2. History in the making
• Horse cars were the first form of public transit within cities.
• The earliest horse car line was built in 1828 in Baltimore,
Maryland.
• Horses are slow and expensive as a form of power.
• In larger cities horsecars were replaced by cable cars, or
elevated steam trains.
• Horsecar lines were prominent in cities until Frank J. Sprague‟s
invention of the overhead wire and motor mount in 1887.
• The Sarah Street line in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was the last
regularly operated transit line operated with horse cars in the
United States, running until October 27,1923.
3. Frank J. Sprague
“The father of electric traction”
• Invented the overhead wire and motor mount
combination.
• Created the first completely successful electric
railway system in Richmond Virginia. (1887-88)
5. Early Streetcars
Many people know what a “Trolley” is by the popular TV
show Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood; although the proper
name is a “Streetcar” or “Electric streetcar”
Early trolleys were not much different from their predecessors.
They were small, with only 1 truck (wheel and axle set) and as
such could not carry a large passenger load.
6. Growth years
As trolleys became more popular, companies began to
focus on developing greater capacity streetcars.
•Built in 1898 for
Pittsburgh railways
company.
•Example of an early
“double truck” streetcar.
•Longer and wider
•Could carry a larger
payload then their
single truck
predecessors.
7. Increasing capacity
To further increase capacity of streetcars during the boom in
the teens and twenties, streetcar companies began operating
trains of cars. In addition to that they built “double-decker”
cars, which doubled capacity all in one car.
8. Evolution of the Trolley
City cars: Trolleys that ran within cities or their suburbs.
West Penn
Railways
“Summer
Pittsburgh Car”
Railways
Low-floor car. Company
High-floor car. Johnstown Traction Company
9. Evolution of the Trolley
Interurban: Trolleys that ran between towns and cities.
Jersey Shore and Antes Fort Railway
Harmony line
Wooden Interurban Baggage car.
West Penn Railways Steel interurban
10. Evolution of the Trolley
Streamliners: Modernized trolleys first seen in the late
1930s early 40s. Better known as PCC cars.
Pat Transit‟s “The Terrible Trolley”
Last PCCs in Pittsburgh retired
from service in 1999.
11. Evolution of the Trolley
Light-rail: The newest generation of trolley transportation.
A new Pittsburgh LRV
(Light-rail Vehicle).
This is known as a
“Almond joy car”
because of the bumps
on the roof.
12. Evolution of the Trolley
More then just the terrible trolley. Companies painted cars as adds
to earn extra money, or just to catch the public eye.
Add Cars
13. Demise of the Trolley Era
As cars became more
popular and more
available to the average
American, trolley
companies began a
downward spiral.
Trolleys were stacked and
burned to strip the metal bare.
14. What Once
Was
Trolleys truly were everywhere. In the
teens and twenties it was possible to
ride trolleys from Pittsburgh and get all
the way to Illinois (with a lot of
transfers in-between).
22. Work Cars
This is what‟s called a “Crane car.” It‟s outfitted with a boom
that can lift an assortment of materials, including track,
line poles and do so while staying under the trolley wire.
23. Work Cars
This work car is called a “Line car.” The roof is insulated
so that workers can safely work on the 600V DC
overhead wire.
24. Work Cars
This is a side dump car the whole deck of the car tips to
unload the rocks or „ballast‟ onto the side of the tracks.
25. Work cars
This is a “Gondola dump car.” The gondola is filled with
rocks that are then dumped down the center of the track
from the spreaders in the center of the car.
Spreaders
26. Work Cars
This is a “Snow sweeper.” During the winter trolleys had to
be able to keep running to stay on schedule, these cars
were equipped with large spinning brooms on the front
that blasted snow off of the track.
