Charlotte Trolley
Encyclopedia
The Charlotte Trolley is a heritage streetcar
which operates in Charlotte
in the U.S.
state of North Carolina
. The line runs along the former Norfolk Southern right of way between Tremont Avenue in the Historic South End
in a northerly direction to its terminus at 9th Street Uptown
. It runs on tracks shared with the LYNX Blue Line
.
Through the initial six months of operation ending on February 28, 1997, the trolley saw a ridership of 25,000. As a result of the success of the trial run of the trolley, Norfolk Southern awarded the trolley a one-year extension of the agreement to use its track.
After a new bridge was completed over Stonewall Street, 7-day a week service commenced between Atherton Mill in the South End and 9th Street Uptown on June 28, 2004.
Operations prior to that date was run by a group of volunteers (some retirees) where some of them was hired by CATS (Charlotte Area Transit System) which has operated the Trolley since that time. At that time, CATS purchased 3 replica trolley to Car #85, a vintage trolley dating back to the 1920's.
Service was temporarily halted on February 5, 2006, when construction began on a new track system for the Charlotte LYNX light rail system
. Initially service was to only be halted for a year, with the trolley running approximately a year before light rail service commenced. However, by November 2006 CATS determined it would be unfeasible to run the trolley service with the corridor still under construction. Service resumed on April 20, 2008, and the vintage trolley cars now run on the same tracks as the LYNX trams.
On October 3, 2011, it was announced that the trolley system had received a $25 million grant from the federal government to build a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) extension and six new stations.
in the fall of 2004. They are numbered 91, 92 and 93.
by J.G. Brill in 1907 and originally used in Athens, Greece. The trolley's restoration was complete in 1989 by trolley
restorer Bruce Thain of Guilford, Connecticut
.
transit to serve its citizens. After retirement it was sold for $100, along with all the remaining cars, and lost into obscurity for nearly 50 years before its discovery in a Huntersville
neighborhood in November 1987.
Upon its discovery, the Charlotte Historic Landmarks Commission led the charge in its restoration. Its restoration commenced at SpringFest `89, and was completed in 1991 at a cost of just over $100,000.
Beginning service again in 1996, this served riders through 2006 when service was temporally halted. In March 2007, it was announced that due to safety concerns, Car 85 would not be utilized as part of the historic trolley network at its reopening in 2007. Charlotte Trolley, Inc., owns Car 85 and entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2008 with the City of Charlotte to allow special excursion service for Car 85 up to two times per year. It is currently housed in CATS' light rail maintenance facility on South Blvd.
from 1922-1945 before being used in Fort Collins, Colorado
from 1947-1951 before being retired. No. 407 was purchased in 1999 by the non-profit Charlotte Trolley Inc. for $120,000.
.
Car #117 awaits restoration in its new home at the Charlotte Trolley Car Barn.
Heritage streetcar
Heritage streetcars or heritage trams are a development of the heritage railways that are becoming popular across the world. As with modern streetcar systems, the vehicles are referred to as trams or tramcars in the United Kingdom, Australasia and certain other places , but as streetcars or...
which operates in Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The line runs along the former Norfolk Southern right of way between Tremont Avenue in the Historic South End
Historic South End
Historic South End, often referred to as The South End, is a neighborhood immediately south of Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. It is also one of three Municipal Service Districts in Charlotte....
in a northerly direction to its terminus at 9th Street Uptown
Charlotte center city
Charlotte center city is the central area of Charlotte, North Carolina. The headquarters for the Fortune 500 companies Bank of America and Duke Energy are located here, as well as the headquarters for East Coast operations for Wells Fargo.Museums, sporting venues, shops, hotels, restaurants, and...
. It runs on tracks shared with the LYNX Blue Line
LYNX Rapid Transit Services
Lynx Rapid Transit Services comprises a light rail line serviced by the Charlotte Area Transit System in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
.
