Ottawa's original LRT: 68 years of streetcars in the capital

Ottawa's new light rail line marks 75 days in service today.

Ottawa's old light rail line ran for 68 years, from 1891 to 1959.

Initially, the streetcars trundled down Bank and Elgin streets, and outto New Edinburgh.

At its peak, the system boasted90.5 kilometresof track.

The O-Train has 20.5 kilometres, and will soon extend to about55.

Snow has always been an issue.

Snowy scenes in the 1950s from the CBC archives.

The streetcar had to share the road with other vehicles...

...and occasionallywith elephants.

Eventually, the tracks extended to Gatineau, Britannia and Lansdowne Park.

There were parades to mark the good times

...and one final send-off.

Volunteers arerestoring this streetcar as a memento of a bygone era.

Here's a video tribute we made in1989.

CBC REWIND Ottawa's last streetcars

11 years ago

Duration 1:35

As Ottawa moves into a new generation of light rail, we go back to May 1, 1959, when the city's last trolley rumbled through the streets.