The Calgary Heritage Park Streetcar
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- This 16 minute video is a technical look at Calgary's Heritage Park streetcar operation taken on the opening day of the season, May 18th, 2013.
Streetcar No. 15 was used that day, a locally built replica of a type of that ran on Calgary streets for about 50 years.
The video starts with a few facts, and then we follow the streetcar from the main gate to the far station in the parking lot, a distance of about 1km and back, including a few sequences inside and outside the streetcar but with main emphasis on track, components and operation.
Finally, we view the streetcar being taken through the security gate to the car barn for the night.
I requested permission to insert a photo of this type of streetcar in operation on Calgary streets.
Image courtesy of Peel's Prairie Provinces, a digital initiative of the University of Alberta Libraries.
The view (PC005441) from their extensive postcard collection, shows streetcars, pedestrians and period cars at 8th Avenue and 1st Street SW looking east in 1927.
This portion of 8th Ave is now a busy pedestrian mall.
Around 1946 with the advent of diesel and trolley buses, streetcars were phased out from Calgary streets.
The last streetcar, No.14, made its farewell run from Ogden to City Hall On December 29th 1950.
It was donated to Heritage Park, who rebuilt it as their No. 14 and created a replica, which they numbered 15.
Starting in 1975, one or both streetcars ferried passengers from a parking lot at Heritage Drive and 14th St SW to the main gate, a short distance away.
During 2009 and 2010, the parking lot was greatly expanded and the streetcar track then extended into a wide "J" shape, with 3 stations, named ANDREW, ENCANA and DOMINION, after major donors.
Always lettered "Calgary Municipal", there was no formal name attached to the operation, until its relaunch in 2010 as the ENMAX Electric Streetcar System in recognition of the rebuilding sponsor.
While parking is free, those arriving by car and charter bus must walk a short distance to the main gate. A much better alternative for a loonie (the Canadian $1 coin), is to ride the long way around, in an old-fashioned clattering streetcar with rattan seats and a large cowcatcher in front.
Calgary Transit Route 502 connects users directly from HERITAGE LRT Station to the park's main gate, subject to regular fare or transfer. The CT website gives more details. For those who prefer pedaling, a major bike path runs in front of the Park's "Heritage Town Square", mere steps from the main gate.
A decent visit to Heritage Park is anywhere from 3 hours to a full day. Snack bar or sit down restaurant food is available, as well as ice cream and (on-site) baked goods. Old time car buffs will be very well served by Gasoline Alley, a superb collection of restored turn-of-century cars and trucks.
Other amenities include a half-hour paddlewheeler cruise on the Glenmore Reservoir, rides in a horse-drawn wagon as well as 1910s amusement park suitable for adults and kids, featuring "The Caterpillar" with its original canopy; one of only 3 of these known to be still be operating in North America.
Heritage Park is situated on 127 acres of land at 1900 Heritage Drive SW, just 20 minutes from downtown Calgary. It opened its gates to the public on July 1, 1964 and is Canada's largest living history museum, featuring a village recreated to appear as it might have been, in early-20 Century Alberta. Most of the buildings are historical and were transported to the park at the end of their life.
Please note that no pets are allowed within the park itself.
Access www.heritagepar..., for more details, including many special events outside the regular daily programs and be sure to view their excellent pdf map.
One thing is missing: 14 is actually the original 14. It was restored in 1973 using the original body and TTC trucks. 15 was actually built in 1991(?) and has no original parts.
14 was originally built by the Ottawa Car Company in 1910
Beautiful history of Heritage Park, their buildings and rolling stock. A true living museum for future generations. A big thanks to all donors, volunteers and city fathers of Calgary ! You can be proud ! A great place to take little tykes and educate them. Hopefully. Cheers !
For those who wonder about the piano tune at the beginning, it's "The Harlem Rag" (1897) by Tom Turpin.
Maybe a couple hundred years from now, Heritage Park would start using our current Calgary C-Trains :P
Not beyond the realm of being impossible.
They're already starting to replace the early U-2 LRT streetcars with the Mask" streetcar as each becomes available.
Calgary actually offered them one, but they didn't want it. Remember that the U2s have 1m floors, and they would need to build new platforms.
A possiblity would be to run one along Heritage Drive between Heritage Station and the parking lot
Actually, if you have read the Mission Statement for Heritage Park, it only covers the period from the fur trading in the 1860s, to the age of the automobile in the 1950s.
The point here, is that an old Calgary LRT car doesn’t fit into the scheme in any way.
For those who do desire, Heritage Park has a trolley car station fairly near Heritage Drive x 14 St SW, for those who are on foot and it stops near the entrance gate.
A small revision is now due to the description.The 2016 Season introduced paid parking outside the gates in the Heritage Park lot; managed by the Calgary Parking Authority, through "Park Plus" (cash, credit cards through a terminal). Proceeds from the paid parking help defray expenses for upkeep, etc.Parking is $5.00 for the full 7 hours of the Park's opening. Full details at www.heritagepark.ca/parking.html
Just a small revision to the text, effective May 2016.There is now a small charge for parking, run by the Calgary Parking Authority.www.heritagepark.ca/parking.html
they should put it in the northeast corider