Central Park Tramline
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark732
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1891
- Heritage Value
- In the 1890s, local entrepreneurs launched electric railways in Vancouver, New Westminster, and Victoria, eager to cash in on the promise of future growth in the major cities of the time. In the Lower Mainland, two companies started building electric rail in 1890: the Westminster and Vancouver Tramway Co., which undertook the ambitious project of building the first real interurban line from New Westminster to Vancouver, and the Westminster Street Railway, who eventually built streetcar service and installed electric lighting in New Westminster. By April 20, 1891, both companies merged to form the Westminster and Vancouver Tramway Company. Local entrepreneurs Henry V. Edmonds, David Oppenheimer, Benjamin Douglas, and Samuel McIntosh, were the directors, all of whom had extensive real estate holdings in the area. Interurban service launched on June 3, 1891, travelling along 12 miles of track from New Westminster to eastern Vancouver, running through Burnaby – which was then an unincorporated area. Installing the single-track line from Vancouver to New Westminster through uneven, forested terrain was a mammoth undertaking. The clearing of the 100-foot right of way and laying the track called for a large work force, some of whom were Chinese "gandy dancers" who had worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway lines. The line was eventually taken over by the B.C. Electric Railway Company in 1897, who remained the owners until the line was finally closed on October 23, 1953 and replaced with the modern bus system. The construction of the SkyTrain along the old route in 1986 reintroduced passenger rail to this historic transportation corridor.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
Images
Powerhouse
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark731
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- Griffiths Avenue
- Kingsway
- Associated Dates
- 1891
- Heritage Value
- Constructed in 1891 between Edmonds and Highland Park on the Central Park Interurban Line, the steam plant provided power to run the line, then operated by Westminster and Vancouver Tramway Company. The steam powerhouse was replaced in 1905 by a B.C. Electric substation which was put into operation to receive and distribute power from the B.C.E.R. Buntzen Lake power dam. Prior to Burnaby having its own Municipal Hall, Council meetings were often held at the boarding house adjacent to the powerhouse and in 1892, Burnaby’s first Council meeting was held at the boarding house in 1892.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Kingsway-Beresford Area
Images
