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

The H.G.& B. Electric Railway Car Barn

Photographed by Tim Boyd, February 20, 2026

1. The H.G.& B. Electric Railway Car Barn Marker

Inscription.

The H.G.& B. Electric Railway Car Barn. . From 1894 to 1960 this site was the location of a car barn and repair shop building constructed in 1894 by and for the Hamilton Grimsby and Beamsville Electric Railway (H.G. and B.)., The H.G. and B. was an interurban railway that ran for 22 miles connecting downtown Hamilton with the Niagara Peninsula. Spur lines were also constructed to Grimsby Park (1896) and canning factories in the area. Although known primarily as a passenger railway, the H.G. and B. was also in the business of transporting locally grown fruit. Grimsby was the original terminus of the line when it first opened in 1894. The line was later extended to Beamsville in 1896 and Vineland in 1904., The decision to locate the car barn and repair shop building in Grimsby was an outcome of negotiations between the H.G. and B. and the then Village of Grimsby concerning the railway's need for a right-of-way along Main Street through the village. In the end it was agreed that in return for the right of way, the H.G. and B. would open up a roadway along the tracks to Kerman Avenue. They would grade Main Street, rebuild the bridge, and would also erect a large brick car building with repair shop attached., The 45ft x 130ft car barn was used as an overnight parking facility for the railway cars, a repair shop as well as a power supply substation. The car barn was built of red pressed brick with stone accents and foundation. It was entered from the eastern end by three tracks, one of which was provided with a pit for under-car inspection. The new trolley cars were also first stored here, awaiting the grand opening of the railway on Wednesday, October 17, 1894., On October 29, 1898 the railway announced that the repair shop in the Grimsby Car Barn would be relocated to Hamilton. Still the H.G. and B. and the connections it brought to Hamilton and Niagara came to be an integral component of Grimsby's economic and social life in the first three decades of the 20th century. The building would continue to be used as a car barn until the H.G. and B. ceased operations on June 30, 1931., In the years that followed, the Grimsby Car Barn was used for a variety of businesses. It was demolished in 1960 to make way for a White Rose Service Station only to be rebuilt again for the current building which served as a restaurant for nearly 40 years before being renovated into a dental office by Dr. Mario Menechella in 2015.,

From 1894 to 1960 this site was the location of a car barn and repair shop building constructed in 1894 by and for the Hamilton Grimsby and Beamsville Electric Railway (H.G. & B.).

The H.G. & B. was an interurban railway that ran for 22 miles connecting downtown Hamilton with the Niagara Peninsula. Spur lines were also constructed to Grimsby Park (1896) and canning factories in the area. Although known primarily as a passenger railway, the H.G. & B. was also in the business of transporting locally grown fruit. Grimsby was the original terminus of the line when it first opened in 1894. The line was later extended to Beamsville in 1896 and Vineland in 1904.

The decision to locate the car barn and repair shop building in Grimsby was an outcome of negotiations between the H.G. & B. and the then Village of Grimsby concerning the railway's need for a right-of-way along Main Street through the village. In the end it was agreed that in return for the right of way, the H.G. & B. would open up a roadway along the tracks to Kerman Avenue. They would grade Main Street, rebuild the bridge, and would also erect a large brick car

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building with repair shop attached.

The 45ft x 130ft car barn was used as an overnight parking facility for the railway cars, a repair shop as well as a power supply substation. The car barn was built of red pressed brick with stone accents and foundation. It was entered from the eastern end by three tracks, one of which was provided with a pit for under-car inspection. The new trolley cars were also first stored here, awaiting the grand opening of the railway on Wednesday, October 17, 1894.

On October 29, 1898 the railway announced that the repair shop in the Grimsby Car Barn would be relocated to Hamilton. Still the H.G. & B. and the connections it brought to Hamilton and Niagara came to be an integral component of Grimsby's economic and social life in the first three decades of the 20th century. The building would continue to be used as a car barn until the H.G. & B. ceased operations on June 30, 1931.

In the years that followed, the Grimsby Car Barn was used for a variety of businesses. It was demolished in 1960 to make way for a White Rose Service Station only to be rebuilt again for the current building which served

Photographed by Tim Boyd, February 20, 2026

2. The H.G.& B. Electric Railway Car Barn Marker

as a restaurant for nearly 40 years before being renovated into a dental office by Dr. Mario Menechella in 2015.

Erected by Town of Grimsby.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.

Location. 43° 11.732′ N, 79° 33.946′ W. Marker is in Grimsby, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is at the intersection of Livingstone Avenue and Murray Street, on the right when traveling west on Livingstone Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6 Livingston Avenue, Grimsby ON L3M 1K4, 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: Delmer William Lord (about 210 meters away,

The H.G.& B. Electric Railway Car Barn marker illustration and caption detail (left) image. Click for full size.

1914

3. The H.G.& B. Electric Railway Car Barn marker illustration and caption detail (left)

measured in a direct line); Grimsby Cenotaph (about 240 meters away); Watering trough from Grimsby's Main Street (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Nelles Manor 1798 (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); April 5th, 1990, 200th Anniversary of the First Municipal Meeting in Upper Canada (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Grimsby Town Bell (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); First Town Meeting (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Colonel Robert Nelles 1761-1842 (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grimsby.

The H.G.& B. Electric Railway Car Barn marker photo and caption detail (bottom) image. Click for full size.

4. The H.G.& B. Electric Railway Car Barn marker photo and caption detail (bottom)

The H.G.& B. Electric Railway Car Barn marker photos and captions detail (right) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, February 20, 2026

5. The H.G.& B. Electric Railway Car Barn marker photos and captions detail (right)

1907 map showing the H.G.& B. Electric Railway route image. Click for full size.

6. 1907 map showing the H.G.& B. Electric Railway route

Souece: ontario council of University Libraries

Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 21, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 32 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 21, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.