Kenosha Clang, Clang

[al-in-chgo]

Today, for the first time, Chuck and I finally got to ride the Kenosha (Wisconsin) trolley system, or in its publicity, "electric streetcar."  For those of you who don't know, the fleet consists of five restored PCC trolleys in five different vintage liveries. (We got Chicago Surface Lines green-and-cream.)  It's a circulator system that runs in a constant loop from the "Transportation Center" (read: car barn) to the Metra commuter line terminus, then crosses thru downtown and heads back to the beginning along some absolutely beautiful lakefront. The whole loop is claimed to be two miles long.

The line and ride were much as I had imagined them, and the experience was certainly fun, but I was a little surprised at the restricted hours that this miniature traction system keeps.  The cars don't start running until at least ten in the morning and cease by about seven at night.  IOW there is no way the trolleys can take people to the Metra depot in time for the 7:15 a.m. departure to Chicago that is the latest train due into Chicago before nine a.m. 

Was this a disappointment on the part of the people who set up and promoted the system?  Or was it mainly intended to be a fun experience for tourists, as indeed it seems to be?

Perhaps there are readers out there who know about the history of this system and what its limitations are. 

The ride only costs a quarter, so clearly the farebox is not first consideration.   - a. s.

 

[paulsafety]

Great report Al.  There are several web sites that speak to the line's development and plans for expansion.  I'll include the links here:

http://world.nycsubway.org/us/kenosha/

http://www.heritagetrolley.org/existKenosha.htm

http://www.downtowntrolley.org/othercities/index.php?category_id=1577

From world.nycsubway.org:

The Project

The City of Kenosha constructed an electric streetcar system utilizing historic PCC streetcars in coordination with the Harborpark Development on the shores of Lake Michigan. The Kenosha streetcar system will connect the 64 acre Harborpark development into the existing central city area and the METRA commuter rail station. Installation of the track subbase was completed in the fall of 1998, and the streets in Harborpark were completed in the fall of 1999 including the streetcar track. Electric overhead construction was completed in April of 2000. The first of five ex-Toronto PCC streetcars was delivered on Thursday, May 4, 2000. Each car is painted in a unique livery that represents a transit system that operated PCC streetcars. The dedication of the Streetcar line and the new Transit Center was held on June 17, 2000, with scheduled service starting on June 19, 2000

The city of Kenosha's Harborpark Plan comprises 400 new urban housing units and retail, commercial and restaurant facilities. The streetcar circulator project demonstrates the feasibility of reintroducing zero emission, electric transit into mid-west cities and the application of special short haul transit applications. Kenosha has been a leader in implementing alternate fuels technology and operates 12 Compressed Natural Gas buses. The 12 CNG buses represent over 28% of the 42 bus Kenosha Transit Fleet. When the 5 PCC Streetcars are placed in service over 36% of the Kenosha Transit's revenue vehicles will be powered by alternate fuels.

The Route

The circular route begins at the METRA Commuter Rail Station and travels south on 11th Ave. to 56th Street. The streetcars operate in the grass boulevard in the center of 56th St. running east through the Civic Center, past the 6th Ave. Retail District, the new Harborpark Neighborhood, Southport Marina, and terminating at Celebration Park adjacent to Lake Michigan. The return trip will operate between Harborwalk Park and 54th Street past the Museum Complex, the north side of the Harborpark Condominiums, Navy Park, City Hall, and Kenosha Transit's new downtown Transit Center. The streetcars will operate in the curb lane of 54th Street between 8th Ave. and 11th Ave., stopping at Sheridan Road and the Public Safety Building before returning to the METRA Commuter Rail Station.

The Fleet

The streetcar system is operated with five remanufactured PCC Streetcars that were formerly operated on the Toronto Lakefront Streetcar Line. The cars were built in 1951 by Canadian Car and Foundry and retained their former TTC numbers. The Streetcar House is be located on 54th St. at 8th Avenue, and is part of the new Kenosha Transit Center.

• 4606: Chicago Green Hornet livery
• 4609: Pittsburgh Red and White with Black and Silver trim
• 4610: Toronto 'Wine Red & Cream'
• 4615: Johnstown Orange and Cream
• 4616: Cincinatti Yellow with Blue Striping

[gardendance]

From world.nycsubway.org:

When the 5 PCC Streetcars are placed in service over 36% of the Kenosha Transit's revenue vehicles will be powered by alternate fuels.

This is not directly a quibble about the Kenosha Clang, Clang, but this line irks me. How do we know that the streetcars' fuels are alternate?

[al-in-chgo]

From world.nycsubway.org:

When the 5 PCC Streetcars are placed in service over 36% of the Kenosha Transit's revenue vehicles will be powered by alternate fuels.

This is not directly a quibble about the Kenosha Clang, Clang, but this line irks me. How do we know that the streetcars' fuels are alternate?

I don't think we do know such a thing, but we can come close by looking at what percentage of power generation the vendor electric company uses that are hydrocarbon-derived (coal, oil, etc.) versus renewable or clean (nuclear, wind, and some would count natural gas.) 

FWIW Excelon (Com. Ed. here in Chicago) generates around two-thirds of its power thru nukes.  However, there is at least one big power-production plant sitting right on the border with Illinois; it is served by the ex-Milwaukee now CP line (that Amtrak also uses).  So looked at one way power generated in Illinois is clearn; in another way, some of that dirty coal just over the border is being burned to make more power for the region Excelon serves.