Streetcars in St. Louis
Encyclopedia
Streetcars in St. Louis, Missouri operated as part of the transportation network
of St. Louis
from the middle of the 19th century
through the early 1960s. During the first forty years of the streetcar in the city, a variety of private companies operated several dozen lines; from the turn of the 20th century, most of these companies consolidated into the St. Louis Public Service Company, which served both the city of St. Louis and neighboring St. Louis County, Missouri
. Other private companies, such as those serving the Metro East region or St. Charles, Missouri, continued separate operations. Starting in the 1930s and continuing through the 1960s, St. Louis Public Service ended all streetcar service, while other regional operators also ended their services.
service by entrepreneur
Erastus Wells
in partnership with an investor
named Calvin Case. During the late 1840s, other horse-drawn omnibus service companies began operation, but by the end of 1850, most of these companies had consolidated with the Case and Wells lines to form Case and Company, which operated 90 carriages and several lines in the city. In 1855, principal investor Case was killed in the Gasconade Bridge train disaster
, and the company was divided among its other investors. The resulting horse-drawn tram lines became the blueprint for street railway service in the late 1850s.
, Philadelphia, and Boston
. However, the Laclede line was never built. In spite of the early failure, by 1859, seven other lines were proposed; however, only four were completed before the outbreak of the American Civil War
. The first of these lines began operation on July 4, 1859, running east to west on Olive Street from 4th to 10th streets. However, early operations were marred by difficulty in securing quality rails, and construction problems caused derailment
s of the cars. All of the prewar railways used horse power to pull their cars, that is they were Horsecar
s.
After the Civil War, other lines opened in St. Louis that connected the central city with western areas. In 1874, with the opening of the Eads Bridge
, a new line opened connecting the city with East St. Louis, Illinois
. The first experiments with mechanical traction for the cars took place immediately after the war in 1865 on Grand Avenue, while a fully operational steam-powered line opened in 1868 as an extension of the Olive Street line. This line, however, was not operationally connected with the rest of the horse-drawn lines, and it used a different railroad gauge than other lines.
they placed in the road, however a good transit route doesn't need to change often. The construction of Highway I-70
that cut through downtown St. Louis, threatened and ended service to many street lines. The last St. Louis streetcar route in operation was the 15 Hodiamont line which ceased service on May 21, 1966. Much of the streetcar systems' routes are today's MetroBus
and Madison County Transit
bus routes. St. Louis was also involved in the Great American streetcar scandal.
began operation in 1887 when financier J.H. Kobush and plant supervisor Peter Kling abandoned the German immigrant industrialist Frederick Brownell's streetcar manufacturing company
. The company lasted until 1973, was located at 3023 North Broadway, and took orders from across the country. The St. Louis Car Company became the biggest streetcar builder in the world. They distributed their cars internationally at their height.
These cars serviced 70 Grand, 20 Cherokee, 22 Jefferson, 40 Broadway, 13 Union, 03 Midland, 01 Kirkwood/Ferguson, 10 Delmar, 15 Hodiamont, 42 Sarah, 53 Chouteau, 32 Wellston, 31 Natural Bridge, 05 Creve Coeur Lake, 53/54/55/56 Manchester, 12 Maryland/Olive, 11 University, 14 University Clayton, 66 St. Peters, 65 Woodson, 67 Bridgeton and 51 Forest Park. St. Louis Public Service sold 1700 series to the San Francisco Municipal Railway
in 1957. Their numbers were changed to the 1100 series and ran until their retirement in 1982.
from 1927 to 1951. All of St. Louis's 3 series of Peter Witt cars were built in the United Railways' (predecessor to St. Louis Public Service Company) 39th St shops. Later art-deco PCC
(Presidents Conference Committee) cars were first produced in 1936. They were 46 feet long and 9 feet wide. They sat 53 passengers. The St. Louis Car Company built many of these models. St. Louis Public Service Company ordered three groups of PCC cars in the 1500, 1600 and 1700 Series from them. The first group was delivered in 1940; the last group was delivered in 1946.
line that is planned to serve the Delmar Loop
district in St. Louis, Missouri
and University City, Missouri
. The line will have about 9 stations and serve the Missouri History Museum
in Forest Park, Washington University in St. Louis
, two MetroLink stations; Forest Park-DeBaliviere
station and Delmar Loop
station, University City City Hall, and all the Delmar Loop attractions.
got its name from a loop of track on the 10 Delmar Streetcar line, which ran its last trip on April 19, 1964. In the early 1900s the Loop was adjacent to the Delmar Gardens Amusement Park. Until it's abandonment on July 25, 1950, the loop was also the terminus of the 05 Creve Coeur Lake
line famous for its open "moonlight" cars. The Loop long retained its name, and found a champion in Joe Edwards
, the owner of Blueberry Hill
, The Pageant
, and a number of other Loop businesses. Edwards secured the purchasing of two restored streetcars that once operated in Milan, Italy and has led the initiative for a new line in conjunction with Citizens for Modern Transit.
by Whittaker Builders Inc. Some will be placed around town converted into old-fashioned diners, cafés, or bookstores while others will be restored and put back in service. The proposed route is said to be 8 miles (12.9 km) from New Town to St. Charles, Missouri.
