Rock Creek Railway
Encyclopedia
The Rock Creek Railway was one of the first electric streetcar companies to operate in Washington, D.C. It was incorporated in 1888 and started operations in 1890. After expansion, the line ran from the Cardoza/Shaw
neighborhood of D.C. to Chevy Chase Lake, Maryland
. On September 21, 1895 the company purchased the Washington and Georgetown Railroad
Company and the two formed the Capital Traction Company
.
in 1890. The company built an iron bridge across Rock Creek
at Cincinnati Street NW (now Calvert Street NW), which was completed on July 21, 1891. On September 16, 1892 the line was extended up 18th Street to the neighborhood now known as Adams Morgan
, across the Cincinnati Street Bridge and northward on Connecticut Avenue NW all the way to the District Line. The company also acquired trackage built by the Chevy Chase Land Company, extending the line to Chevy Chase Lake, Maryland
. Along the way it connected to the Metropolitan Railroad
's Connecticut Avenue Line, and to the power house
at the crossing of the Georgetown Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
in Chevy Chase. Power was supplied by an overhead trolley wire. See a photo of the Rock Creek here
On March 2, 1893, a line was added east along U Street NW through Shaw
to 7th Street NW, intersecting with several downtown lines and making Adams Morgan more readily accessible from downtown
. This line used the Love Electric Traction Company's system of conduit electrification. The place where cars changed between the Rock Creek Railway and the Metropolitan Railroad was located at U and 18th Streets.
Extensions east on Florida Avenue to North Capitol Street, and north to the National Zoo, were authorized on April 30, 1892, but never built.
, set standard pricing
and by allowing them to use one another's track. But eventually it became clear that consolidation
was the best solution.
On March 1, 1895, Congress authorized the Rock Creek Railway to purchase the Washington and Georgetown
. It did so on September 21, 1895 forming the Capital Traction Company
, the first company created during "the great streetcar consolidation" and spelling the end of the Rock Creek Railway as a unique entity.
Shaw, Washington, D.C.
Shaw is a neighborhood located in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C. It is roughly bounded by M Street, NW or Massachusetts Avenue NW to the south; New Jersey Avenue, NW to the east; Florida Avenue, NW to the north; and 11th Street, NW to the west...
neighborhood of D.C. to Chevy Chase Lake, Maryland
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, a number of villages in the same area of Montgomery County include "Chevy Chase" in their names...
. On September 21, 1895 the company purchased the Washington and Georgetown Railroad
Washington and Georgetown Railroad
The Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company was the first streetcar company to operate in Washington, D.C. It was incorporated and started operations in 1862, running from Georgetown to the Navy Yard. Two additional lines ran on 7th Street NW/SW and 14th Street NW. In 1890 it switched from...
Company and the two formed the Capital Traction Company
Capital Traction Company
The Capital Traction Company was the smaller of the two major street railway companies in Washington, D.C. in the early 20th Century. It was formed through a merger of the Rock Creek Railway and the Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company in 1895. The company ran streetcars from Georgetown;...
.
Start-up and Expansion
The Rock Creek Railway was incorporated by Francis Newlands on June 23, 1888 - four days after the Eckington and Soldiers' Home Electric Railway was chartered. Service began on Florida Avenue between Connecticut Avenue NW and 18th Street NW18th Street NW (Washington, D.C.)
18th Street Northwest is a prominent north–south thoroughfare in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C.Part of Pierre Charles L'Enfant's plan for Washington, the roadway today is one of the main streets in the Adams Morgan neighborhood . 18th Street also travels through downtown Washington and...
in 1890. The company built an iron bridge across Rock Creek
Rock Creek (Potomac River)
Rock Creek is a free-flowing tributary of the Potomac River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean via the Chesapeake Bay. The creek is long, with a drainage area of about...
at Cincinnati Street NW (now Calvert Street NW), which was completed on July 21, 1891. On September 16, 1892 the line was extended up 18th Street to the neighborhood now known as Adams Morgan
Adams Morgan
Adams Morgan is a culturally diverse neighborhood in Northwest Washington, D.C., centered at the intersection of 18th Street and Columbia Road. Adams Morgan is considered the center of Washington's Hispanic immigrant community, and is a major night life area with many bars and restaurants,...
