Little Rock Street Railway and Electric Company - Revision history

Phil at 21:30, 7 January 2010

2010-01-07T21:30:04Z

Phil: /* Routes */

2009-10-25T03:38:18Z

‎Routes

Phil: /* Routes */

2009-10-25T03:38:09Z

‎Routes

Phil: /* Routes */

2009-10-25T03:37:17Z

‎Routes

Phil at 03:36, 25 October 2009

2009-10-25T03:36:33Z

Phil at 02:49, 25 October 2009

2009-10-25T02:49:34Z

Phil at 02:46, 25 October 2009

2009-10-25T02:46:27Z

Phil at 02:41, 25 October 2009

2009-10-25T02:41:47Z

Phil: /* The Little Rock Street Railway and Electric Company */

2009-10-25T02:33:21Z

‎The Little Rock Street Railway and Electric Company

Phil: /* References */

2009-10-25T02:31:35Z

‎References

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:Streetcar-marionhotel-postc.jpg|thumb|300px|Streetcar passing in front of the Marion Hotel in Little Rock.]]
 [[Image:Street-railway-1913.JPG|thumb|300px|Little Rock streetcar railway lines in 1913.]]
-The '''Little Rock Street Railway and Electric Company''' had its origins in the [[Little Rock Street Railway Company]] founded on June 17, 1870. The company was granted a franchise by Little Rock's city council to provide all horse- or mule-drawn rail transportation in the city. This first attempt to provide public transportation in the city immediately failed.
+The '''Little Rock Street Railway and Electric Company''' had its origins in the [[Little Rock Street Railway Company]] founded on June 17, 1870. The company, under the leadership of [[W. E. Wright]], was granted a franchise by Little Rock's city council to provide all horse- or mule-drawn rail transportation in the city. This first attempt to provide public transportation in the city immediately failed.
 A second attempt in May 1873, under the name Little Rock Railway Company, went nowhere as the city denied the franchise request. Three more attempts by various companies failed to gain traction in 1876. In the spring of 1877 Little Rock approved Citizens Street Railway Company right-of-way for streetcar operations along Main, Center, Second, Markham, and Water streets terminating at the depot of the [[St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern Railway]]. The company began running cars on the tracks on May 29, 1877. Two stables for mules were established at the corners of Seventeenth and Main street and at Ninth and Ringo streets.
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 In 1884 the Little Rock Street Railway Company was also awarded a franchise with the city and created four lines of its own. The City Electric Street Railway Company was granted a franchise in December 1887. This company received right-of-way permissions to all city streets not already allocated to horse-drawn competitors. The City Electric Street Railway first contracted with the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to develop "dummy" steam engines to power its streetcars in Little Rock. The first steam service began on July 3, 1888.
-On March 3, 1891, the Capitol Street Railway Company swallowed up all the franchises in the city and adopted the name of the City Electric Street Railway Company. City Electric had at this time twenty-two miles of track, forty-five streetcars, and 308 horses and mules. The company divested itself of its last animal power on November 22, 1891. Two days later it debuted the first of twenty-eight new electric streetcars. The Little Rock Traction and Electric Company incorporated on June 3, 1895, and took over all the lines in the city.
+The company was merged with the [[Citizens' Street Railway]] on April 1, 1890, and transferred to the [[Capital City Street Railway Company]] owned by Captain [[James H. Miller]]. The president of the new company was [[George B. Rose]]. The vice president and manager of Capital City was [[H. P. Bradford]].
 ====The Little Rock Street Railway and Electric Company====
@@ Line 39: / Line 41: @@
 ==References==
 *Clifton E. "Gene" Hull, "From Mule Cars to Buses," ''Arkansas Railroader'' 17.10 (October 1986): 7-15.
 *''McGraw Electric Railway Manual,'' vol. 20 (McGraw Publishing Co., 1913), 9.