Transport network
A transport network, or transportation network in American English, is typically a network of roads, streets, pipes, aqueducts, power lines, or nearly any structure which permits either vehicular movement or flow of some commodity....
of St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
from the middle of the 19th century
19th century
The 19th century was a period in history marked by the collapse of the Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Holy Roman and Mughal empires...
through the early 1960s. During the first forty years of the streetcar in the city, a variety of private companies operated several dozen lines; from the turn of the 20th century, most of these companies consolidated into the St. Louis Public Service Company, which served both the city of St. Louis and neighboring St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
. Other private companies, such as those serving the Metro East region or St. Charles, Missouri, continued separate operations. Starting in the 1930s and continuing through the 1960s, St. Louis Public Service ended all streetcar service, while other regional operators also ended their services.
Historical streetcar service
Early public transit
By the 1830s, the city of St. Louis had grown in size beyond the ability of many of its residents to walk conveniently throughout the town. In 1838, brief mention is made in historical records of a private horse drawn cab service in the city, followed in 1843 by the beginning of an omnibusWagonette
A wagonette or an omnibus is a horse-drawn wagon for passenger transport. Two wooden benches along the right and left side of the wagon platform can hold several sitting people facing each other. The driver sits on a separate, front-facing bench.The term carried over to motorized vehicles...
service by entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
Erastus Wells
Erastus Wells
Erastus Wells was a nineteenth century politician and businessman from Missouri. He was the father of St. Louis Mayor Rolla Wells....
in partnership with an investor
Investor
An investor is a party that makes an investment into one or more categories of assets --- equity, debt securities, real estate, currency, commodity, derivatives such as put and call options, etc...
named Calvin Case. During the late 1840s, other horse-drawn omnibus service companies began operation, but by the end of 1850, most of these companies had consolidated with the Case and Wells lines to form Case and Company, which operated 90 carriages and several lines in the city. In 1855, principal investor Case was killed in the Gasconade Bridge train disaster
Gasconade Bridge train disaster
The Gasconade Bridge train disaster was a rail accident at Gasconade, Missouri on November 1, 1855.At the time of the disaster, the Pacific Railroad was being built west from St. Louis toward the Pacific Ocean...
, and the company was divided among its other investors. The resulting horse-drawn tram lines became the blueprint for street railway service in the late 1850s.
Initial street railways
In December 1855, a group of investors formed the Laclede Railway Company for the purpose of building a street railway, modeled on services then provided in eastern cities such as New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Philadelphia, and Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. However, the Laclede line was never built. In spite of the early failure, by 1859, seven other lines were proposed; however, only four were completed before the outbreak of the American 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...
. The first of these lines began operation on July 4, 1859, running east to west on Olive Street from 4th to 10th streets. However, early operations were marred by difficulty in securing quality rails, and construction problems caused derailment
Derailment
A derailment is an accident on a railway or tramway in which a rail vehicle, or part or all of a train, leaves the tracks on which it is travelling, with consequent damage and in many cases injury and/or death....
s of the cars. All of the prewar railways used horse power to pull their cars, that is they were Horsecar
Horsecar
A horsecar or horse-drawn tram is an animal-powered streetcar or tram.These early forms of public transport developed out of industrial haulage routes that had long been in existence, and from the omnibus routes that first ran on public streets in the 1820s, using the newly improved iron or steel...
s.
After the Civil War, other lines opened in St. Louis that connected the central city with western areas. In 1874, with the opening of the Eads Bridge
Eads Bridge
The Eads Bridge is a combined road and railway bridge over the Mississippi River at St. Louis, connecting St. Louis and East St. Louis, Illinois....
, a new line opened connecting the city with East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis is a city located in St. Clair County, Illinois, USA, directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri in the Metro-East region of Southern Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 27,006, less than one-third of its peak of 82,366 in 1950...
. The first experiments with mechanical traction for the cars took place immediately after the war in 1865 on Grand Avenue, while a fully operational steam-powered line opened in 1868 as an extension of the Olive Street line. This line, however, was not operationally connected with the rest of the horse-drawn lines, and it used a different railroad gauge than other lines.