, across the Cincinnati Street Bridge and northward on Connecticut Avenue NW all the way to the District Line. The company also acquired trackage built by the Chevy Chase Land Company, extending the line to Chevy Chase Lake, Maryland
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, a number of villages in the same area of Montgomery County include "Chevy Chase" in their names...
. Along the way it connected to the Metropolitan Railroad
Metropolitan Railroad
The Metropolitan Railroad was the second streetcar company to operate in Washington, D.C. It was incorporated and started operations in 1864, running from the Capitol to the War Department and along H Street NW in downtown. It added lines on 9th Street NW, on 4th Street SW/SE, along Connecticut...
's Connecticut Avenue Line, and to the power house
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
at the crossing of the Georgetown Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
in Chevy Chase. Power was supplied by an overhead trolley wire. See a photo of the Rock Creek here
On March 2, 1893, a line was added east along U Street NW through Shaw
Shaw, Washington, D.C.
Shaw is a neighborhood located in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C. It is roughly bounded by M Street, NW or Massachusetts Avenue NW to the south; New Jersey Avenue, NW to the east; Florida Avenue, NW to the north; and 11th Street, NW to the west...
to 7th Street NW, intersecting with several downtown lines and making Adams Morgan more readily accessible from downtown
Downtown Washington, D.C.
Downtown is a neighborhood of Washington, D.C., as well as a colloquial name for the central business district in the northwest quadrant of the city. Geographically, the area extends roughly five to six blocks west, northwest, north, northeast, and east of the White House...
. This line used the Love Electric Traction Company's system of conduit electrification. The place where cars changed between the Rock Creek Railway and the Metropolitan Railroad was located at U and 18th Streets.
Extensions east on Florida Avenue to North Capitol Street, and north to the National Zoo, were authorized on April 30, 1892, but never built.
The End of the Line
By the mid-1890s there were numerous streetcar companies operating in the District. Congress tried to deal with this fractured transit system by requiring them to accept transfersTransfer (public transit)
A transfer allows the rider of a public transportation vehicle who pays for a single-trip fare to continue the trip on another bus or train. Depending on the network, there may or may not be an additional fee for the transfer...
, set standard pricing
Pricing
Pricing is the process of determining what a company will receive in exchange for its products. Pricing factors are manufacturing cost, market place, competition, market condition, and quality of product. Pricing is also a key variable in microeconomic price allocation theory. Pricing is a...
and by allowing them to use one another's track. But eventually it became clear that consolidation
Consolidation (business)
Consolidation or amalgamation is the act of merging many things into one. In business, it often refers to the mergers and acquisitions of many smaller companies into much larger ones. In the context of financial accounting, consolidation refers to the aggregation of financial statements of a group...
was the best solution.
On March 1, 1895, Congress authorized the Rock Creek Railway to purchase the Washington and Georgetown
Washington and Georgetown Railroad
The Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company was the first streetcar company to operate in Washington, D.C. It was incorporated and started operations in 1862, running from Georgetown to the Navy Yard. Two additional lines ran on 7th Street NW/SW and 14th Street NW. In 1890 it switched from...
. It did so on September 21, 1895 forming the Capital Traction Company
Capital Traction Company
The Capital Traction Company was the smaller of the two major street railway companies in Washington, D.C. in the early 20th Century. It was formed through a merger of the Rock Creek Railway and the Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company in 1895. The company ran streetcars from Georgetown;...
, the first company created during "the great streetcar consolidation" and spelling the end of the Rock Creek Railway as a unique entity.