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 The longest line in the system was the [[Pulaski Heights Line]] running from Main Street downtown to the [[White City]] (formerly known as [[Forest Park]]). This route was completed in 1904. Because the route to [[Pulaski Heights]] was steep, the railway required several switchbacks. Eight double-end lightweight cars purchased from the American Car Company in 1924 ran in this track. These cars were numbered from 400 to 407. A one-way ride over the complete route took approximately thirty minutes. The line operated a car barn inside Forest Park, which was originally owned by the railway company.
-The [[South Main Line]] was a twenty-five block loop of track located downtown. At one end of the loop was the passenger station of the [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]]. Cars traveled from this station along [[Markham Avenue]] and then south onto Main Street. The [[[Fifteenth Street Line]] was serviced first by Birney cars and then by the older double-end, double-truck streetcars. The [[Fair Park Line]] was double tracked along its entire length. It originally served [[West End Park]] (now occupied by [[Central High School]], [[Kavanaugh Field]], and [[Highland Park]]. The [[Biddle Shops Line]] left the South Main Line at the intersection of 21st and Main streets and continued east and south to [[Confederate Boulevard]]. The line had been constructed in 1914 for $35,925. Streetcars numbered in the 200s were used on this line. The [[West Ninth Line]] ran from Ninth & Main through the African-American business district of the city. The line followed High Street south to [[Braddock's Park]] (originally called [[Wonderland Park]]) on 35th Street. The line was no longer in operation by 1930. The [[Rock Island Station Line]] terminated at the [[Choctaw Railway Station|Rock Island Railway Station]]. The [[South Highland Line]] deviated from the Fair Park Line at the intersection of Thirteenth and Woodrow streets. It followed Woodrow south to 19th Street before turning west and ended at Asher and 29th streets. The [[East Fourteenth Line]] turned off at Fourteenth and Main streets passed through the residential neighborhoods near old [[Little Rock High School]] and [[Oakland Cemetery]]. The line ended with a loop at Eighteen and College streets.
+The [[South Main Line]] was a twenty-five block loop of track located downtown. At one end of the loop was the passenger station of the [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]]. Cars traveled from this station along [[Markham Avenue]] and then south onto Main Street. The [[Fifteenth Street Line]] was serviced first by Birney cars and then by the older double-end, double-truck streetcars. The [[Fair Park Line]] was double tracked along its entire length. It originally served [[West End Park]] (now occupied by [[Central High School]], [[Kavanaugh Field]], and [[Highland Park]]. The [[Biddle Shops Line]] left the South Main Line at the intersection of 21st and Main streets and continued east and south to [[Confederate Boulevard]]. The line had been constructed in 1914 for $35,925. Streetcars numbered in the 200s were used on this line. The [[West Ninth Line]] ran from Ninth & Main through the African-American business district of the city. The line followed High Street south to [[Braddock's Park]] (originally called [[Wonderland Park]]) on 35th Street. The line was no longer in operation by 1930. The [[Rock Island Station Line]] terminated at the [[Choctaw Railway Station|Rock Island Railway Station]]. The [[South Highland Line]] deviated from the Fair Park Line at the intersection of Thirteenth and Woodrow streets. It followed Woodrow south to 19th Street before turning west and ended at Asher and 29th streets. The [[East Fourteenth Line]] turned off at Fourteenth and Main streets passed through the residential neighborhoods near old [[Little Rock High School]] and [[Oakland Cemetery]]. The line ended with a loop at Eighteen and College streets.
 In North Little Rock streetcar service was originally provided by the [[Argenta Street Railway Company]]. Argenta Street Railway had been formed in 1906, and within eight years serviced about five miles of track in the city. In 1914 the company was sold to [[C. C. Kavanaugh]] and renamed the [[Intercity Terminal Company]]. The general manager of Intercity Terminal was [[A. R. Koonce]]. In 1924 the streetcar systems of North Little Rock and Little Rock were directly linked by the completion of track across the new [[Main Street Bridge]].

