Hamilton and Dundas Street Railway - 1879

“The Hamilton and Dundas Street Railway is an accomplished fact. organized a year ago, the company of gentlemen who promoted the scheme, which they believe will be beneficial not only to the residents of Hamilton and Dundas, but to those residing along the beautiful stretch of country lying between, yesterday saw their labors fully completed and trains making excellent time over a very smooth road bed.”

                             Hamilton Spectator. May 17, 1879

At half past three, Friday afternoon May 16, 1879, two cars began a trial run over the newly-completed Hamilton and Dundas Street Railway line:

“The engineer of the train was Mr. F. B. Cooper and he seemed to know his business well. Mr. J. M. Williams held the position of honorary conductor, and performed the duties to the life, even to the ‘artistic toot’ of the whistle – an innovation on Canadian street railroads.”

The journey to Dundas took a half but the time was slow because the party preferred to view the scenery along the line.

Going west on Main street to MacNab street, the train proceeded south on MacNab street up the hill to Hannah street.

As the train reached Queen street, there was a very sharp curve “which it is intended to remedy by-and-by , power having been acquired during last Parliament to acquire the corner lot by arbitration, and thus obviate a bad turn.”

Passing through the west end of Hamilton, the line’s only engineering difficulty was at Beasley’s Hollow. This difficulty was overcome by the erection of a substantial wooden bridge.

In Beasley’s Hollow was a location familiar to many loving couples in Hamilton :

“A romantic spot, known to many of our readers no doubt – we refer to Ainslie’s Bush. The railway company intend to have this opened up as a pleasure park, in which to hold picnics, and an excellent neighborhood for  amusement it will prove.”

Passing through Bamberger’s orchards, the Spectator reporter along for the ride noted that “many of the trees overhang the railway to the evident danger of the fruit should the small boy find his way onto a train.”

The train then pulled into the hotel located at the halfway point between Dundas and the city. After a short stop to take on more passengers, the train passed through a heavy cutting, averaging about 22 feet and nearly 1,200 feet long.

Along the cutting the old creek had been diverted into a new channel beside the tracks. At short distances apart, the company planted strong maple trees:

“in this respect, those living in the eastern suburbs of Dundas will regard the line as a great boon, as its existence will tend to the carrying off of a good deal of stagnant water which has caused not a little ague in days gone by.”

Passing into the Valley City along Flamboro street, the train received “a hearty cheering welcome from the employees of the factory on one hand, and the ladies and gentlemen in private residences on the other.”

Drawing up behind the Elgin House, the train attracted a large crowd of well-wishers. After a short stay at the hotel, where a toast, “Success to the H. and D. Street Railway” was drunk, the train then returned to Hamilton.

The official opening day of the Hamilton and Dundas Street Railway for full passenger traffic was scheduled for Thursday May 22, 1879.

At three o’clock in the afternoon, a large crowd of prominent citizens was invited to the corner of Main and James streets, where a gaily decorated train waited to carry them on the first official run to Dundas:

“The train was in charge of Conductor Ball, and when the cry, ‘All Aboard” was given, the load of human freight started off at a rate unknown in the annals of street car travel in Canada.”

After a brief stopover at Bamberger’s hotel, along commonly called the halfway house, for refreshments, the train arrived in Dundas at 4 p.m.

After disembarking, the party proceeded to the Elgin Hotel, where a spacious banquet room was reserved for a series of toasts.

In the toast to the “United Corporations of Hamilton and Dundas,” President Osler of the Hamilton and Dundas Street Railway Company referred to the rivalry that had once existed between the communities and expressed his confidence that the new road would help bring the communities together for their mutual benefit.

Mayor O’Reilly of Hamilton responded to that toast by expressing strong hopes for the railway’s success, and then proposed a toast to the “Hamilton and Dundas Street Railway Company.”

In responding to Mayor O’Reilly’s toast, President Osler noted the difficulties the company had to surmount in order to build the line:

“In connection with the engineering difficulties, he stated that as much earthwork had been done on the Hamilton and North Western Railway between Hamilton and Milton. No aid had been received from the Government, nor from the county, and if the road did not prove a success, only a few gentlemen in Hamilton and Dundas would suffer by it.”

After the ceremonies at the Elgin House concluded, the party from Hamilton returned to the train for a cool evening trip back to the city, arriving shortly after 7 p. m.