Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > Types > Light Rail and Streetcar
This section includes streetcar (tramway) systems and systems using similar technology, both with classic in-street operation mixed with other traffic and with operation on separate right-of-way. Distinguishing features include fare collection on board vehicles rather than at stations, single-car or short multiple-unit trains, and smaller-capacity cars than with heavy-rail rapid transit. However, none of these features are universal.
I divide these into legacy systems (originally built before about 1970), modern systems (built after about 1970, using modern technology), and heritage systems (built as modern replicas of legacy systems).
These are old (pre-1970) streetcar or light rail systems that still operate using pre-1970 equipment and which have not been upgraded to modern light-rail standards.
These are old (pre-1970) electric streetcar or light rail systems that have been modernized with new vehicles and/or by upgrading track.
These are old streetcar or light rail systems that have been abandoned or modernized since I took my pictures. This list does not attempt to include all abandoned streetcar systems, only ones that I have pictures of. You can find many pictures of such systems at Dave's Electric Railroads. I do have a list of systems that lasted until after World War II.
These are new light rail systems that were built from scratch since about 1970. All these cities once operated legacy streetcar systems, but the new light rail systems do not use older tracks, although in some cases they do use old rights-of-way. They do not usually share streets with motor vehicles, except sometimes for short sections. Most are electrically powered, but a few use diesel-powered railcars. Passengers usually board at stations, rather than at in-street stopping places.
These systems were also newly-built, and do not use legacy streetcar tracks. Unlike the light rail systems listed above, they operate exclusively or almost exclusively in streets, often mixed with automobile traffic, and passengers board from street-level stopping places. Unlike the heritage systems listed in the next section, they use newly-built vehicles, so far from European manufacturers.
These lines operate pre-1970 equipment, or modern replicas, but are not descended directly from "legacy" systems. Some operate on tracks built specifically for the line; some use abandoned railroad trackage; and some operate on restored trackage from abandoned legacy systems. Some are operated as an integral part of a city's transit system; others are more like museum-type operations, and offer limited service (e.g. weekends only). This list does not include pure museum and intramural operations that do not provide public service between two distinct locations.
An extension of electric streetcar technology to intercity and rural transportation, many of these lines were built in the U.S. in the years before World War I. They began to fade in the 1920s as roads improved and automobiles became more common. By 1960, almost all of them were gone. The current survivors have evolved towards suburban commuter or light rail, museum operation, or shortline freight carriers.
This page was last updated on 8 July 2010.
Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > Types > Light Rail and Streetcar
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