Subway, Elevated, Trolley & Traction Lines photos

[rogruth]

Steam dummy.

Yep.

[healey36]

Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern Railroad interuban at Ames, Iowa, 1908:



From the digital collection of the Library of Congress.

Healey

[rogruth]

Interesting building behind the trolley pole.

[healey36]

"Street railway scene, Rockford, Illinois":



Downtown Rockford, dated between 1906 and 1923.

Library of Congress, Prints and Photo Collection.

What is that round gizmo attached at the back? Is that the device that raises and lowers the trolley pole? Looks like there might be a line attached to it...

Healey

[healey36]

An old postcard showing a number of the single-step cars (here referred to as "hobble-skirt cars") in NYC:



No date on the card, but presumably in the first decade of the 1900s.

Healey

[rogruth]

Were these powered by a center rail that I think I see in the picture? I don't see any overhead lines. ????

[healey36]

Yes, operated via third rail, and these cars operated well into the 1910-1920 period, possibly longer. It's my understanding that the design was less than successful.

[E7]

What is that round gizmo attached at the back? Is that the device that raises and lowers the trolley pole? Looks like there might be a line attached to it...Healey

I think you nailed it, there IS a line there.

Rich

[rogruth]

What is that round gizmo attached at the back? Is that the device that raises and lowers the trolley pole? Looks like there might be a line attached to it...Healey

I think you nailed it, there IS a line there.

Rich

Yes, that is correct.

[J. S. Bach]

Note that the third rail is buried under the slot, very similar to the cable in San Francisco's cable car system.

[E7]

Note that the third rail is buried under the slot, very similar to the cable in San Francisco's cable car system.

So what appears to be a third rail is actually the slot.

Thanks Dave!

[J. S. Bach]

Note that the third rail is buried under the slot, very similar to the cable in San Francisco's cable car system.

So what appears to be a third rail is actually the slot. Thanks Dave!

Washington, DC used this system right up to end in 1962.

[rogruth]

I'm another of those that reads everything posted on MTJ.
Even stuff I don't know anything about.
I just like all kinds and sizes of trains.

[healey36]

Up Broadway and Fifth Avenue, New York City:



Taken between 1900 and 1910, Detroit Publishing Company, from the digital collection of the Library of Congress.

Healey

[healey36]

There's some brilliant stuff in that photo to be further examined. For example, what's this little vehicle?:



Looks like one of those buses we see today at various tourist traps, built to look like a trolley.

Healey