page_title: Montreal and Southern Counties Railway
section_title: Founding and Initial Service
hierarchical_section_title: Montreal and Southern Counties Railway / History / Founding and Initial Service
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Manchette DE MONTRÉAL À SAINT-LAMBERT et photos de l'inauguration de la Montreal and Southern Counties Railway sur la une de La Presse de Montréal. English: Headline DE MONTRÉAL À SAINT-LAMBERT (From Montreal to Saint Lambert) and photos of the inauguration of the Montreal and Southern Counties Railway on the front page of Montreal's La Presse newspaper.
context_page_description: The Montreal and Southern Counties Railway Company was an electric interurban streetcar line that served communities between Montreal and Granby from 1909 until 1956. A second branch served the city of Longueuil. Operated by the Canadian National Railway, the M&SCRC ran trams on tracks in the street in Montreal and closer South Shore communities, and on separate right of way in rural areas.
context_section_description: The Montreal and Southern Counties Railway Company was established through an act of Canadian Parliament on June 29, 1897, with a mandate to "lay out, construct and operate, by electricity or any other mechanical power except steam, a railway [...] from a point in or near the northern limit of the county of Chambly [...] to a point in or near the city of Sherbrooke."
  In 1905, a bus company running from Montreal to St. Lambert was failing. After amending the company charter, M&SC "was empowered to take [over the bus company] and replace it with an electric railway."
  It took years to fight opposition to the laying of tracks from the Montreal Street Railway and to negotiate access to the downstream shoulder of the Victoria Jubilee Bridge with the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR). GTR purchased a controlling interest in the company in exchange for a "generous infusion of money to get construction."
  In spring 1909, M&SC laid tracks along Riverside, Mill, Common, Grey Nun and Youville Streets in Montreal. By end of October, tracks were laid all the way to St. Lambert City Hall. A celebration was held October 31, and official service began on November 1.
caption: Headlines and photos of the railway inauguration in Montreal's La Presse, November 2, 1909.
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