QUOTE: Thot #3 My first attempt at a new segmant. classic Juice. First up The London and Port Stanley Railway or L&PS The L&PS was originally chartered by the Great Western Railway in 1853. It's purpose to run freight ie coal to the cities of London, St Thomas, Elgin & Middlesex ( all in southwestern ontario )Originally built to the great western's 51/2 foot guage. Fears of the Great Westerns practice of monopoply pricing the cities purchased the road and leased it back to the Great western to operate for 20 years thus limiting price increases. In 1872 this steam road's lease was up and also the great western as well ( swallowed by the greed of it's owners ) A second 20 year lease was granted to theLake Erie and Detroit river Line( this became the Pere marquette) They ran as a mostly coal hauling road with summer passenger trains to the beaches. As the second Lease was comming to an end the Ontario government was activly pursueing a Scheme to build a province wide electric interurban net work under the ospices of one Sir Adam Beck ( London on MPP and father of the hydro electric commission.Indeed the hydro plants in Niagara falls are still Adam Beck 1 and 2 ) In 1913 when the second lease was up the L&PS was electrified new 80lbs rail and a 1500vDC system and catenery was strung. Five steel motor cars with monitor roof were ordered from Jewett in Ohio. 59 feet long 92,900 lbs cars with 4 125hp GE traction motors. cars 2,4,6,8 &10.Three wooden trailers non powered but with mu controls for train operation were ordered from Preston car and coach in Preston on. cars # 1,3,5. The L&PS interchanged with CN and CP in London and with the Michigan central in St Thomas. Later in 1915 three electric boxcabs electrified the frieght operations these were built by Preston and numbered L1,2 and L3. Each was capable of moveing 50 loaded coal cars or other general merchandice ferried from conneat ohio. in 1917 two more steel motors were purchased 72 feet long #12 and 14. For forty years the L&PS ran electric service only loosing money twice. Once in 1933 the next time in 1953. Hourly service was run on the 40 mile round trip road with three to 6 car passenger trains common. All cars were geared and capable of 70 miles an hour and mostly ran at those speeds as the L&PS was 90% private ROW with a few under/overpasses for hwy 3 etc. In 1956 Ontario Hydro was begining to change the power system in the area from25 to 60 cyclesand the city of London which still owned the ROW couldn't afford the rectifier upgrades as passenger numbers were decreasing. As a result in Feb 1957passenger service north and south of St Thomas was ended.frieght operations were dieselized in 1960 although up till 1963 electric service still ran on in the express service London to St Thomas. In 65 the city discontinued ownership and all power was shut off. Todays port stanley terminal operates whats left of this line in their excursion service. Several cars are still with us. Our Museum has #8 and trailer # 3. We also have locomotive L 2. The Delson Museum in Quebec has # 10 & # 12. And the Elgin county museum in St Thomas has # 14 and freight engine L 1. Photo's of these can be found in our Museums website my rail images account and in several hard bound books. Hope everyone enjoyed. Rob
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