Streetcars - USA: Books - History and Types

The Motorman and His Duties - The classic handbook for electric trolley, streetcar and interurban railway motormen

Originally printed in 1898 and then periodically revised, "The Motorman...and His Duties" served as the definitive training text for a generation of streetcar operators. A must-have for the trolley or train enthusiast, it is also an important source of information for museum staff and docents: in fact it's currently in use as a training book in at least two historic trolley museums. Lavishly illustrated with numerous photos and black and white line drawings, this affordable reprint contains all of the original text.

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Detroit's Streetcar Heritage

The transition from horsecar to electric street railways began in 1892 with the establishment of an electric street railway by the Detroit Citizens Street Railway. By 1900, consolidation led to the formation of the Detroit United Railway (DUR).
In a pioneering move, the City of Detroit acquired DUR in 1922, making it the first major U.S. city to manage public transit under the Detroit Department of Street Railways (DSR).

Between 1921 and 1930, DSR procured 781 Peter Witt type streetcars. Subsequently, despite the acquisition of 186 modern Presidents' Conference Committee (PCC) cars from 1945 to 1949, various streetcar lines transitioned to bus operation. The final streetcar line on Woodward Avenue converted to buses in 1956, with 183 PCC cars sold to Mexico City.

This book chronicles Detroit's streetcar era, featuring glimpses of PCC cars in Mexico City, the 1976-2003 Washington Boulevard Line, and the 2017 QLINE streetcar on Woodward Avenue connecting Grand Boulevard with downtown Detroit.

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New Orleans Fabulous Streetcars

The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority streetcar No. 920 glistens in the afternoon rain of April 24, 2013 on St. Charles Avenue at Common Street in New Orleans. Since 1835, the St. Charles streetcar line has been operating in New Orleans.

At its peak in 1926, there were twenty-six streetcar lines in New Orleans. With the 1964 abandonment of the Canal streetcar line, increased public recognition emerged on the importance of preserving the St. Charles streetcar line, the only remaining streetcar line in New Orleans. Citizen support led to the rebirth of the streetcar in New Orleans.

This book provides a photographic essay of the New Orleans streetcar system including the new Loyola streetcar line that opened in 2013 and is part of New Orleans Fabulous Streetcars.

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Trolleys of Pennsylvania

Delve into the rich history of Pennsylvania's trolley car systems through a captivating photographic essay. Pennsylvania held the distinction of hosting more operational trolley companies than any other U.S. state. Notably, Fairmount Park in Philadelphia achieved a pioneering milestone by introducing the world's first trolley car line entirely within a park.

In Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the smallest city in the U.S. at the time, modern Presidents' Conference Committee cars were put into service. An intriguing fact is spotlighted - until the merger with Route 13 in 1971, Philadelphia's Route 62 (Darby-Yeadon) held the title of the shortest trolley car line in the nation.

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of diverse trolley car lines that have played a pivotal role in shaping the legacy of Trolleys of Pennsylvania.

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San Francisco's Magnificent Streetcars

San Francisco's first cable car line opened in 1873. The successful development of the electric streetcar by Frank Sprague in 1888 plus the 1906 San Francisco earthquake resulted in the decline of the cable car system.
Concerned that the cable car system would vanish, San Francisco resident Friedel Klussmann rallied public support to save the cars. The 1982 shutdown of the cable car lines for their rebuilding led to Trolley Festivals beginning in 1983 until 1987 using a variety of historic streetcars on Market Street.
Those successful festivals resulted in rebuilding the streetcar track on Market Street and the establishment of the F streetcar line in 1995 using Presidents' Conference Committee streetcars purchased from Philadelphia and refurbished in a variety of paint schemes that represented cities that once had streetcar service.

In addition, the line features vintage Peter Witt streetcars from Milan, Italy; a boat like streetcar from England; and other unique cars. During 2000, the F line was extended to Fisherman's wharf and has become one of the most successful streetcar lines in the United States.

This book is a photographic essay of "San Francisco's Magnificent Streetcars" along with its historic cable cars and hill climbing trolley coaches.

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Cincinnati Streetcar Heritage

A photographic essay of the Cincinnati, Ohio, streetcar system. Cincinnati's first electric streetcar line was the conversion of the Mt. Adams & Eden Park Inclined Railway Company cable car line to electric operation in 1888, which became part of the Cincinnati Street Railway Company in 1896.
Because of concern over corrosion of underground conduits and water pipes, Cincinnati's streetcar lines were required to have a double overhead wire within city limits. Cincinnati, along with Merrill, Wisconsin, and Havana, Cuba, were the only streetcar systems in North America with a double overhead wire system.

Two open observation streetcars were placed in sightseeing service during 1939. The only Presidents' Conference Committee (PCC) cars ever built with two trolley poles were operated in Cincinnati.
Although Cincinnati's streetcars made their last run in 1951, the Toronto Transit Commission purchased 52 of Cincinnati's PCC cars with the last one taken out of service in 1982.

"Cincinnati Streetcar Heritage" documents the city's streetcar era, including the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar line which opened in 2016, linking downtown Cincinnati with the Over the Rhine neighborhood.

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