Edmonton Streetcar System 1949 – 1950 Foster Palmer

This footage was shot in 1949-50 by Foster Palmer, a Harvard librarian who filmed North American streetcar networks in the 1940s and 1950s. He also took a number of photographs of Edmonton's streetcars.

Noteworthy shots include the Calder line, which used to be part of the main system, but was isolated in May 1948 due to connecting tracks being paved over; Palmer filmed it the same summer it shut down permanently, and all the streetcars on it (including the library car) were scrapped. As well, Palmer filmed the Whyte Ave/104 St. terminus in 1949 (which closed that same year), and the new 84 Ave/109 St. terminus in 1950. Thus, Palmer was able to capture three very unique, and brief moments of Edmonton's streetcar history in stunning colour footage.

1949 footage: 00:00-15:28

1950 footage: 15:29-25:32

All rights belong to the New England Electric Railway Historical Society, which Palmer donated his works to. I obtained this footage from a copy that is presented at the Edmonton Radial Railway Society's streetcar museum.

Review of Edmonton's streetcar system co-authored by Foster Palmer, published shortly after his second visit to the city:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BcsstSS7L...

More reading about Edmonton's streetcar system:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton_Rad...

Photos of Edmonton's streetcar system:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Categor...

Edmonton Radial Railway Society streetcar museum:
http://www.edmonton-radial-railway.ab.ca/m...

New England Electric Railway Historical Society (Seashore Trolley Museum):
https://trolleymuseum.org/

Rule book for Edmonton streetcar motormen and conductors, published in July, 1914, and currently in the ERRS archive:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H1YdDltdN...

Recommended readings: "Edmonton's Electric Transit" by Colin K. Hatcher and Tom Schwarzkopf; "Ride of the Century" by Kenneth Wayne Tingley