Decline
In the 1920s streetcars began to be replaced by autobuses as bus operators could route freely over public streets, paying only vehicle and gas taxes, while streetcar operators had fixed routes by the tracks, and had to pay additional property taxes for the infrastructureInfrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
they placed in the road, however a good transit route doesn't need to change often. The construction of Highway I-70
Interstate 70 in Missouri
In the U.S. state of Missouri, Interstate 70 is generally parallel to the Missouri River. This section of the transcontinental Interstate has its western terminus at the Kansas state line on the Lewis and Clark Viaduct, concurrent with U.S...
that cut through downtown St. Louis, threatened and ended service to many street lines. The last St. Louis streetcar route in operation was the 15 Hodiamont line which ceased service on May 21, 1966. Much of the streetcar systems' routes are today's MetroBus
MetroBus (St. Louis)
MetroBus is the public bus service for the Greater St. Louis Region connected with the MetroLink light rail system. It is managed by the Bi-State Development Agency and uses a shared fare system with the MetroLink rail.-Service:...
and Madison County Transit
Madison County Transit
Madison County Transit, or MCT for short, is a bus and bike trail transportation system that serves the citizens of Madison County, which is located in Illinois approximately northeast of St. Louis. It was created in 1980 by the Madison County Board to improve transportation in Madison County, and...
bus routes. St. Louis was also involved in the Great American streetcar scandal.
Streetcar builders
The St. Louis Car CompanySt. Louis Car Company
The St. Louis Car Company was a major United States manufacturer of railroad passenger cars, streetcars, trolleybuses and locomotives that existed from 1887–1973, based in St. Louis, Missouri.-History:...
began operation in 1887 when financier J.H. Kobush and plant supervisor Peter Kling abandoned the German immigrant industrialist Frederick Brownell's streetcar manufacturing company
Brownell Car Company
Brownell Car Company was a horsecar and streetcar builder in St. Louis, Missouri.Originally founded as Brownell and Wight Car Company by Frederick Brownell and Andrew Wight in 1875 as a horsecar builder, the company was renamed in 1879....
. The company lasted until 1973, was located at 3023 North Broadway, and took orders from across the country. The St. Louis Car Company became the biggest streetcar builder in the world. They distributed their cars internationally at their height.
Historical lines or companies
- Baden and St. Louis Railroad
- Benton and Bellefontaine Railroad
- Citizens Railway
- Cass Avenue and Fairgrounds Railroad
- Forest Park and Clayton Railroad
- Lindell Railroad
- Midland Street Railway
- Missouri Railroad
- Northern Central Railroad
- Peoples Railway Company
- St. Louis and Kirkwood Railway
- St. Louis and Suburban Railway
- St. Louis Railroad
- St. Louis, St. Charles and Western Railway
- St. Louis Public Service Company
- Southern Electric Railway
- Tower Grove and Lafayette Railway Company
- Union RailroadUnion RailroadThe following railroads have been named Union Railroad or Union Railway, usually because they connected or merged several other railroads. See joint railway for the concept of a railroad owned by more than one company.Freight carriers...
- Union Depot Railroad
- Belleville Electric Railway Company
- East St. Louis and Suburban Railway Company
- East St. Louis Railway Company
- Illinois Traction Company
- Alton, Jacksonville and Peoria Railway Company
- East St. Louis, Columbia and Waterloo Railway Company
These cars serviced 70 Grand, 20 Cherokee, 22 Jefferson, 40 Broadway, 13 Union, 03 Midland, 01 Kirkwood/Ferguson, 10 Delmar, 15 Hodiamont, 42 Sarah, 53 Chouteau, 32 Wellston, 31 Natural Bridge, 05 Creve Coeur Lake, 53/54/55/56 Manchester, 12 Maryland/Olive, 11 University, 14 University Clayton, 66 St. Peters, 65 Woodson, 67 Bridgeton and 51 Forest Park. St. Louis Public Service sold 1700 series to the San Francisco Municipal Railway
San Francisco Municipal Railway
The San Francisco Municipal Railway is the public transit system for the city and county of San Francisco, California. In 2006, it served with an operating budget of about $700 million...
in 1957. Their numbers were changed to the 1100 series and ran until their retirement in 1982.
Fleets
St. Louis ran Peter Witt StreetcarsPeter Witt streetcar
Peter Witt was a Cleveland Railway commissioner, who designed a model of streetcar known by his name, and used in many North American cities, most notably in Toronto and Cleveland.-Features:...
from 1927 to 1951. All of St. Louis's 3 series of Peter Witt cars were built in the United Railways' (predecessor to St. Louis Public Service Company) 39th St shops. Later art-deco PCC
PCC streetcar
The PCC streetcar design was first built in the United States in the 1930s. The design proved successful in its native country, and after World War II was licensed for use elsewhere in the world...
(Presidents Conference Committee) cars were first produced in 1936. They were 46 feet long and 9 feet wide. They sat 53 passengers. The St. Louis Car Company built many of these models. St. Louis Public Service Company ordered three groups of PCC cars in the 1500, 1600 and 1700 Series from them. The first group was delivered in 1940; the last group was delivered in 1946.
