Ready for Steveston’s July 1st Steveston Salmon Festival? Once again this year (weather permitting), Tram Car 1220 will make a special appearance outdoors for everyone to explore.
Why is Tram Car 1220 so special?
Tram Car 1220 connected Steveston to Vancouver as one of the 28 Interurban cars made by the St. Louis Car Company. Traveling at speeds of up to 70 km/hour, the journey took just 57 minutes, which was a massive improvement from the 4.5 hours that a horse and stagecoach would take.
Fun Fact: This trip was often faster than today’s public transit options!
From 1890-1958, millions rode the Interurban lines and streetcars across our region. Nowadays, over 2,000 visitors enjoy the chance to visit Tram Car 1220 on this annual outdoor occasion.
On July 1, 2025, expert carpenters from the City of Richmond will undergo a two hour process of winching the tram outside. Compared to its heyday speed, it will only travel a very short 10 metres, taking a slow 20 minutes to do so!
Watch the footage from last year’s Steveston Salmon Festival, taken by one of the Tram’s expert volunteers, who was permitted special behind-the-scenes access.
Where the Tram and Steveston’s Salmon Culture Meet
On July 1st, 1902 (or Dominion Day as it was called), Canadian Pacific Railway’s Lulu Island Branch Line opened. Affectionately nicknamed the “Sockeye Limited” for Steveston’s salmon-rich community, this was the first rail line in Richmond, making 2 trips daily.
Despite failing as a freight line for canned salmon, this route was incredibly successful as a passenger service, provided by the British Columbia Electrical Railway Company (BCER). Later in 1905, it became an electrified Interurban line that ran from Steveston to Vancouver until 1958. This line forever transformed Richmond. And parts of its tracks and signals scattered throughout city today continue to act as reminders of our vibrant past.
Come celebrate the Steveston Salmon Festival on July 1, 2025, and don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to step back in time and see the Steveston Tram outdoors on the tracks, as it was almost 70 years ago.