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 ====Routes====
-The longest line in the system was the [[Pulaski Heights Line]] running from Main Street downtown to the [[White City]] (formerly known as [[Forest Park]]). This route was completed in 1904. Because the route to [[Pulaski Heights]] was steep, the railway required several switchbacks. Eight double-end lightweight cars purchased from the American Car Company in 1924 ran in this track. These cars were numbered from 400 to 407. A one-way ride over the complete route took approximately thirty minutes. The line operated a car barn inside White City, which was owned by the railway company.
+The longest line in the system was the [[Pulaski Heights Line]] running from Main Street downtown to the [[White City]] (formerly known as [[Forest Park]]). This route was completed in 1904. Because the route to [[Pulaski Heights]] was steep, the railway required several switchbacks. Eight double-end lightweight cars purchased from the American Car Company in 1924 ran in this track. These cars were numbered from 400 to 407. A one-way ride over the complete route took approximately thirty minutes. The line operated a car barn inside Forest Park, which was originally owned by the railway company.
 The [[South Main Line]] was a twenty-five block loop of track located downtown. At one end of the loop was the passenger station of the [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]]. Cars traveled from this station along [[Markham Avenue]] and then south onto Main Street. The [[[Fifteenth Street Line]] was serviced first by Birney cars and then by the older double-end, double-truck streetcars. The [[Fair Park Line]] was double tracked along its entire length. It originally served [[West End Park]] (now occupied by [[Central High School]], [[Kavanaugh Field]], and [[Highland Park]]. The [[Biddle Shops Line]] left the South Main Line at the intersection of 21st and Main streets and continued east and south to [[Confederate Boulevard]]. The line had been constructed in 1914 for $35,925. Streetcars numbered in the 200s were used on this line. The [[West Ninth Line]] ran from Ninth & Main through the African-American business district of the city. The line followed High Street south to [[Braddock's Park]] (originally called [[Wonderland Park]]) on 35th Street. The line was no longer in operation by 1930. The [[Rock Island Station Line]] terminated at the [[Choctaw Railway Station|Rock Island Railway Station]]. The [[South Highland Line]] deviated from the Fair Park Line at the intersection of Thirteenth and Woodrow streets. It followed Woodrow south to 19th Street before turning west and ended at Asher and 29th streets. The [[East Fourteenth Line]] turned off at Fourteenth and Main streets passed through the residential neighborhoods near old [[Little Rock High School]] and [[Oakland Cemetery]]. The line ended with a loop at Eighteen and College streets.

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 The longest line in the system was the [[Pulaski Heights Line]] running from Main Street downtown to the [[White City]] (formerly known as [[Forest Park]]). This route was completed in 1904. Because the route to [[Pulaski Heights]] was steep, the railway required several switchbacks. Eight double-end lightweight cars purchased from the American Car Company in 1924 ran in this track. These cars were numbered from 400 to 407. A one-way ride over the complete route took approximately thirty minutes. The line operated a car barn inside White City, which was owned by the railway company.
-The [[South Main Line]] was a twenty-five block loop of track located downtown. At one end of the loop was the passenger station of the [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]]. Cars traveled from this station along [[Markham Avenue]] and then south onto Main Street. The [[[Fifteenth Street Line]] was serviced first by Birney cars and then by the older double-end, double-truck streetcars. The [[Fair Park Line]] was double tracked along its entire length. It originally served [[West End Park]] (now occupied by [[Central High School]], [[Kavanaugh Field]], and [[Highland Park]]. The [[Biddle Shops Line]] left the South Main Line at the intersection of 21st and Main streets and continued east and south to [[Confederate Boulevard]]. The line had been constructed in 1914 for $35,925. Streetcars numbered in the 200s were used on this line. The [[West Ninth Line]] ran from Ninth & Main through the African-American business district of the city. The line followed High Street south to [[Braddock's Park]] (originally called [[Wonderland Park]]) on 35th Street. The line was no longer in operation by 1930. The [[Rock Island Station Line]] terminated at the [[Choctaw Railway Station|Rock Island Railway Station]]. The [[[South Highland Line]] deviated from the Fair Park Line at the intersection of Thirteenth and Woodrow streets. It followed Woodrow south to 19th Street before turning west and ended at Asher and 29th streets. The [[East Fourteenth Line]] turned off at Fourteenth and Main streets passed through the residential neighborhoods near old [[Little Rock High School]] and [[Oakland Cemetery]]. The line ended with a loop at Eighteen and College streets.
+The [[South Main Line]] was a twenty-five block loop of track located downtown. At one end of the loop was the passenger station of the [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]]. Cars traveled from this station along [[Markham Avenue]] and then south onto Main Street. The [[[Fifteenth Street Line]] was serviced first by Birney cars and then by the older double-end, double-truck streetcars. The [[Fair Park Line]] was double tracked along its entire length. It originally served [[West End Park]] (now occupied by [[Central High School]], [[Kavanaugh Field]], and [[Highland Park]]. The [[Biddle Shops Line]] left the South Main Line at the intersection of 21st and Main streets and continued east and south to [[Confederate Boulevard]]. The line had been constructed in 1914 for $35,925. Streetcars numbered in the 200s were used on this line. The [[West Ninth Line]] ran from Ninth & Main through the African-American business district of the city. The line followed High Street south to [[Braddock's Park]] (originally called [[Wonderland Park]]) on 35th Street. The line was no longer in operation by 1930. The [[Rock Island Station Line]] terminated at the [[Choctaw Railway Station|Rock Island Railway Station]]. The [[South Highland Line]] deviated from the Fair Park Line at the intersection of Thirteenth and Woodrow streets. It followed Woodrow south to 19th Street before turning west and ended at Asher and 29th streets. The [[East Fourteenth Line]] turned off at Fourteenth and Main streets passed through the residential neighborhoods near old [[Little Rock High School]] and [[Oakland Cemetery]]. The line ended with a loop at Eighteen and College streets.
 In North Little Rock streetcar service was originally provided by the [[Argenta Street Railway Company]]. Argenta Street Railway had been formed in 1906, and within eight years serviced about five miles of track in the city. In 1914 the company was sold to [[C. C. Kavanaugh]] and renamed the [[Intercity Terminal Company]]. The general manager of Intercity Terminal was [[A. R. Koonce]]. In 1924 the streetcar systems of North Little Rock and Little Rock were directly linked by the completion of track across the new [[Main Street Bridge]].

