Beamsville in Lincoln in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Hamilton, Grimsby & Beamsville Electric Railway Company

"Ride through the Garden of Canada"

Photographed by Kevin Westell, July 11, 2025

1. Hamilton, Grimsby & Beamsville Electric Railway Company - Marker

Inscription. The HG & B was the first electric railway in Canada designed exclusively for inter-urban transport. This plaque commemorates its first trip to Beamsville in October 1896. Passengers could travel the 37 km from downtown Hamilton to Beamsville in a little over an hour with a dozen stops in between. On the north side of King Street Stood the HG & B storage buildings where trains turned around for their return trip. In its peak year 1916, the HG & B carried over a million passengers. Farmers also used the trains to get their fruit and milk into Hamilton markets. Cars and buses became more competitive with electric railways, and so the last HG & B train pulled into Beamsville in June 1931.

Erected by Town of Lincoln.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 43° 9.985′ N, 79° 28.735′ W. Marker is in Lincoln, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Beamsville. It is at the intersection of King Street and William Street, on the right when traveling east on King Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5048 King Street, Lincoln ON L0R 1B8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Beam-Barnes House circa 1855 (within shouting distance of this marker); Early Education In Beamsville

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(about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Alanson Harris - Foundry Site (about 180 meters away); The Howard House 1847 (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Jacob Beam Mill Stone (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); George Herbert Locke (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Clinton Township Hall 1851 (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Vosburgh Blacksmith Shop 1866 (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lincoln.

Regarding Hamilton, Grimsby & Beamsville Electric Railway Company. The phrase "The Garden of Canada" was created in the mid-1800s, describing the farmland below the escarpment from Hamilton to Niagara Falls. The unique climatic conditions permitted a variety of fruit - grapes, pears, plums, peaches, pears and many other fruit not found elsewhere in Upper Canada. Vegetables were also cultivated in early Niagara. This phrase "The Garden Of Canada" probably inspired St. Catharines's moniker, "The Garden City".

Hamilton, Grimsby & Beamsville Electric Railway Company - Marker in context image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, July 11, 2025

2. Hamilton, Grimsby & Beamsville Electric Railway Company - Marker in context

The marker is steps from the south-west corner of King Street and William Street, and in front of the Beamsville war memorial.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, July 11, 2025

3. Hamilton, Grimsby & Beamsville Electric Railway Company - Marker

Photo faces north-east. The marker (distant left) is adjacent to the street corner and the crosswalk.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. This page has been viewed 168 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. 3. submitted on July 13, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.