End of an era as Winnipeg's last known streetcar operator dies
CBC
Winnipeg lost a connection to a bygone era in December, when the city's last known streetcar operator died at age 93.
Brian Darragh started working for the Greater Winnipeg Transit Commission in April 1954, a little over a year before streetcar service came to a halt.
By the time he retired in August 1992, Darragh had worked his way up from badge No. 825 to badge No. 1, as the city's most senior driver. In that time he witnessed, and participated in, the progression of public transit in Winnipeg.
Darragh, who died Dec. 20, was a living link to the evolution from electric streetcars on rails to electric trolley buses on wheels with overhead lines, and on to diesel buses, said his friend Steven Stothers.
"He actually drove everything that Transit had, which is remarkable. He just had a great memory and stories," said Stothers, who owns the Winnipeg Trolley Company — a charter bus resembling the old ones — and is co-chair of the restoration committee for Streetcar 356, the last remaining Winnipeg-built wooden streetcar.
Most of Winnipeg's streetcars clattered across their steel routes for the final time on Sept. 18, 1955, including the one steered by Darragh.
The very last one, No. 734, finished its run in the early hours of the next day, arriving at the north Main Street garage just before 3 a.m.
Trolleys that used overhead lines, but had rubber wheels, briefly took over. Diesel buses started replacing them in 1965, and the city's last electric trolley ran on Oct. 30, 1970.
The only thing Darragh didn't drive, which would would have brought his career full circle, are the modern electric buses, which the city has previously pilot tested. Winnipeg Transit aims to introduce 16 into regular service in 2022 to 2023.
During 64 years of electric service, the city had over 400 streetcars and trolleys but there are few traces of those systems now.
Many of the vehicles were sold to be used on farms as granaries or chicken coops, or even remodelled into cottages.
Wear and tear on street pavement occasionally turns up long-buried tracks, while riverbank erosion sometimes belches out rusted remnants.
Darragh was the last direct connection to an era that that helped shape the city, which is why he was passionate about helping with the restoration of Streetcar 356.
"It was a project dear to his heart," said daughter Char Shatsky, adding her father loved to talk at length about the streetcars to anyone who would listen.
P.E.I.'s Public Schools Branch is looking for 50 substitute bus drivers, and it'll be recruiting at three job fairs on Saturday, June 8. The job fairs are located at the Atlantic Superstore in Montague, Royalty Crossing in Charlottetown, and the bus parking lot of Three Oaks Senior High in Summerside. All three run from 9 a.m. until noon. Dave Gillis, the director of transportation and risk management for the Public Schools Branch, said the number of substitute drivers they're hiring isn't unusual. "We are always looking for more. Our drivers tend to have an older demographic," he said.