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 This company was replaced by a franchise called the Little Rock Street Railway and Electric Company on March 17, 1903. The company was formed from a merger of the Little Rock Traction and Electric Company and the Little Rock Edison Electric Light and Power Company. The new company was given a fifty year municipal electric railway franchise and a franchise for municipal lighting in perpetuity. The company issued one and a half million dollars in common stock. The president of the Little Rock Street Railway and Electric Company was [[D. H. Cantrell]]. By 1913 the company owned 32.3 miles of electrified track. The assets of this company were acquired by the [[Arkansas Central Power Company]] on April 10, 1923. Two years later Arkansas Central Power acquired eight double-end cars from the American Car Company. In 1927 the company purchased thirty Birney Safety Cars from American Car.
-On April 10, 1923, the streetcar lines were taken over by the Arkansas Central Power Company. In 1925, the company purchased eight lightweight, double-end standard streetcars from the American Car Company in St. Louis.
+On April 10, 1923, the streetcar lines were taken over by the [[Arkansas Central Power Company]]. In 1925, the company purchased eight lightweight, double-end standard streetcars from the American Car Company in St. Louis.
-In October 1926, the streetcar lines and power plant were taken over by the Arkansas Power and Light Company who then leased them to the Capitol Transportation Company. In 1927 this new company bought 30 lightweight Birney Safety Cars from the American Car Company.
+In October 1926, the streetcar lines and power plant were taken over by the [[Arkansas Power and Light Company]] who then leased them to the Capitol Transportation Company. In 1927 this new company bought 30 single-truck, single-end lightweight Birney Safety Cars from the American Car Company. The cars, numbered from 300 to 329, were painted grey-green with red trim. A single Birney could carry thirty-three passengers. The regular fare in that year was six cents.
 ''Fare-Paying Passengers:''
@@ Line 24: / Line 26: @@
 * 1910 - 10,606,204
 * 1911 - 10,985,874
 ==References==
@@ Line 33: / Line 45: @@
 *[http://www.joepollard.com/oldlittlerocktrolleypictures.htm Joe Pollard - Old Little Rock Trolley Pictures]

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:41, 25 October 2009
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Image:Streetcar-marionhotel-postc.jpg\|thumb\|300px\|Streetcar passing in front of the Marion Hotel in Little Rock.]]		[[Image:Streetcar-marionhotel-postc.jpg\|thumb\|300px\|Streetcar passing in front of the Marion Hotel in Little Rock.]]
		+	[[Image:Street-railway-1913.JPG\|thumb\|300px\|Little Rock streetcar railway lines in 1913.]]
	The '''Little Rock Street Railway and Electric Company''' had its origins in the [[Little Rock Street Railway Company]] founded on June 17, 1870. The company was granted a franchise by Little Rock's city council to provide all horse- or mule-drawn rail transportation in the city. This first attempt to provide public transportation in the city immediately failed.		The '''Little Rock Street Railway and Electric Company''' had its origins in the [[Little Rock Street Railway Company]] founded on June 17, 1870. The company was granted a franchise by Little Rock's city council to provide all horse- or mule-drawn rail transportation in the city. This first attempt to provide public transportation in the city immediately failed.

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 *Clifton E. "Gene" Hull, "From Mule Cars to Buses," ''Arkansas Railroader'' 17.10 (October 1986): 7-15.
-*''McGraw Electric Railway Manual, vol. 20 (McGraw Publishing Co., 1913), 9.
+*''McGraw Electric Railway Manual,'' vol. 20 (McGraw Publishing Co., 1913), 9.
 ==External links==