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Originally Posted by J.OT13
Who removed the streetcars? Did anyone ask that they be removed?
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Wikipedia says it was done on the recomendation of a consulting firm.
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By 1958 financial problems of the O.T.C. caused a study to be conducted by Urwick, Currie Ltd. In March 1958, they acknowledged the 96 aging cars and recommended diesel buses. The Ottawa Transportation Commission began implementing the plan and removed the cars; the last electric car ran on May 1, 1959 when the Britannia line was closed. A parade was held on May 4 celebrating an end to 68 years of tram service in Ottawa. The O.T.C. was succeeded by OC Transpo in 1973.
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I rode those trams as a kid in the 1950's. They were old and the interiors were worn. They were--Quaint. I guess diesel was really cheap back then and nobody worried about Greenhouse Gases. People seemed to be happy to have all the overhead wires the trams used be gone. They were somewhat unsightly.
The steel rails embedded in the streets took longer to disappear. Motorists sometimes complained that they were slippery when they were wet, but I never heard of accidents being blamed on them.