from Port Weller, Ontario, on Lake Ontario, to Port Colborne, Ontario, on Lake Erie. As a part of the St...
(in the location of the present day Main Street lift bridge
Welland Canal, bridge 13
The Welland Canal - bridge 13, or as more commonly known locally, the Welland Main Street bridge is a vertical lift bridge located in the heart of downtown Welland, Ontario. The bridge crosses an abandoned portion of the Welland Canal known as the Welland Recreational Waterway.- Previous bridges...
). While permission was obtained in 1915 to operate lighter cars over this bridge, such vehicles were not obtained until 1922. Service on the west side of the canal operated for only about 6 months. The distance traveled was so short that the majority of people preferred to walk, and service was cut back to the original line on the east side of the canal.
Workers traveling to the Page Hersey Tubes Ltd., located in the south end of Welland, provided much of the railway's traffic, and it is likely that Page Hersey contributed to its operating expenses. The railway had offices at 30 South Main Street (King Street) in a building known as the Weller Block. C. J. Laughlin is listed as the superintendent.
Fare on the service was 5 cents, or 6 tickets for 25 cents. This fare remained unchanged for the entire existence of the line. The line never operated at a loss. In its peak year of 1917, the line carried over 693,000 passengers and earned profits in excess of $16,000. As of the expiry of the franchise, the City of Welland was not willing to take over the service. The line ceased to operate on July 4, 1930.