SKU: T21+22/D
NEW ORLEANS TROLLEYS: The oldest surviving street railway in America is the famous St. Charles trolley line in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dating back to 1835, it was originally a horsecar line, which later gave way to steam-powered cars which were later replaced by electric trolleys. The St. Charles line currently operates a fleet of “standard” heavyweight cars built in the 1920s by the Perley A. Thomas Car Works of High Point, North Carolina. These cars were never replaced by the modern streamlined PCC cars and are the last operating examples of their type in the United States – a tribute to the great days of the trolley! This program features vintage film onboard and trackside sequences of the colorful St. Charles and Canal – Cemeteries lines. There is also a section featuring dramatic contemporary night video views of the St. Charles line, taken in August 2000.
TEXAS TROLLEYS: The city of Dallas currently boasts a brand-new light rail system, called DART, for Dallas Area Rapid Transit. With 44 miles of track, and 95 trolleys, it currently carries more than 13 million riders a year. An additional 50 miles of track is under construction. This compares favorably with the 105 miles of track which comprised the trolley lines operated by the Dallas Railway Company – later known as the Dallas Railway & Terminal Company – in 1925. There were 250 streetcars running over more than 20 different routes. In 1942, DR&T purchased 25 double-ended streamlined PCC trolleys, which ran until the system was abandoned on January 3, 1956. This program shows the PCCs in action, along with a number of older heavyweight cars, during the early 1950s.
In 1925, El Paso had a 43-mile system, with a fleet of 89 trolleys carrying passengers to all areas of the city. The highlight of the system was the international trolley line connecting El Paso to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. This unique operation began as a horsecar line in 1902 and lasted until September 4, 1974. Beginning in April 1950 with the delivery of 17 streamlined PCC trolleys purchased from the San Diego Transit System, El Paso City Lines provided its passengers with modern transportation on the popular international trolley line. Three more cars arrived from San Diego in December, 1952. Although built as single-ended cars, the City Line shops added a front trolley pole, rear headlight, and operator controls to permit backward operation over the carbarn access track. When the system closed in 1974, the PCCs were moved to the airport area and most still survive today, awaiting further service on other lines or restoration as museum exhibits.
