[Paste Remainder of Article - Change atu links to https://www.automotivetouchup.com or https://www.automotivetouchup.com/touch-up-paint/]
The evolution of urban transport has always been influenced by technological breakthroughs. One of the most significant ones happened in 1830, when Thomas Davenport invented an electric rail car, sparking interest among engineers to create electric trains for transportation. This led to the development of trams, trolleys, and streetcars, marking one of the earliest major applications of electricity beyond lighting.
Origins of Trolleys and Trams
Before electricity was introduced in the 1880s, the first trolleys were horse-drawn. Electric trolleys primarily used the steel wheels from these older models along with metal rails, though some used rubber tires and overhead wires. Either way, they were powered by traction motors, which were developed by Frank Julian Sprague. Sprague's invention made him such a success that just a few years later, Thomas Edison bought out his company.
Rise and Fall of Local Rail Transit
In the late 1800s, trolleys became common in large cities, and there were also systems with fewer stops that linked smaller cities. The development of trolley lines in cities led to the rise of suburbs by allowing workers to live further from their jobs. Trolleys also gave many people their first exposure to electricity and how it could improve their lives.
However, the success of trolley systems would not last through the 20th century. It's unclear exactly why trolleys fell out of favor, despite their popularity and efficiency. One theory is that General Motors and the oil industry collaborated to eliminate trolleys so that cars and buses could dominate the transportation sector. It is true that GM bought up many streetcar lines and then put them out of service, and GM and Standard Oil did encourage the press to report on trolley accidents to make them seem more dangerous. But it's also true that buses are cheaper to operate than trolleys, especially since they don't require rails to be installed and they aren't limited to one set route.
Are Trolleys a Modern Solution?
In the 21st century, attention is turning back to trolleys and streetcars because of their energy-efficiency. Cities like Atlanta and New Orleans have already started bringing back streetcar lines to take advantage of this efficient method of transport. And some have even brought forth the possibility of creating personal vehicles that would run on electric motors powered by overhead trolley wires, though the infrastructure changes required to put this idea into practice would make it difficult to implement.
Streetcar and Trolley History
- Denver's Streetcar Legacy: A graduate student from the University of Denver has archived and digitized Denver's streetcar history.
- The Desire Line in New Orleans: Learn about the Desire Line that was made famous by Tennessee Williams.
- A History of Streetcar Service in Athens, Georgia, and Possibilities for its Reintroduction: Cities in Georgia, large and small, used streetcars before cars and buses took over, and they could again.
- Early Texas Streetcars: Discover how small communities depended on streetcars to navigate their region.
- Atlanta's Streetcar Legacy: Once a major part of Atlanta's transit, streetcars shaped the city's neighborhoods before giving way to cars.
- The Real Story Behind the Demise of America's Streetcars: In the 1920s, most people commuted by streetcar, but cars eventually replaced these systems.
- The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Streetcar Suburbs: Learn how electric streetcars in the 1880s transformed how people traveled and helped create suburbs.
- The Streetcar Era: Streetcars arrived in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1890, driving growth on the city's west side.
- Seattle's Streetcar History: The Seattle Post-Intelligencer digs into the history of streetcars in Seattle and their resurgence.
Streetcar Museums
Trolley Museums