History of the Southwestern Traction Railway by Kathy Bayne for the Westminster Twp. Historical Society
In bygone days, Lambeth had an electric train, the first im- provement in public transportation since the stagecoach. The work on the trolley line began in 1903 with a team of men (supposedly Italian) laying tracks and installing hydro poles. A spur line was run down North Talbot Road to the gravel pit. Gravel needed for the roadbed was loaded into steam-driven open cars to deliver to the main line. Back then and later in St. Thomas and Port Stanley, running disputes delayed the opening of the line until 1906. On June 4th, 1906, the first traction car came through Lambeth station to cheers from the public. Old-timers remember that the first trolleys were red and yellow, but later on, the familiar green cars made their appearance. The Lambeth station was a concrete building on the corner of Colonel Talbot Rd. and Main St. The trolleys made a wide swing in behind the building, then continued down Colonel Talbot to St. Thomas and Port Stanley. Lambeth residents found the traction a necessary convenience. High School students could now make the trip daily into London schools, rather than boarding in the city away from home. Farm women could also hop the train to sell their produce at the London Market, shop in the city for essentials and return on the next train. Each summer, the traction took residents of Lambeth and surrounding areas to Port Stanley for a picnic. When the train
rolled into the Lambeth station, there was a large banner stretched across the front car announcing “Lambeth Civic Holiday.” Hamlyn’s Mill in Lambeth had a spur line off the main track. The factory milled wheat into flour, along with cattle feed, bran, and oil cakes, and then shipped them out on the train. For businesses, it was a definite improvement from the horse and wagon. The line’s failure started in 1915 for many reasons. With all the legal battles, attempts were made to sell the line, but to no avail. By 1918, the last passenger car came through Lambeth. Eventually, the train was sold for scrap. When the traction is mentioned in Lambeth today, there are still stories to be told about this popular and important part of our village’s history.
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Lambeth Villager • September 2025 • Page 13
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