Here in Buffalo NY, there are some places where the old trolly lines are still visible if you know where to look, usually behind old homes and buildings over grown with weeds and trees. I learned recently as a part of Buffalo history, than the Bus companies bought out the trolly business with the understanding that they would operate them but immediately after the deal, they collected all of the trollies and completely scraped and destroyed them just so busses were the only mode of transportation available. It’s sad to learn that the trollies were destroyed just for business looking back. Such a large part of Buffalo history.
During my visits to the LSRM I have ridden that Lisbon trolley many times. The gauge of that trolley is one meter ( metric ). That is equal to 39.37 inches. Most USA narrow gauge railroads were 36 inches. Duluth streetcar # 265 still exists as a companion to Twin Cities Rapid Transit # 1300, They run at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, MN. Duluth also had electric rubber tired buses for a while. That's another chapter.
Excellent video! I remember riding on it when the museum had Day Out with Thomas and ever since, I have thought it was a very cool little thing. I've always wondered the story behind it. Thank you for your hard work to keep equipment like this alive.
What you said about General Motors killing the trolley cars is true. However, here in Grand Forks, ND, there was another reason. The tracks were first laid when the streets were dirt, so they were cheaper and easier to maintain. By the 1920s when many streets were paved, track repair became a major and expensive undertaking. Also, by replacing them with buses, the routes could be changed. Still, I think the trolleys were pretty cool, and it's too bad they went away.
600 vc DC or AC? If it's DC, i wound if the LS RR Museum could get PRR 4877 GG-1 operating. To see a GG-1 Operating would wonderful, that would take a lot money just transport a GG-1 the museum and even morw to get it operating.
Trolley and Interurban lines reached their zenith around 1910. They were often the parent company to a fledgling utility or a subsidiary of a utility. They often struggled to turn a profit, and some were subsidized by power and light revenues. There were also some big corporate and banking rivalries during the 1920s that eventually drew the attention of progressives and reformers of the time, and may have helped drive some of the last nails in the coffin of many traction lines. The Insull / McKinley rivalry was one of them. There was also a rivalry between Insull and financier Cyrus S. Eaton. You might also read the story of Senator Frank L. Smith from Illinois. A lot of economic, technological, and political conditions contributed to the downfall of the streetcar. I am both a rail fan and a line geek. I study the evolution of gas and electric utilities. Notable utilities magnates like Insull, Eaton, and Foshay built up the seminal grid in my home state of Nebraska, and their risky or unethical behavior led to the creation of public power. I Iove everything about electric traction!
I used to work as a tramcar/trolley engineer at a UK museum that has the sister trolley to that also from Oporto, still being used today at Beamish
Here in Buffalo NY, there are some places where the old trolly lines are still visible if you know where to look, usually behind old homes and buildings over grown with weeds and trees. I learned recently as a part of Buffalo history, than the Bus companies bought out the trolly business with the understanding that they would operate them but immediately after the deal, they collected all of the trollies and completely scraped and destroyed them just so busses were the only mode of transportation available. It’s sad to learn that the trollies were destroyed just for business looking back. Such a large part of Buffalo history.
I love how these videos are presented!
2:35 according to my Portuguese friend that means 24 places. People or passengers would be Pessoas or Passageiros, respectively.
Ken, thanks for sharing about the trolleys
Nice ride, thanks!
great work as always. love watching these. i really enjoyed the mention of National Lines.
Great video Ken, I rode on that trolley car about 10 years ago
During my visits to the LSRM I have ridden that Lisbon trolley many times. The gauge of that trolley is one meter ( metric ). That is equal to 39.37 inches. Most USA narrow gauge railroads were 36 inches. Duluth streetcar # 265 still exists as a companion to Twin Cities Rapid Transit # 1300, They run at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, MN. Duluth also had electric rubber tired buses for a while. That's another chapter.
Excellent video! I remember riding on it when the museum had Day Out with Thomas and ever since, I have thought it was a very cool little thing. I've always wondered the story behind it. Thank you for your hard work to keep equipment like this alive.
That was awesome! I missed the trolley completely last time we were there. Many thanks!
Great video. Lugar is the same in spanish and portugeuse and means "place" but in a trolley could means spots or seats.
What you said about General Motors killing the trolley cars is true. However, here in Grand Forks, ND, there was another reason. The tracks were first laid when the streets were dirt, so they were cheaper and easier to maintain. By the 1920s when many streets were paved, track repair became a major and expensive undertaking. Also, by replacing them with buses, the routes could be changed. Still, I think the trolleys were pretty cool, and it's too bad they went away.
What are the 2 big wheels in the return trip?
600 vc DC or AC? If it's DC, i wound if the LS RR Museum could get PRR 4877 GG-1 operating. To see a GG-1 Operating would wonderful, that would take a lot money just transport a GG-1 the museum and even morw to get it operating.
What are the differences between trolley, street and cable cars?
Just looked it up on Google Translate and 24 Lugares means 24 Places
In Brazilian Portuguese it means places.
That is great and very insightful since I recently chose to add a trolley line to my HO scale layout.
24 Lugares is 24 seats according to google translate.
Trolley and Interurban lines reached their zenith around 1910. They were often the parent company to a fledgling utility or a subsidiary of a utility. They often struggled to turn a profit, and some were subsidized by power and light revenues. There were also some big corporate and banking rivalries during the 1920s that eventually drew the attention of progressives and reformers of the time, and may have helped drive some of the last nails in the coffin of many traction lines. The Insull / McKinley rivalry was one of them. There was also a rivalry between Insull and financier Cyrus S. Eaton. You might also read the story of Senator Frank L. Smith from Illinois. A lot of economic, technological, and political conditions contributed to the downfall of the streetcar.
I am both a rail fan and a line geek. I study the evolution of gas and electric utilities. Notable utilities magnates like Insull, Eaton, and Foshay built up the seminal grid in my home state of Nebraska, and their risky or unethical behavior led to the creation of public power.
I Iove everything about electric traction!
its narrow gauge?
it looks ridiculous next to the GP9
Another great video! Also, I used Google Translate to figure out what "Lugares" means in English, and it actually means "places".
This social liar must, surely, be a Major DEK when he doesn't get his way.