Sunday, August 1, 2010

Broadway - Replica Streetcar 596


Title: Replica Streetcar 596, "Nellie"
Location:
Broadway b/t Fort and Garry Streets
(Map)
Unveiled:
May 23, 2009

Artist:
David Hewlett, designer

Background


Strike! on Main
The replica of Winnipeg streetcar 596 was built by members of I.A.T.S.E. Local 63 (Manitoba Theatre Centre) for the May 23, 2009 outdoor performance of Strike! the Musical.

The original 596 was the streetcar set loose down Main Street during the big protest march of June 21, 1919 . On the second pass protesters pulled it off the track and set it alight. This incident sparked the Bloody Saturday riot and created an iconic image of Winnipeg's history.

The Forks
Since that time the streetcar has been used as a promotional tool for the musical, spending part of the winter at the Forks. In the summer of 2010 it was placed on the north side of Broadway between Fort and Garry Streets, land owned by Cambrian Credit Union.



The interior contains numerous photographs and information panels about the strike and Winnipeg's streetcar history. The car is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm until September 27, 2010. Admission is free.

Night on Main Street

Related:
Strike! The Musical
Winnipeg Streetcar 356 Restoration Project
Winnipeg Streetcar image slide show

1 comment:

  1. It's been 7 years since I last say 596 on Broadway.

    Where is it now? I moved out of downtown in 2012 and never returned (to live tere)

    ReplyDelete