Little Rock — First Car Tested

Rail Transit Online, January 2003

The first of three replica heritage streetcars for the River Rail line was tested on Dec. 11 and 12 in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.  The air-conditioned, lift-equipped trolleys are being supplied by Gomaco of Ida Grove, Iowa, and are based on the double-truck Birney cars which operated in the Little Rock area up to 1947, the last of which was numbered 407.  The new series starts with No. 408, which will be the first car delivered to the Central Arkansas Transit Authority (CATA).  In addition to Gomaco engineers, project consultant Jim Graebner of Lomarado Associates and Paul Pool, CATA's Project Manager, monitored the tests.  Also on hand to observe were CATA's Director of Transportation Murray Gillerson, Maintenance Supervisor Tom Johnson and David Lumbert of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.  The initial runs were considered very successful and only minor changes and modifications will be necessary.  The car will be shipped to the North Little Rock maintenance facility upon its completion, scheduled for late spring.  Revenue service on the 2.2-mi. (3.5 km) line connecting the downtowns of Little Rock and North Little Rock should begin in mid-2004.