Similar cars operated in most urban areas of north america and played a decisive role. With the industrial and technological revolution around the turn of the 20th century, america s interurban railway developed so fast and connected so many of us, it must have seemed like the future had suddenly arrived out of nowhere. In ontario wurden interurbans auch radial railways radialbahnen genannt. While the interurban railroads primarily transported people from one location to another, they also carried farmers crops and products. Roger grant explores the rise and fall of this fleeting form of transportation that started in the early 1900s and was defunct just 30 years later. Pdf the electric interurban railways in america download. In japan, the vast majority of the major sixteen private railways have roots as interurban electric railway lines that have taken inspirations from the us. The electric interurban railways in america by george w. From the first decade of the 20th century until the early 1930s electric interurban railways connected almost all ohio towns and villages with populations of more than 5000. South shore line america s last interurban continues to operate between chicago and south bend, indiana. The history and modeling of interurban railroads st. Chapter six street railways and electric interurbans 1920.
It astounded me that we could have ever given up that convenience, and it made me wonder whatever happened to those old interurban railways. Over time, improved roads and affordable cars caused ridership on public transportation to drop rapidly. Puget sound electric railway car 523 landmark registration form. Railway, the richmond street and interurban railway, and the indianapolis coal traction company were predecessor companies. The south shore line reporting mark nicd is an electrically powered interurban commuter rail line operated by the northern indiana commuter transportation district nictd between millennium station in downtown chicago and the south bend international airport in. American this railroad history site created by a railroad enthusiast provides good introductory information about railroads.
Electric interurban railways in america by george w. The electric interurban railways in america george. In addition to its advanced streetcar system, nashville was also served by two interurban railway systems. Early in the 20th century, ohio became the heartland of the electric interurban railway, and cleveland emerged as one of its foremost centers. Graves organized the dubuque street railway and operated the first. Interurbans most heavily served the areas skirting the shores of lake erie. The electric interurban railways in america george w. While not technically an interurban railway, since it did not connect two cities, it was a freight and passenger hauling electric railway. Before america s involvement in world war i, the pacific electric railway was undoubtedly the countrys greatest interurban system. Perfect for railfans, electric interurbans and the american people is a comprehensive contribution for those who love the flanged wheel. Paul, rochester and dubuque electric traction company. One of the most colorful yet neglected eras in american transportation history is recreated in this definitive history of the electric interurbans. The portland sellwood and milwaukie railway was one of the first electric interurban lines constructed in the pacific northwest. Interurbans were heavier, faster versions of city streetcars, used electric.
These lines also became important in local freight and express businesses as they made more frequent stops and served a larger local territory than the steam railroads did. Media in category interurbans in the united states the following 104 files are in this category, out of 104 total. While not technically an interurban railway, since it did not connect two cities, it was a freight. A concise account of the swift rise and almost as swift fall of the interurban elecric railway in north america from the 1890s through to the 1960s. Pennsylvanias historic and archeological sites and surveys stored in files at our. Download citation the electric interurban railways in america. Street railways and electric interurbans to 1920 115 dubuque in 1867, when dubuque citizens voted to allow streets to be used for public transportation, the city was the large t in iowa. Third came the interurban railway, operated by electric power, using track and equipment lighter than the standard railways and rapid transit, but heavier than that of street railways, with much of the traffic limited to 100 miles or so. Volpe, the national transportation systems center of the u. They were prevalent in north america between 1900 and 1925 and were.
Electric interurban railways in america by hilton abebooks. The company also controlled the indianapolis street railway. Official interurban map issued by the terre haute, indianapolis and eastern traction company. With the nonstop bustle of city life, the interurban is a low maintenance and cost solution. The electric interurban railway welcome to the ideals repository. Researchers guide for documenting and evaluating railroads.
If you were living in waco in 19, you might have read an article in the waco morning news on october 29 announcing a new rail line called the interurban, the final 250mile extension in the large texas electric railway system in its heyday, the interurban ran from dallas to denison, corsicana, and waco. Twenty electric interurban railways operated during the early twentieth century in the great plains. The extent of this development varied widely, with some states getting extensive networks and others having. The interurban or radial railway is a type of electric railway, with streetcarlike light electric selfpropelled railcars which run within and between cities or towns.
