50-years ago today in New York City.

[Bob-Fryml]

Saturday, 7 April 2007. 

WARNING ALL TRACTION FANS.  Pull out your crying towels now....

Per today's edition of the Omaha Wierd Harold - oops, I meant to write World Herald newspaper -  it was on this date 50-years ago that the last electric streetcar ran between Manhattan and Queens.  And New York City hasn't been the same since.

And as an aside, I seem to recall that it was three months later that the last streetcars ran in Chicago.  Or am I off a year?

Sic transit gloria mundi.

[AntonioFP45]

Interesting.  My mom and dad had arrived in this country and moved to New York City in 1954 and 1956 respectively.  So they were around to see the end of the era. 

It's too bad that the NYCTA (later MTA) had not yet been created.  Just my opinion, but perhaps some of the trolley lines would have survived, inspite of the heavy costs to operate.

So ironic now that a number of municipalities in the U.S want to run light rail systems (modern streetcars).  The construction costs far exceed what it takes to subsidize Amtrak's entire system, but they're still moving forward. 

[daveklepper]

The Quennsboro Bridge line was 90% segregated from traffic in its own two lanes, and its primary purpose was to serve Welfre Island in the East River.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

While I may be arguing semantics, light rail is a bit more than just modern streetcars.  Most of the new light-rail lines tend to have operating characteristics that fall somewhere between streetcars and rapid transit.  Light rail includes a lot more private right-of-way operation and more station stops than street-corner stops.

[AntonioFP45]

Agreed, CSS

However my comment in that area is intended to infer that light rail is what the street car systems have progressed to. San Diego's system is a good example.

Except for tourist lines, such as New Orleans and Tampa's, the few surviving streetcar systems that remain today from the "good ol days" are now referred to as light rail as well.  The systems in Boston and Philly have undergone upgrades and route expansions.  Modern technology in signalling, passenger safety/comfort and ADA requirements are heavily utilized.