http://davesrailpix.com/mtc/mtc.htm
http://dewi.ca/trains/montreal/
The Tram became an outmoded form of transportation as the population of Montreal grew. As a result they were replaced by the bus system in 1919. Tramways were becoming dangerous due to the number of tracks that crossed each other. The numerous tracks made the streets of Montreal dangerous as the population grew. The photo below demonstrates the conflicts that arose while having too many trams. The photo is of the intersection of Bleury and Craig street.
Some of the main problems with the Tram was that the cars were not heated, in the winter time this proved to be a large downside in Montreal. The snow would slow the cars down as well, this also lent a hand to people mostly young adults hitching a ride onto the back for free, a very dangerous maneuvre.
Another proponent of many tramways being shut down not just in Montreal, was that autobus manufacturers from the United States would offer cities discounts on new buses if they would opt out of using the tramway and run solely on bus. This virtually eliminated all the tramways in North America, Toronto being one of the exceptions.
Here is a clip of the Montreal Gazette on the day the tramways were shut down : http://www.montrealgazette.com/pdf/tramways-montreal08311959.pdf
References:
Bibliothèque et Archives National Québec, http://bibnum2.banq.qc.ca/bna/massic/accueil.htm, Accessed December 5, 2010.
David A Wyatt
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~wyatt/alltime/montreal-qc.html
Binns, Richard M., "The Montreal Park and Island Railway Co. and Its Rolling Stock," Canadian Rail, No. 433, March-April 1993, Canadian Railroad Historical Association, St.-Constant (Québec), pp. 39-70.
Angus, Fred F., Remember Montreal's Streetcars!, Canadian Railroad Historical Association, Montreal (Québec), 1971.