Interurbans often extended city streetcar lines to connect urban areas or to stretch from urban to rural areas. I have attempted briefly to describe some of the major activities undertaken by gm, directly or indirectly, since 1922 to destroy the nations electric streetcar and interurban systems. Interurban ist eine bezeichnung aus dem englischsprachigen raum fur eine. Comparing electric interurban railways and steam railroads. Built with the idea of attracting shortdistance passenger traffic and light freight, the interurbans were largely constructed in the early 1900s. Professor roger grant talked about the history of american transportation and the rise of interurban electric rail at the end of the 19th century and early 20th century. Interurban railway article about interurban railway by. What links here related changes upload file special pages permanent link page information. List of interurban railways in north america wikipedia. Enlarged street railways, either alone or in short trains, operated over routes that utilized separate rightsofway in rural areas and local streetcar tracks to reach downtown. It had two main lines, one east from des moines to colfax, a resort area. It was developed by and affiliated with the des moines street railways which ran it for a time. Cars traveled south to sellwood through milwaukie to oregon city and it was built as a real estate promotional line as were most streetcar lines.
The paperback of the the electric interurban railways in america by george w. The subject of gm and the electric railways is far too complex and detailed to summarize in a few pages. National register of historic places registration form in. They were prevalent in north america between 1900 and 1925 and were used primarily for passenger travel between cities and their surrounding suburban and rural communities. Roger grant has produced a fine social history of america s electric interurbans, exploring the relationship between people and those railway enterprises. The electric interurban railways in america by george hilton. Electric railway and station of the seattle, renton and southern railway co at rainier beach. An interurban railway, also called a radial railway in parts of canada, was a type of passenger railroad that enjoyed widespread popularity at the turn of the twentieth century in north america. The same as above, but without the baist atlas on overlay scale 1.
On april 30, 1889, nashville became one of the earliest cities served by electric street railways, developing a 70mile system by 1915. Long before hybrid cars, suvs, jetblue, and even amtrak, travel between american cities occurred largely by rail. Toronto and scarboro electric railway, light and power company. Electric interurban railways emerged as a new transportation alternative for a brief period in the early decades of the twentieth century. Clicking on a number will take you to the beginning of that chapter.
Most were built in the early 1900s, with commuters generating most of the revenue. The electric interurban railway by fischer, louis engelmann. Images from the boise public library clipping files. Roster of preserved north american electric railway cars. Car 523 is a rare surviving example of an electric interurban car that operated between seattle and. Lines with some interurban charactistics lines which did not fully meet the authors definitions of an interurban in the book the electric interurban railways in america, but nevertheless could be considered as interurban railways. The future for interurban passenger transport international. Electric interurbans and the american people railroads past and present. The three major interurbans entering chicago were not typical interurban lines, enabling them to survive well beyond the 1930s, when most interurban lines were abandoned. Dues the electric interurban railways in america, an. Terre haute, indianapolis and eastern traction company. This is a list of interurban railways in north america.
The extent of this development varied widely, with some states getting extensive networks and others having little or nothing. Interurbans encyclopedia of cleveland history case. It connected toledo, lima, dayton, columbus, and cincinnati. The pacific electric was a great way to get around the sunny coast of california, going between cities like long beach and huntington beach. Publication date 19 topics streetrailroads, theses collection. Built with the idea of attracting shortdistance passenger traffic and light. Grant explores the rise and fall of a fleeting form of transportation that started in the early 1900s and was defunct just 30 years later. Beginning about 1895, electric interurban railways were being built in ohio for passenger traffic. Historic context report for transit rail system development. Ohio electric railway company the ohio electric railway company, formed in 1907, was a consolidation of 14 smaller interurban railways and one of the largest interurban systems. Interurbans in the united states wikimedia commons. The electric interurban railways in america by due, john f.
1008 1218 1082 1105 418 201 240 490 1336 175 267 978 1372 961 131 277 189 1322 1464 1102 859 1127 375 548 263 375 988 1263 1314 278 139 1491 621 1180 952 944