New Orleans and Carrollton Railroad
Encyclopedia
The New Orleans and Carrollton Railroad was one of six short-line rail systems built to connect the city of New Orleans, Louisiana
, with surrounding neighborhoods, in this case, four-and-a-half miles to the resort village of Carrollton
. It was one of the first mass transit trolley
systems built in the urban United States
.
The line was chartered in 1833, and opened for business two years later. It was the only one of the New Orleans suburban railways to use locomotives to pull the passenger cars (the other five used horses or mules). The street railroads provided low cost and convenient public transportation for New Orleans' residents. Prior to the Civil War
, hundreds of people took the train to Carrollton to tour the famed Carrollton Gardens or to dine at the Carrollton House or another of the village's restaurants. Among the antebellum officials was the line's secretary, Albert Blanchard, who would become a Confederate brigadier general in the Civil War.
During the war, the line continued period operation, despite the Federal army
occupying the city. Ridership and revenues were drastically reduced, and the railroad suffered financially.
Following the Civil War, the line was leased to former Confederate general P.G.T. Beauregard, who with two financial backers, assumed control of the NO&CRR in April 1866. However, his partners proved untrustworthy, and Beauregard was publicly embarrassed when the line failed to pay its debts within a few years. However, the railroad survived. The line evolved into an urban tram
line as the land along the route was developed and incorporated into the city of New Orleans. It is now the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar Line
.In 1922 the New Orleans & Carrollton Rail Road was merged into New Orleans Public Service Incorporated
(NOPSI), which consolidated the city's various streetcar lines and electrical production. In 1983, NOPSI became part of privately-owned Entergy
, and transferred all transportation operations to the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority
(NORTA).
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, with surrounding neighborhoods, in this case, four-and-a-half miles to the resort village of Carrollton
Carrollton, Louisiana
Carrollton is a neighborhood of uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, which includes the Carrollton Historic District. It is the part of Uptown New Orleans farthest up river from the French Quarter...
. It was one of the first mass transit trolley
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
systems built in the urban United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The line was chartered in 1833, and opened for business two years later. It was the only one of the New Orleans suburban railways to use locomotives to pull the passenger cars (the other five used horses or mules). The street railroads provided low cost and convenient public transportation for New Orleans' residents. Prior to the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, hundreds of people took the train to Carrollton to tour the famed Carrollton Gardens or to dine at the Carrollton House or another of the village's restaurants. Among the antebellum officials was the line's secretary, Albert Blanchard, who would become a Confederate brigadier general in the Civil War.
During the war, the line continued period operation, despite the Federal army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
occupying the city. Ridership and revenues were drastically reduced, and the railroad suffered financially.
Following the Civil War, the line was leased to former Confederate general P.G.T. Beauregard, who with two financial backers, assumed control of the NO&CRR in April 1866. However, his partners proved untrustworthy, and Beauregard was publicly embarrassed when the line failed to pay its debts within a few years. However, the railroad survived. The line evolved into an urban tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
line as the land along the route was developed and incorporated into the city of New Orleans. It is now the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar Line
Streetcars in New Orleans
Streetcars in New Orleans have been an integral part of the city's public transportation network since the first half of the 19th century. The longest of New Orleans' streetcar lines, the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar, is the oldest continuously operating street railway system in the world,...
.In 1922 the New Orleans & Carrollton Rail Road was merged into New Orleans Public Service Incorporated
New Orleans Public Service Incorporated
New Orleans Public Service Incorporated is a former electric and natural gas utility and mass transit provider that was based in New Orleans, Louisiana....
(NOPSI), which consolidated the city's various streetcar lines and electrical production. In 1983, NOPSI became part of privately-owned Entergy
Entergy
Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. It is headquartered in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana.-History:...
, and transferred all transportation operations to the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority
New Orleans Regional Transit Authority
The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority is a body established by the Louisiana State Legislature in 1979; since 1983 it has controlled bus and streetcar service in the City of New Orleans....
(NORTA).