Trolley Tuesday 1/25/22 - The British Columbia Electric Railway

The province of British Columbia has always been known as the "Final Frontier" of Canada's westward expansion. To the railroads like Canadian Pacific and Canadian National, there was nothing more imperative or essential than gaining a connection to the Pacific Ocean. The strongest outpost in that province proved to be Vancouver, whose reputation as a Canadian jewel city and popular filming location ensures its longevity and legacy in the eyes of many. Yet, before the Hollywood cameras, British Columbia was known for another rolling icon that took after the utility-owned interurbans of Midwest America: the British Columbia Electric Railway. On today's (belated) Trolley Tuesday, we look back on the BCER as it grew in the Saltwater City and prospered by land until the inevitable end.

Trolley Thursday 2/11/21 - Pacific Electric's City and Center-Entrance Cars

The Pacific Electric Railway (or PE) did not develop the famous 600-750 Class "Hollywood Cars" overnight. In fact, it's something we'll be covering in greater detail next Tuesday. Prior to their most-famous streetcar type, PE (and by extension, their parent company Southern Pacific) spent years before 1923 trying to find the perfect standard "city" or "suburban" car to complement their successful standard range of wood and steel interurban cars. Outside of the Hollywoods, PE had four other classes of city cars that helped keep Angelinos moving around Los Angeles, Glendale, and Pasadena, and it's definitely worth talking about them on today's Trolley Tuesday, all about the search for the perfect city car!

Trolley Tuesday 9/8/20 - The Brill Company and The Cars of the PRT

The cars of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company (up until 1940) seemingly set the standard for what an American streetcar roster should look like, as their carbarns were packed with Peter Witts and PCC's, both ubiquitous streetcars of the United States. Their proximity to the J.G. Brill Company of Philadelphia, PA, also gave them unprecedented access to new car classes and prototypes that would have otherwise remained on the drawing board. On Today's (late) Trolley Tuesday, we'll take a brief glimpse at the Brill Car Company and its association with the city of Philadelphia.