The societys 1921 Hankai 247 Japanese streetcar, which operated in Osaka until 1990, edges out onto the top deck of the bridge and there is a collective holding of breath. As the streetcar clacks slowly across, the view, unobstructed in every direction, is truly breathtaking. Its the best $3 show in town and its got a historical connection that makes it all the more fascinating.

Service across the bridge began in 1913, making it the highest river crossing by a streetcar in the world. The top deck of the bridge was wide enough for three sets of tracks; the centre track carried the Canadian Pacific Railways (C.P.R.) steam trains, while the outer tracks were used by the Edmonton Radial Railway streetcars.

In the early days of the service, there were no crossovers at either end of the bridge and that meant the cars had to run on the right hand tracks. As the entrances were on the right side of the cars, that meant that, if a car became disabled, passengers would have been faced with either remaining in the car or alighting into space.

Crossovers were at last introduced around 1918, meaning that the passengers could disembark into the centre of the bridge if need be and tram service ran without major incident for the next 33 years. On the morning of September 2nd, 1951, Edmonton streetcar #52 made its final trip across the upper deck, bringing to an end a glorious chapter in the citys transportation history.

That could have been the end of the matter as far as streetcars on the High Level Bridge were concerned except for the tenacity and vision of a group of Edmonton streetcar enthusiasts. In early 1979 a group of them began to restore Edmonton Streetcar #1 the only survivor of the citys once glorious fleet.

They intended to run the car over the High Level Bridge during the Thanksgiving weekend as a contribution to the citys 75th anniversary celebrations. The car ran for three days in October 1979 across the surviving centre track, towing a generator car for power.

The venture was such a rousing success the volunteers formed the Edmonton Radial Railway Society and built a streetcar line at Fort Edmonton Park. Theyve since restored four more cars, are working on another half dozen and have another seven awaiting restoration. Among the Societys vintage streetcars, acquired from Edmonton, Toronto, Germany and Japan, is Number 33, which plied the streets in our city from 1912 until 1951.

Theres a lot of energy in our membership, which stands at about 100, explains Society president Harvey Bradley, one of the driving forces behind the groups remarkable track record. Weve got accountants, professors, mechanics the complete gamut and we all share a desire to do something that shows results.

For many of the members, the ultimate dream was to once again have a streetcar service across the High Level Bridge as a heritage line and work began in 1989 on making the dream a reality. Wrangles between the City and Canadian Pacific over use of the line and other haggles for money to rehabilitate the upper bridge deck delayed the project several times but the Radial Railway Society members refused to give up.

During the 1995 Fringe Festival, the Society was approached to see if it would be possible to operate a streetcar on the old railway right of way between 104th and 109th Street as part of one of the productions. Because there were no turning loops on the stretch of track to be used, a double-ended car was needed, and the Society just happened to have one Car 247, acquired Japan in 1990.

The car performed very well during its Fringe run and thousands of riders enjoyed a leisurely ride on the streetcar as part of their Fringe activities. Given the success of the venture, the members decided they needed to retire the noisy and smelly generator and install an overhead wire system. Despite a prohibitive cost, they set to work fundraising and installing the infrastructure, which was ready for operation in September, 1996.

Every year, the venture has attracted more riders, reaching a peak of 50,000 the last two summers. The revenue has allowed us to pay for maintenance and improvements, like changing 200 ties on the bridge and building a service pit at the Strathcona barn, Bradley notes. The demand means we need another car, Bradley notes.

And now theyve found one. Its a 50-year-old tram from Melbourne, Australia, and its being donated to commemorate the Edmonton 2005 World Masters Games, to be held in July, 2005.

Australia has a ban on export of its trams, because they are rightly concerned about them getting away, he explains. But to mark the Masters, they are giving us one which they have been kind enough to restore.

The last several months, the Society has been working to cut through red tape and get the 52-passenger tram shipped to Edmonton. After all the hard work, it is to arrive here in June. Were really excited because it will give us another double ended car, Bradley says.

It just goes to show what a group of people can do with some daring, perseverance and leadership. The High Level Bridge streetcar is one of Edmontons most exceptional and unique tourist attractions, a journey into the past built by a handful of volunteers who refused to give up on the future.

The streetcar operates daily this year from May 16th to August 24th and then on Fridays and weekends from September 5th through October 13th. Fares are $3 for those aged six and older or $10 per family. Phone (780) 437 7721. www.edmonton-radial-railway.ab.ca

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