History
The Charlotte Trolley represented the return of streetcar service to the city of Charlotte since the closure of its original network on March 14, 1938, which had been in operation since May 18, 1891. The return of the trolley came on August 30, 1996, running in the evenings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons for an initial six month trial period. The trial period occurred on a 1.8-mile rail line between the Atherton Mill trolley barn and Stonewall Street.Through the initial six months of operation ending on February 28, 1997, the trolley saw a ridership of 25,000. As a result of the success of the trial run of the trolley, Norfolk Southern awarded the trolley a one-year extension of the agreement to use its track.
After a new bridge was completed over Stonewall Street, 7-day a week service commenced between Atherton Mill in the South End and 9th Street Uptown on June 28, 2004.
Operations prior to that date was run by a group of volunteers (some retirees) where some of them was hired by CATS (Charlotte Area Transit System) which has operated the Trolley since that time. At that time, CATS purchased 3 replica trolley to Car #85, a vintage trolley dating back to the 1920's.
Service was temporarily halted on February 5, 2006, when construction began on a new track system for the Charlotte LYNX light rail system
LYNX Rapid Transit Services
Lynx Rapid Transit Services comprises a light rail line serviced by the Charlotte Area Transit System in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
. Initially service was to only be halted for a year, with the trolley running approximately a year before light rail service commenced. However, by November 2006 CATS determined it would be unfeasible to run the trolley service with the corridor still under construction. Service resumed on April 20, 2008, and the vintage trolley cars now run on the same tracks as the LYNX trams.
On October 3, 2011, it was announced that the trolley system had received a $25 million grant from the federal government to build a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) extension and six new stations.
Rolling stock
There are three replica trolleys that operate on the streetcar line. They were delivered to Charlotte Trolley from GomacoGomaco Trolley Company
The Gomaco Trolley Company is a manufacturer of vintage-style streetcars , located in Ida Grove, Iowa, United States...
in the fall of 2004. They are numbered 91, 92 and 93.
Streetcar #1
Trolley No. 1 was originally built in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
by J.G. Brill in 1907 and originally used in Athens, Greece. The trolley's restoration was complete in 1989 by trolley
restorer Bruce Thain of Guilford, Connecticut
Guilford, Connecticut
Guilford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, that borders Madison, Branford, North Branford and Durham, and is situated on I-95 and the coast. The population was 21,398 at the 2000 census...
.
Streetcar #85
This historic significance of Car 85 was that it was the final electric streetcar to run in Charlotte on March 14, 1938. Following its final journey, the city would rely solely on busBus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
transit to serve its citizens. After retirement it was sold for $100, along with all the remaining cars, and lost into obscurity for nearly 50 years before its discovery in a Huntersville
Huntersville, North Carolina
Huntersville is a large town in Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Counties, North Carolina, United States. The population was 46,773 at the 2010 census, which makes Huntersville the 19th largest city in North Carolina. It is located about 12 miles north of uptown Charlotte. It is thought that the town...
neighborhood in November 1987.
Upon its discovery, the Charlotte Historic Landmarks Commission led the charge in its restoration. Its restoration commenced at SpringFest `89, and was completed in 1991 at a cost of just over $100,000.
Beginning service again in 1996, this served riders through 2006 when service was temporally halted. In March 2007, it was announced that due to safety concerns, Car 85 would not be utilized as part of the historic trolley network at its reopening in 2007. Charlotte Trolley, Inc., owns Car 85 and entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2008 with the City of Charlotte to allow special excursion service for Car 85 up to two times per year. It is currently housed in CATS' light rail maintenance facility on South Blvd.
Streetcar #407
Trolley No. 407 was originally built in Philadelphia by J.G. Brill and originally used in Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
from 1922-1945 before being used in Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
from 1947-1951 before being retired. No. 407 was purchased in 1999 by the non-profit Charlotte Trolley Inc. for $120,000.
Streetcar #117
Asheville Trolley Car #117 was manufactured in 1927 by J.G. Brill and is commonly known as a "Birney Safety Car." In the fall of that year, the Carolina Power & Light Company purchased ten of these cars to operate on the streets of Asheville, North CarolinaAsheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
.
Car #117 awaits restoration in its new home at the Charlotte Trolley Car Barn.