Delmar Loop Trolley
The Delmar Loop Trolley is a 2.2 miles (3.5 km) proposed heritage trolleyHeritage 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...
line that is planned to serve the Delmar Loop
Delmar Loop
The Delmar Loop is an entertainment, cultural and restaurant district in University City, Missouri and the ajoining western edge of St. Louis, Missouri. Most of its attractions are located in the streetcar suburb of University City, but the area is expanding eastward into the Skinker-Debaliviere...
district in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and University City, Missouri
University City, Missouri
University City is an inner-ring suburb in St. Louis County, Missouri. The population was 35,371 in 2010 census. The city was shaped by Washington University in St. Louis, whose campus abuts the city to the southeast....
. The line will have about 9 stations and serve the Missouri History Museum
Missouri History Museum
The Missouri History Museum is located in St. Louis, Missouri in Forest Park. The museum is operated by the Missouri Historical Society and was founded in 1866...
in Forest Park, Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
, two MetroLink stations; Forest Park-DeBaliviere
Forest Park-DeBaliviere (St. Louis Metrolink)
Forest Park-DeBaliviere is a St. Louis MetroLink subway station, located at the northeast corner of Forest Park Parkway and DeBaliviere Avenue in St. Louis. This station is located just to the north of Forest Park. Attractions in the park include the St. Louis Art Museum, St...
station and Delmar Loop
Delmar Loop (St. Louis Metrolink)
Delmar Loop is a St. Louis MetroLink Station. This station features 362 Park-Ride spaces. It is adjacent to the Delmar Loop entertainment district that straddles St. Louis and St. Louis County. Nearby attractions include the restored Tivoli Theater as well as the new Pageant Theater along with...
station, University City City Hall, and all the Delmar Loop attractions.
Origin
The Delmar LoopDelmar Loop
The Delmar Loop is an entertainment, cultural and restaurant district in University City, Missouri and the ajoining western edge of St. Louis, Missouri. Most of its attractions are located in the streetcar suburb of University City, but the area is expanding eastward into the Skinker-Debaliviere...
got its name from a loop of track on the 10 Delmar Streetcar line, which ran its last trip on April 19, 1964. In the early 1900s the Loop was adjacent to the Delmar Gardens Amusement Park. Until it's abandonment on July 25, 1950, the loop was also the terminus of the 05 Creve Coeur Lake
Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park
Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park is a St. Louis County park located in Maryland Heights, Missouri, United States. The park is the largest in the St. Louis County Parks system and includes Creve Coeur Lake, an oxbow lake which is the largest natural lake in Missouri...
line famous for its open "moonlight" cars. The Loop long retained its name, and found a champion in Joe Edwards
Joe Edwards (St. Louis)
Joe Edwards is a St. Louis, Missouri and University City, Missouri, businessman, community figure, and civic leader notable for his contributions to the Delmar Loop area of both cities...
, the owner of Blueberry Hill
Blueberry Hill (restaurant)
Blueberry Hill is a restaurant and bar located in the Delmar Loop neighborhood in University City, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Legendary performer Chuck Berry performs there for one hour on a single Wednesday each month, downstairs in the Duck Room....
, The Pageant
The Pageant
The Pageant, sometimes called The Pageant Concert NightClub, is a music venue in the Delmar Loop district, located on the western edge of Saint Louis, Missouri, just east of the University City half of the loop area....
, and a number of other Loop businesses. Edwards secured the purchasing of two restored streetcars that once operated in Milan, Italy and has led the initiative for a new line in conjunction with Citizens for Modern Transit.
Fleet
The two cars were parked along the route—one on Delmar by Commerce Bank, and the other at the History Museum. Not conforming to ADA regulations, the cars will remain parked. The system will use seven replica streetcars instead of the two red Peter Witt streetcars because of the state law that requires transit vehicles to aid people with walking disabilities.St. Charles City Streetcar
The nine original 1700 series PCC streetcars were purchased for use in New Town at St. CharlesNew Town, Missouri
New Town at St. Charles is a partially completed planned community within the city of St. Charles, Missouri. The community's developers espouse the principles of Traditional Neighborhood Design and New Urbanism...
by Whittaker Builders Inc. Some will be placed around town converted into old-fashioned diners, cafés, or bookstores while others will be restored and put back in service. The proposed route is said to be 8 miles (12.9 km) from New Town to St. Charles, Missouri.
See also
- List of streetcar systems in the United States
- Streetcar strikes in the United StatesStreetcar strikes in the United StatesBetween the years 1895 and 1929, streetcar strikes in the United States affected almost every major city in the country. Sometimes lasting only a few days, more often these strikes were "marked by almost continuous and often spectacular violent conflict," at times amounting to prolonged riots...
- 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....