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Tampa streetcars[Photo: John Smatlak]
Related Links
Light Rail Now! can be contacted at: Light Rail Now! |
A Valuable and Affordable Public Transit Tool in America's Urban Renaissance The following essay by John Smatlak has been adapted from the introduction on the Homepage of the Vintage Trolley website. What is a vintage trolley? A vintage or heritage trolley (streetcar) is a regularly-scheduled public transportation mode using genuine historic or replica electric railway cars in an urban environment, which is operated independently from an established railway or trolley museum. The cars run on rails and operate electrically from overhead wires (or sometimes a mobile generator).
Vintage trolleys are part of the ongoing renaissance which is bringing new life to America's urban centers. As more and more Americans return to the city, the need for new urban transportation solutions grows ever more important. Transportation is the key to creating great public places – and cities across the country are taking a new look at an old idea, the city streetcar. Whether applied in the form of a vintage trolley or a modern streetcar, the goal of helping build livable communities remains the same.
Why are trolley/streetcar systems being built? While each system is different, the development of a trolley/streetcar operation is usually driven by the need to provide attractive short-trip urban circulation, while facilitating economic development. A trolley/streetcar is a proven way to attract "choice" riders (riders who have ready access to a car and are not transit-dependent), a significant advantage over rubber-tired alternatives. By connecting together activity centers, parking, and other forms of transit with convenient service levels, the line can become the key to creating a vibrant cityscape that is attractive to residents and retailers alike.
Vintage trolley systems in particular are also much less expensive to build and operate than conventional rail systems. Infrastructure is simpler, consistent with the trolley's lower speeds and circulator function. Because it is easily integrated into the built urban environment, the vintage trolley costs significantly less per mile than higher-capacity, longer-distance modern light rail systems. Both have their roles to play in the public transit arena of course, and some cities are using vintage trolley as a precursor to a new light rail system, offering a low-cost "demonstrator" line that can later be extended or incorporated into a larger system. Replica trolley cars
The Replica Trolley Cars webpage provides a complete roster of all replica cars built to date, with facts and figures (including cost) on each.
More information on vintage trolleys and streetcars For more background information on vintage trolleys, here are some suggestions:
Visit the Vintage Trolley Web Site! And for additional information on the advantages of vintage/heritage strretcars and trolleys, be sure to check out the Vintage Trolley Web Site!
Light Rail Now! website URL: http://www.lightrailnow.org/features/f_lrt_2007-03a.htm Updated 2007/03/22 |
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Vintage trolleys provide an authentic historic trolley experience that mixes urban transportation with visitor entertainment.
The ratio of this mixture varies widely; on some systems the trolleys are operated as part of the local transit system and provide a full-fledged transportation function.
Other operations are quite small, and are primarily operated as a tourist attraction, often by a local non-profit.
With a well-chosen route, both vintage trolley and modern streetcar systems
have an excellent track record of being a catalyst for change and helping communities maximize public/private investment.
This is due in part to the fixed nature of the rail infrastructure, which implies permanence – it's going to be there for a long time.
The rail system is also highly visible, with an easily understood route, and the
quiet, pollution-free electric trolleys blend in well with the community.
One of the most exciting aspects of today's vintage trolley systems are the
replica trolley cars being offered by companies such as the Gomaco Trolley Company of ida Grove, iowa.
Replica cars have also been produced in-house; the New Orleans Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) partnered with supplier Brookville Equipment and built 23 of its own cars in 2002.
Other cities, such as Philadelphia, opted for a total rebuilds of vintage PCC-type
streetcars (in this case 18 cars by Brookville Equipment), applying new running gear and control equipment to create an almost new car.
Costs for a replica trolley from Gomaco currently (2007) range around $870,000 for an air-conditioned double-truck car (using rebuilt vintage running gear and modern control equipment).
A typical diesel transit bus costs about half as much, but has a shorter service life (12-17 years vs. 25-30 for trolley/streetcar or larger light rail car).
A modern light rail vehicle or modern streetcar costs from $3 to $3.5 million.
This site provides an overview of US vintage trolley (heritage trolley) operations.
From these pages you can visit the impressive variety of systems now in regular operation and learn about proposals for new systems.
Each page links to websites covering the individual systems and new information is being added continuously, so check back regularly. Contributions are always welcome.