N. Van streetcar loss residents mourned by [ i From page 3 Windsor Street. And by June 1913, the small four-wheeled streetcars that had struggled so vaiiant- ly with their demanding routes were replaced by the larger double-trucked _vehi- cles which would serve for the remaining 34 years. Traversing | North Vancouver’s business district and catering to Grouse Mountain-bound hikers, No. 1 — Lonsdale was the heavi- est travelled of the three lines. Because the cable-car steepness of the lower end of Lonsdale was a constant con- cern, B.C. Electric installed a heavily sand-covered safety switch between Second and Third streets which was always open (to the west) for every ferry-bound streetcar to enter. To avoid running on to the car-stopping safety switch, a streetcar had to stop ” dead at Third for the conduc- tor to “throw” the spring switch to allow the streetcar to proceed to the ferry wharf. (Not . surprisingly, the Lonsdale cars remained two- man vehicles despite the fact that Lynn Valley and Capilano eventually became one-man streetcar lines.) No. 1 — Lonsdale’s four two-man streetcars 153, 155, 156, and 159. were replaced by buses on Sept 25, 1946. By mid-February 1947, the first three cars liad been sold for use as housing units in the Chilliwack area and car 159 had become home in North Vancouver's Lynn- mout area. Car 156 had made the last journey up and down Lonsdale. Seven) one-man, front- entrance streetcars 150, 151, 154, 157, 160, 161, and 162 serviced the other two lines, the last three most frequently on No, 2 — Lynn Valley. Jan. 1, 1947, was the final day of streetcar service an the outer.end (19th and Grand Boulevard to Lynn Valley and Dempsey roads) of the No. 2 — Lynn. Valley line, across the system’s other trestle just east of Mountain Highway over Hastings Creek. The end of a remarkable streetcar system was mourned in the early hours of April 24, 1947, the last full day of ser- vice in North Vancouver hav- ing been Wednesday, April 23. Residents along and near Fell’ Avenue were angry, knowing that buses would never venture up their narrow dirt roads. Car 150 provided the last service on No. 3 — Capilano to its terminus at 20th Street and Hamilton Avenue until 1:15 a.m. (The condemning of the Mackay Creek trestle had caused the Capilano line to be cut back to this new ter- minus on Oct. 1, 1943.) As a wide-eyed nine-year- old, I had ridden this same car on this same route on the ~ previous Sunday afternoon. The fina! trip on the No. 2 — Lynn Valley line to the top of Grand Boulevard, its ter- minus of fewer than‘ four months, was run by car 161, operator Bill Cochrane in charge. Car barn foreman Bert Giffen, who had been a streetcar operator on the first ¥ Proto North Shore Archives A North Vancouver streetcar sits idle at its western terminus near the east bank of the Capilano River. day, was aboard, as was a crowd of riders, filled with mixed emotions, singing old- time songs and ripping off souvenirs, including seats. On Sunday, April 27, approximately 30 members and friends of the Lower Mainland Railroad = Club gathered at the car barn. White flags in place on car 157, they made the final streetcar trip in North Vancouver, the last stretch reaching the northern extremity of Grand Boulevard and back to the car barn. Purchased by an H.P. Blanchard, streetcars 150, 151, 154, 157, 160, 161, and 162 were hauled by flat-bed truck to Ruskin, B.C. (five miles cast of Maple Ridge), and set up, brick chimneys attached, as the Ruskin Hideout Auto Camp. (Car 160 was found in bush near Gibsons Landing many years later.) By the end of May, most of the track and trofley wire were removed, the streets repaved; a bus garage was in place in May, the adjacent car arn about to be demolished. How could we have known 50 years ago that a streetcar line on Lonsdale was a thoroughly remarkable thing? Environment, nostalgia, pollution and tourism may have been dictionary staples, but they certainly were words one rarely used, let alone even understood, in 1947. But 50 years later we understand only too well. Former Lonsdale car 153, the only remaining North Vancouver styeetcar, was beautifully restored five years ago and languishes in solitary splendor, out of sight, at Mahon Park. Since the 1914 Pacific Great Eastern Railway depot is soon to return to its water- frent roots from exile at Mahon Park, is it teo much of a stretch to encourage dreams of 1908-built car 153 once again making contact with Lonsdale? Lonsdale could — easily accommodate a central single track between its foor and 13th Street. What sight that would be! — North Vancouver resi- dent Henry Ewert retired almost three years ago from Handsworth secondary school, where be taught English and Literature for 18 years. He has written two books: Victoria’s - Streetcar Era and The Stary of the B.C. Electric Railway C.mpany. 7AVLORMOTIOS TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS SERVICE LTD A.T.R.A. - B.C.A.A. - A.R.A. CERTIFIED CENTRE AUTOMATIC & STD. TRANS. & CLUTCH - Services, Over Hauls or oxchan e CANADAJU.S. WARRANTY 176 PEMBERTON AVE. N.VAN. oursormvear TALKING CONSULTATION 985-7455 299-9000 J (2lsisis. “ey PROBLEMS Read Home & Garden and you could have no mow problems! 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