History of Streetcars in D.C.
Streetcars ran on the streets of D.C. from 1862 until 1962. During this time, they served as the backbone of D.C.’s transportation network until they were replaced by buses beginning in the late 1950′s.
A 1958 map of D.C.’s streetcar system is available on the website of the National Capital Trolley Museum: http://www.dctrolley.org/dctrolleymap.htm
A comprehensive history of streetcars in the District is available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streetcars_in_Washington,_D.C.
March 6th, 2009 @ 2:40 pm
In case anybody’s interested or curious, here’s a few videos from YouTube of the old Washington, DC streetcars:
From the 1950′s, footage found discovered in 2008 by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689. (Run Time 3:53)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5H2r3AwqjQ
U.S. Mail being delivered by streetcar, 1903. (Run Time 1:14)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFDz3rC_T9c
Capital Traction Company streetcar through the streets of the Nation’s Capital, Washington, DC. Dated 1941. (Run Time 0:17)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDhPBqFcROY
WETA – Public TV segment on the Alexandria, Virginia suburban streetcar/railway, showing lots of footage of streetcars in DC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuMladLGiWY
March 6th, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
Here’s a video about the formation and history of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689 that shows lots of historic videos and photographs of streetcars in DC. (Run Time 4:13)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-QTYO1GL2s