Pieces of a rail line dating back to the late 1890s have been unearthed on Wilson Street.
Work Crews came across the 140-metre segment of track after removing asphalt and digging down as part of the construction work to replace storm sewers, sanitary sewers and the water main that began Thursday.
It is part of a streetcar rail line constructed by George Sleeman, says the city.
According to a Cultural Heritage Resource Assessment completed for the project, a 1906 map of the city of Guelph showed an electric street railway line running along Carden, Wilson and Gordon streets, the city said
“We knew a streetcar line existed along Wilson Street and so we expected some remnant of it to be discovered during construction. We’re excited to find the steel rails mostly intact,” said Andrew Janes, project engineer supervisor, in a release.
The rails will be moved off site to be documented before any decisions are made about their future.
“The City is developing a plan to determine how best to conserve these pieces of Guelph’s cultural heritage,” says Stephen Robinson, senior heritage planner.
Guelph Museums already has a collection that includes pieces of that track.
