MATA Trolley
Encyclopedia
The MATA Trolley is a heritage streetcar system
operating in Memphis
in the U.S.
state of Tennessee
. It has operated since April 29, 1993.
As of 2008, the system consists of three lines: the Main Street Trolley, the Madison Avenue Loop and the Riverfront Loop. These lines are operated by the Memphis Area Transit Authority
(MATA), and were put into operation over fifty years after Memphis’ original streetcar network was dismantled in the 1940s.
Originally proposed as a 4.9 miles (7.9 km) line stretching along the Mississippi River
, in January 1990 the Memphis City Council voted 9-4 to build the 2.5 miles (4 km), $33 million Main Street route. After multiple delays, construction of the line would commence in February 1991 and be complete by December 1992. However, due to the restoration of the cars taking longer than anticipated, the opening of the line would be pushed back to Spring 1993. After further delay, testing of the first of the restored cars began on March 10, 1993, and the system opened to the public on April 29.
On October 1st, 1997, a new line along the Riverfront opened. The system's third line, running east from Main Street along Madison Avenue for about 2 miles (3.2 km), opened on March 15, 2004. It was completed at a cost of about $56 million, which was about 25 percent below the original budget forecast for the project.
7 in 10 in (2.39 m) wide and weigh 25820 pounds (11.7 t) without passengers. The cars were restored by Kerns-Wilcheck Associates of Memphis. Three additional ex-Porto cars (156, 164 and 180) joined them within weeks, and the fleet had six cars (all ex-Porto single-truckers) by May 1993.
Between the mid-1990s and 2003, the Gomaco Trolley Company
supplied an additional ten cars: nine reconditioned Melbourne
, Australia
type W2
cars and one single-truck car (No. 1979) that was built new by Gomaco in 1993, originally as a demonstrator. There is also car 1794, which was originally an open-sided car from Rio de Janeiro
, Brazil
, but was heavily rebuilt and enclosed before entering service in Memphis. The most recent addition, in early 2004, is a replica Birney Safety Car
, manufactured by Gomaco, the same cars used on the TECO Line Streetcar System
in Tampa, Florida.
The fleet and overhead wires
were converted from trolley pole
to pantograph
current collection in early 2003, during a three-month suspension of service which started on January 5, 2003.
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...
operating in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
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 Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. It has operated since April 29, 1993.
As of 2008, the system consists of three lines: the Main Street Trolley, the Madison Avenue Loop and the Riverfront Loop. These lines are operated by the Memphis Area Transit Authority
Memphis Area Transit Authority
The Memphis Area Transit Authority is the largest transit agency in Tennessee. MATA operates 39 bus routes, paratransit service for persons with disabilities , trolley service on three routes, and special-event shuttles for Memphis Grizzlies basketball games and University of Memphis Tigers...
(MATA), and were put into operation over fifty years after Memphis’ original streetcar network was dismantled in the 1940s.
History
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, in January 1990 the Memphis City Council voted 9-4 to build the 2.5 miles (4 km), $33 million Main Street route. After multiple delays, construction of the line would commence in February 1991 and be complete by December 1992. However, due to the restoration of the cars taking longer than anticipated, the opening of the line would be pushed back to Spring 1993. After further delay, testing of the first of the restored cars began on March 10, 1993, and the system opened to the public on April 29.
On October 1st, 1997, a new line along the Riverfront opened. The system's third line, running east from Main Street along Madison Avenue for about 2 miles (3.2 km), opened on March 15, 2004. It was completed at a cost of about $56 million, which was about 25 percent below the original budget forecast for the project.
Rolling stock
The trolleys used are almost all rehabilitated, vintage streetcars. The original three cars in operation on opening day were all formerly used in Porto, Portugal, and are Car 187, circa 1927; Car 194, circa 1935; and Car 204, circa 1940. These cars are each 30 in 6 in (9.3 m) long,7 in 10 in (2.39 m) wide and weigh 25820 pounds (11.7 t) without passengers. The cars were restored by Kerns-Wilcheck Associates of Memphis. Three additional ex-Porto cars (156, 164 and 180) joined them within weeks, and the fleet had six cars (all ex-Porto single-truckers) by May 1993.
