Puget Sound Electric Railway
Encyclopedia
The Puget Sound Electric Railway was an interurban
railway that ran between Tacoma and Seattle, Washington in the first quarter of the 20th century. Portions of the Right-of-Way still exist as multi-use trail through Milton, Washington
, as well as from Pacific
to Tukwila, Washington
.
, Jovita, Pacific
, Algona
, Auburn
, Kent
, Orillia
, Renton
, and into Seattle on its own dedicated right-of-way, then running on surface streets to the area near Pioneer Square
, where it interchanged with other interurbans in the area.
Power was supplied via overhead wire in urban areas, and third rail
in rural areas. The third rail was the cause of several accidents throughout the PSE's operations which involved livestock or people getting electrocuted, and in some cases dead cows caused accidents involving the trolleys themselves.
The railroad enjoyed a few short years of success, until competition from trucks and an ever-expanding road network, as well as the steam railroads put it out of business in 1928.
in Milton
and linking Tukwila
, Kent
, Auburn
, Algona
, and Pacific
in King County
. The City of Edgewood's portion is currently in planning stages, with construction slated to begin in the Summer of 2011.
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
railway that ran between Tacoma and Seattle, Washington in the first quarter of the 20th century. Portions of the Right-of-Way still exist as multi-use trail through Milton, Washington
Milton, Washington
Milton is a city in King and Pierce counties in the U.S. state of Washington. The population was 6,968 at the 2010 census. Milton borders the larger but younger town of Edgewood...
, as well as from Pacific
Pacific, Washington
Pacific is a city in King and Pierce counties in the U.S. state of Washington. Located primarily in King County, the population was 6,606 at the 2010 census. Like its northern neighbor Algona, Pacific is sometimes mistaken for a part of Auburn.- History :...
to Tukwila, Washington
Tukwila, Washington
Tukwila is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The northern edge of Tukwila borders the city of Seattle. The population was 19,107 at the 2010 census.-History:...
.
History
The PSE began operations on September 25, 1902 with a line that started in downtown Tacoma, ran along Pacific and Puyallup Avenues, followed the course of present day Pacific highway through Fife, and continued up through MiltonMilton, Washington
Milton is a city in King and Pierce counties in the U.S. state of Washington. The population was 6,968 at the 2010 census. Milton borders the larger but younger town of Edgewood...
, Jovita, Pacific
Pacific, Washington
Pacific is a city in King and Pierce counties in the U.S. state of Washington. Located primarily in King County, the population was 6,606 at the 2010 census. Like its northern neighbor Algona, Pacific is sometimes mistaken for a part of Auburn.- History :...
, Algona
Algona, Washington
Algona is a city in King County, Washington, United States, and the Seattle metropolitan area, surrounded by the suburbs of Auburn to the north and east, Pacific to the south, and unincorporated King County to the west...
, Auburn
Auburn, Washington
-Parks:Auburn has an extensive system of parks, open space and urban trails comprising 29 developed parks, 5 undeveloped sites under planning, 2 skate parks, 2 water roatary parks, and over of trails , and almost of open space for passive and active recreation.-Environmental Park:The Auburn...
, Kent
Kent, Washington
Kent is a city located in King County, Washington, United States, and is the third largest city in King County and the sixth largest in the state. An outlying suburb of Seattle, Kent is also the corporate home for companies such as REI and Oberto Sausage...
, Orillia
Orillia, Washington
Orillia, Washington was a former community, southwest of Renton in the Green River Valley of King County in the U.S. state of Washington. At one time, it had a post office and a school. Today it lies on the border between the cities of Kent and Tukwila.-Notes:...
, Renton
Renton, Washington
Renton is an Eastside edge city in King County, Washington, United States. Situated 11 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the Newcastle coal fields...
, and into Seattle on its own dedicated right-of-way, then running on surface streets to the area near Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square, Seattle, Washington
Pioneer Square is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of Downtown Seattle, Washington, USA. It was once the heart of the city: Seattle's founders settled there in 1852, following a brief six-month settlement at Alki Point on the far side of Elliott Bay. The early structures in the neighborhood...
, where it interchanged with other interurbans in the area.
Power was supplied via overhead wire in urban areas, and third rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
in rural areas. The third rail was the cause of several accidents throughout the PSE's operations which involved livestock or people getting electrocuted, and in some cases dead cows caused accidents involving the trolleys themselves.
The railroad enjoyed a few short years of success, until competition from trucks and an ever-expanding road network, as well as the steam railroads put it out of business in 1928.
Second life
Portions of the PSE exist today as multi-use trailsInterurban Trail (King County)
The Interurban Trail is a rail trail in King County, Washington.It is a partially paved recreational trail open for non-motorized use. It connects Tukwila to Pacific, and the towns of Kent, Auburn, and Algona along the way....
in Milton
Milton, Washington
Milton is a city in King and Pierce counties in the U.S. state of Washington. The population was 6,968 at the 2010 census. Milton borders the larger but younger town of Edgewood...
and linking Tukwila
Tukwila, Washington
Tukwila is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The northern edge of Tukwila borders the city of Seattle. The population was 19,107 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Kent
Kent, Washington
Kent is a city located in King County, Washington, United States, and is the third largest city in King County and the sixth largest in the state. An outlying suburb of Seattle, Kent is also the corporate home for companies such as REI and Oberto Sausage...
, Auburn
Auburn, Washington
-Parks:Auburn has an extensive system of parks, open space and urban trails comprising 29 developed parks, 5 undeveloped sites under planning, 2 skate parks, 2 water roatary parks, and over of trails , and almost of open space for passive and active recreation.-Environmental Park:The Auburn...
, Algona
Algona, Washington
Algona is a city in King County, Washington, United States, and the Seattle metropolitan area, surrounded by the suburbs of Auburn to the north and east, Pacific to the south, and unincorporated King County to the west...
, and Pacific
Pacific, Washington
Pacific is a city in King and Pierce counties in the U.S. state of Washington. Located primarily in King County, the population was 6,606 at the 2010 census. Like its northern neighbor Algona, Pacific is sometimes mistaken for a part of Auburn.- History :...
in King County
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
. The City of Edgewood's portion is currently in planning stages, with construction slated to begin in the Summer of 2011.