Charlotte, NC — Heritage Trolley Update
Rail Transit Online, October 2000
The region around Charlotte is showing
incredible growth, causing increasing traffic congestion and stimulating plans
for both commuter rail and light rail systems (see RTOL, Aug. 2000). A vintage
trolley, already in operation, has gotten incredible support from the city,
which sees it as a means of reviving a declining corridor. Contributing Editor
Van Wilkins recently visited Charlotte and filed the following report:
Duke Power ran its last streetcar in
Charlotte in 1938. Drive down South Boulevard today and for two miles each
lamppost carries a banner proclaiming “Charlotte Trolley-Welcome Back.” Formed
in 1994, this vintage operation has convinced the political and business
community that it is a potent tool in re-vitalizing the South End area. The
trolley uses two miles of a city-owned former Southern Railway right-of-way that
runs through the thriving Uptown district — downtown in any other city — to the
edge of town. It’s one operating streetcar, Duke Power 85, was built in
Charlotte in 1928 from Perley Thomas plans, ran until 1938, and then became part
of a residence. The body has been nicely restored and equipped with a pair of
Melbourne W2 trucks. As there is wire only in the shop area at Atherton Mill, a
pushed/towed generator provides power. The car operates on a 30-minute headway
Friday, Saturday and Sunday with about 1,000 boardings a week. The fare is
$1.00 each way. One Wednesday evening a month a local pub-crawl is run. For
this a single $5.00 fare allows riders to board and leave the car as often they
want.
Also on hand and nearly ready to enter service is a tiny single truck car from
Athens, Greece, also nicely restored. It was donated by the local Greek
community. It has no air brakes, but is equipped with dynamic braking, with the
final stop done with a hand brake. Three other cars are on hand. Ex-Ft.
Collins, Colorado, Birney 25, which originally ran in Richmond, Virginia, has
been cosmetically restored but needs mechanical and electrical work.
Ex-Asheville, North Carolina, Birney 117 lacks a truck. Philadelphia Red Arrow
PCC-style 13 also lacks running gear, although a pair of Boston Elevated trucks
is on hand. Both bodies require much restoration.
The city has committed $19.7 million to upgrade the track, install overhead and
otherwise refurbish the ROW. A bridge is also to be restored and the line
extended directly through a new convention center — the trolley will actually
run through the building — and then eventually along the existing, unused line
through the center of Uptown. However, work has been suspended while plans are
reviewed to ensure they are compatible with a light rail line in this corridor
to Pineville, 10 miles south of Charlotte, and possibly continuing across the
state line to Rock Hill, South Carolina. The review will ensure that all work
done for the trolley will also be suitable for light rail, and that trolley
operation will not be interrupted by light rail construction. This has delayed
the target date for completing the convention center trolley extension to 2002
instead of 2001. That's probably a good thing, as it gives Charlotte Transit an
additional year to restore rolling stock to handle anticipated demand. The idea
is to transport occupants of existing and now-building apartments to Uptown, and
convention goers to the shops, restaurants, and night spots now developing as
far south as the trolley museum. The South End area is indeed being
revitalized, and CT Executive Director Ms Hank Ingebretsen is absolutely sure
the trolley is a major factor. She must be right, or the city wouldn't be
willing to invest in it. Half the money has been donated for a new, 11-car
replica of the old Duke Power carbarn. All this sounds very optimistic —
especially the initial trolley service, but there is certainly enough backing
from the business/political community to pull it off. |
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