Between the mid-1990s and 2003, the Gomaco Trolley Company
Gomaco Trolley Company
The Gomaco Trolley Company is a manufacturer of vintage-style streetcars , located in Ida Grove, Iowa, United States...
supplied an additional ten cars: nine reconditioned Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
type W2
W class Melbourne tram
The W class is a class of electric trams that operates in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The tram model series is a cultural icon to Melbourne...
cars and one single-truck car (No. 1979) that was built new by Gomaco in 1993, originally as a demonstrator. There is also car 1794, which was originally an open-sided car from Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, but was heavily rebuilt and enclosed before entering service in Memphis. The most recent addition, in early 2004, is a replica Birney Safety Car
Birney
A Birney or Birney Safety Car is a type of streetcar that was manufactured in the United States in the 1910s and 1920s. The design was small and light and was intended to be an economical means of providing frequent service at a lower infrastructure and labor cost than conventional streetcars...
, manufactured by Gomaco, the same cars used on the TECO Line Streetcar System
TECO Line Streetcar System
The TECO Line Streetcar System is a streetcar line in Tampa, Florida, run by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transportation Authority and managed by Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc.. It connects Downtown and Channelside to the historic Ybor City district. There is also an "In-Town" trolley-replica bus...
in Tampa, Florida.
The fleet and overhead wires
Overhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
were converted from trolley pole
Trolley pole
A trolley pole is a tapered cylindrical pole of wood or metal, used to transfer electricity from a "live" overhead wire to the control and propulsion equipment of a tram or trolley bus. The use of overhead wire in a system of current collection is reputed to be the 1880 invention of Frank J....
to pantograph
Pantograph (rail)
A pantograph for rail lines is a hinged electric-rod device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. The pantograph typically connects to a one-wire line, with the track acting as the ground wire...
current collection in early 2003, during a three-month suspension of service which started on January 5, 2003.
Main Street Line
- Butler Avenue
- Huling Avenue
- Linden Avenue
- Beale Street
- Peabody Place
- Union Avenue
- Madison Avenue
- Court Avenue
- Jefferson Avenue
- Civic Center Plaza
- Convention Center
- Overton Avenue
Madison Avenue Line
- Third Street
- Danny Thomas Boulevard
- Orleans Street
- Dunlap Street
- Pauline Street
- Cleveland Street
Riverfront Loop
- Pyramid (Auction Avenue)
- Jefferson Avenue
- Union Avenue
- Beale Street Landing
- Huling Avenue
- Central Station
See also
- Memphis Area Transit AuthorityMemphis Area Transit AuthorityThe Memphis Area Transit Authority is the largest transit agency in Tennessee. MATA operates 39 bus routes, paratransit service for persons with disabilities , trolley service on three routes, and special-event shuttles for Memphis Grizzlies basketball games and University of Memphis Tigers...
- Memphis Suspension RailwayMemphis Suspension RailwayThe Memphis Suspension Railway or Mud Island Monorail is a suspended monorail that connects the city center of Memphis with the entertainment park on Mud Island...
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
- Streetcars in North AmericaStreetcars in North AmericaElectric streetcars—trams outside North America—once were the chief mode of public transit in scores of North American cities. Most municipal systems were dismantled in the mid-20th century....
External links
- MATA: Trolley Lines
- A Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan for the Memphis Area - MATA
- Heritagetrolley.org page on Memphis (APTAAmerican Public Transportation AssociationThe American Public Transportation Association is a non-profit organization which serves as an advocate for the advancement of public transportation programs and initiatives in the United States. Since its founding in 1882, APTA has educated the public about the benefits of public transportation...
) - Railwaypreservation.com page on Memphis (with many photos)
- Memphis Main Street Trolley (page by Jon Bell)
- Map