Montreal and Southern Counties Railway
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A M&SC streetcar arriving in Saint-Lambert. The Victoria Bridge is in the back ground. | |||
| Overview | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Locale | Montreal, South Shore, Granby | ||
| Transit type | Interurban streetcar | ||
| Number of lines | 2 | ||
| Number of stations | 35 | ||
| Headquarters | Tramways Building, Montreal, Quebec | ||
| Operation | |||
| Began operation | October 30, 1909 | ||
| Ended operation | October 13, 1956 | ||
| Operator(s) | Canadian National Railway | ||
| Technical | |||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | ||
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The Montreal and Southern Counties Railway Company (M&SCRC) was an interurban streetcar line that ran between Montreal and Granby until 1956. A second branch served the city of Longueuil. Operated by the Canadian National Railway (CN), the M&SCRC had the mandate to run trams and Steam locomotives (and Diesel locomotives) on the same track (outside urban areas).
History
The M&SCRC was created as a result of a law passed by the Canadian Parliament on June 29, 1897. The service was inaugurated between Montreal and Saint-Lambert via the Victoria Bridge on October 30, 1909. The M&SCRC was managed under two divisions. The interurban division managed the traffic on the main line between Montreal and Granby, whereas the suburban division managed the branch between Saint-Lambert and Montreal South (Longueuil).
The service was extended to Longueuil in 1910, toward Mackayville in 1912 and to Chambly, Richelieu and Marieville in 1913, Saint-Césaire in 1914, Saint-Paul-d'Abbotsford, Quebec in 1915, and finally Granby in 1916. Absorbed by the Grand Trunk Railway, the M&SCRC became the property of CN in 1923. Service started to decline in 1951 when CN replaced the electric tramways with diesel trains between Marieville and Granby. In June 1955, CN decided to remove the streetcar rails on the Victoria Bridge and service was cut back to Saint-Lambert. The streetcar made its final voyage on October 13, 1956.
The Montreal McGill Street Terminal was situated at the south-west corner of McGill Street and Rue Marguerite-d'Youville. The building that served as the station is still standing today. One car is in the collection of the Halton County Radial Railway museum.
Montreal & Southern Counties 107 (built by Ottawa Car Company)
Stations
Montreal-Longueuil Line
Montreal-Granby Line
- Montreal
- St-Lambert
- Greenfield Park
- Sunlight City
- Croydon
- Springfield Park
- Castle Gardens
- East Greenfield
- Brentwood
- Maricourt
- Brookline
- Woodbine
- Highland Gardens
- Albabi
- Montreal River Road
- De Salaberry Park
- Chambly
- Lanjeunesse
- Bennett
- Fort Chambly
- Richelieu
- Rouville
- Ruisseau Barré
- Marieville
- Rougemont
- St-Césaire
- Jackman Road
- D'Arcy Corners
- Abbotsford Road
- Abbotsford
- Parish Line
- Mawcock & Milton
- West Granby
- Cowie Street
- Granby
References
- Clegg, Anthony; Omer Lavallée (1966). Catenary through the Counties: The story of Montreal & Southern Counties Railway. St. Hilaire, Quebec: The Classic Era in cooperation with Canadian Railroad Historical Association. pp. 64 p. illus. (part col.), maps (part col.) 23 x 29 cm. LCCN 70413781. OCLC 25171.
- Grumley, J.R. Thomas, Montreal & Southern Counties Railway Co., Ottawa, Bytown Railway Society, 2004, 67 pages. ISBN 0-921871-07-4, ISBN 978-0-921871-07-1 OCLC 56011524
External links
- Canadian Rail no 353 (1981)
- East Greenfield: Montreal and Southern Counties Railway
- Trainweb.com : Montreal and Southern Counties
- Montreal Area Historical Rail Map (shows Montreal and Southern Counties Railway)