Trolley Tuesday 1/17/21 - The Toronto Transit Commission (Part 2)

On last Thursday's trolleypost, we took you through the privatised history of the Toronto Railways, back when it was just a gaggle of independent companies providing a variety of quality services across the Queen City. Today, we're taking you through the modern history of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) that you know and love so much. From its beginnings in the 1920s all the way through to the "Lean Years" of the 80s and 90s, the history of the TTC is as engaging, as varied, and as beautiful as the Peter Witts, PCCs, and CLRVs we all love so much. Now climb aboard, let's get rolling, and please stand clear of the doors!

Trolley Tuesday 8/10/21 - The Cars of the San Diego Electric Railway

On Thursday, we covered the general history of the San Diego Electric Railway (SDERy), a sprawling 100-or-so mile electric railway system that helped grow America's Finest City into the international port it is today. On this Trolley Tuesday, we'll be opening up the Adams Avenue Carbarn and looking at the many varied streetcars the SDERy rostered. From the usual smatterings of horsecars and cable cars, to home-grown designs and pioneering streetcars, we have it all! So sit back, ride and relax, and enjoy today's post!

Trolley Thursday 5/13/21 - The Battle of Sebastopol Avenue

Just like most of its national and international history, America's electric railroad history is not free from the spoils and sins of war. Most wars in electric railway circles, like the quiet Cold War of the United Railroads vs. San Francisco or the intense bureaucratic battles of Chicago's Cable Car wars, are fought rather bloodlessly, usually coming down to bidding for street franchises. However, in a quiet corner of Sonoma County just 30 miles North of San Francisco, one notable clash between interurbans and steam railroads tuned swiftly violent with mud, rocks, and pre-heated boiler water as the weapons of choice. And now, dear passengers, don your helmets, lace up your boots, and grab a ballast rock to sling because, on today's Trolley Thursday, we're going to war over a frog!

Trolley Tuesday 4/27/21 - The Modern Market Street Railway

Modern city transit systems are usually not obligated to contain a heritage streetcar line; after all, they're just there to keep the city on the move. However, there are some certain specific exceptions to that rule, whether it's bringing out old equipment on modern lines for excursion services like Chicago or New York, or keeping old lines operating just "as-is" as long as the spares are there like Boston. San Francisco is no different to the art of the heritage streetcar, but it might as well be both the prototype and the codifier on how to do it for the rest of the world. The interplay between tourist trolley and viable transport is on full display on today's San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni for short), and nowhere is that more evident than through the non-profit organization that keeps the city's historic streetcars running: the Market Street Railway Foundation. On today's Trolley Tuesday, let's see just how the Fabulous F Market and the Exciting E Embarcadero keep history rolling on the street tracks!

Trolley Tuesday 4/13/21 - The Market Street Railway and the United Railroads of San Francisco

Okay, now it looks like we're back to trolleys after spending so much time on cable cars the past two episodes. I think. I hope? Anyway... Before San Francisco had its single transit system in the form of the Municipal Railway, or MUNI, there were two companies that ruled the roost and made famous the "Roar of the Four" down Market Street. This other company was the Market Street Railway (MSR), which for a time was also known as the much-maligned United Railroads of San Francisco (URR). Under both names, the company experienced earthquakes, deadly labor strikes, and city franchise disputes across their 87-year history before finally folding to the might of the MUNI. On today's Trolley Tuesday, let's take A Trip Down Market Street as we look at the wide and varied history of the Market Street Railway.

Trolley Tuesday 2/23/21 - Pacific Electric's Freight Locomotives

Besides having an enormous interurban and suburban fleet, the Pacific Electric Railway (PE) of Southern California maintained an impressive freight locomotive fleet as well. Driven by efforts of their parent company, Southern Pacific Railway (SP), PE made significant expanses in ensuring they could serve as a good regional freight hauler and terminal railroad. This meant maintaining a diverse and often non-standard fleet of electric freight locomotives (and some non-electric ones) from its inception in 1902 all the way to the last electric-hauled freight services in the early 1960s, which was both a blessing and a curse to the ever-progressing but perennially-cash-strapped Pacific Electric. On today's Trolley Tuesday, let's take a break from hauling passengers to look at the unsung heroes of LA's interurban mileage, the electric locomotives!

Trolley Thursday 10/27/20 - Notable Streetcars and Rapid Transit of Boston

 While Boston has had a fantastic and varied streetcar history, possessing both the oldest subway in America and some of the longest-running revenue streetcar lines in the world, one of the biggest oversights we've had this month is discussing just how varied and unique some of Boston's streetcars actually are. We already touched on the differences between heavy- and light-rail systems, so now that we've established where these cars have run (and still do), we can dig deep and see what sets Boston's streetcar fleet apart from the rest of America. Climb aboard and indulge in your inner nerd as we excitedly discuss the different types of streetcars to grace the Boston Elevated Railway (BERy) and the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (better known, of course, as the MBTA). 

Trolley Thursday 10/1/20 - The Boston Subway System

Another month brings another rich stock of streetcar, interurban, and rapid transit history to sink your teeth into. I want to thank all of the people and museum organizations who frequent, share, and find our series both entertaining and educational, whether it's insulting streetcar executives' facial hair or lamenting the loss of another legendary system. From Nakkune and I, you are all loved.

Today's month of October concerns the City of Boston (or to quote one of its own beloved mayors, "da cittabossun") and its rich electric railway history. The City of Champions is home to many firsts: the first shots fired in the American Revolution, the first American Dynasty through the Kennedys, and where we're concerned: the first subway in America. Despite being well over 120 years old, the combined system continues to serve as the main backbone of the Green and Red lines for the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (better known as the MTBA). Today, let's ship up to Boston and uncover the deep, congestive history of the Subway Tunnels!

Trolley Tuesday 9/22/20 - The Pittsburgh Railways

Pittsburgh has always been an important industrial hub for both steel and freight in Pennsylvania, and the gateway west into Ohio and the rest of the country. Beyond the giant steel mills and coal mines, Pittsburgh was also home to one of the largest street railways in the state with the third largest fleet of PCC streetcars in America (a devilish 666 cars). However, events conspired to all but wipe out the system through an unstable ownership, multiple bankruptcies, and failed returns that retired some of the first revenue-earning PCCs in the country for normal light rail. The long and troubled history of the Pittsburgh Railways is a story that deserves to be remembered.

Trolley Tuesday 8/4/20 - The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (or New South Shore Line)

Welcome to another new month of Twice-Weekly Trolley History here on Blogger! I know your eyes are probably hurting from last month's deluge of information, but I can assure you we're back to our normal length once again. You may remember from last month, as well, that we covered the old South Shore Line as part of our review of Chicago interurbans and street railways. Today, we're going to continue that story and look at what happened to one of Samuel Insull's "First and Fastest" railways that is now the "Last and Longest". It's America's only true remaining interurban, and it's only on Trolley Tuesday!