Thanks to its deep-water port, two 400 series highways, and connections to the Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, and GO railways, many transportation routes carrying a diverse range of vehicles run through Oshawa today. However, one mode of transportation no longer found in Oshawa is electric rail. Drawing upon his work with the Oshawa Museum and the research for his Masters Research Paper, Adam Arko’s talk will outline the history of electric rail in Oshawa. It will start with the local electric railway which once serviced Oshawa. It will then detail a bizarre scheme to establish an electric commuter line between Oshawa and Toronto during the 1910s, as well as a proposal for an electric GO Train connected directly to downtown Oshawa. The talk will conclude with a very brief look at the prospect of electric rail returning to Oshawa in the future.

January’s Local History Speaker Series is taking place Tuesday, January 16 at 6PM. The Speaker Series will be held at the McLaughlin Branch of the Oshawa Public Libraries, in the lower level auditorium, located at 65 Bagot Street, Oshawa.

The Local History Speaker Series is an event presented in partnership between the Oshawa Historical Society and the Oshawa Public Libraries.