User:Halvorsen brian/Streetcars in Portland, Oregon

Horse-drawn streetcars (1872–1896) edit

 
A horse-drawn streetcar in 1885

The Portland City Council first approved a streetcar line in 1871. Opening with 10 horses and four cars, the Portland Street Railway Company made its first voyage down First street in December 1872. In January 1873 the Portland Street Railway Company opened their offices in the Boss' Saloon building on the corner of First and F streets.[1] In September 1873, The Oregonian noted that streetcars were now running to G street.[2] The Street Railway Company added ten horses and one new car to their fleet in 1874.[3] Streetcars ran every 10 minutes from 6:20 am to 8:00 pm and every 20 minutes according to a 1874 schedule published in The Oregonian. The northbound route was on First avenue from Caruthers street to G street and the southbound route was the same, reversed.[4]

A petition was being circulated in 1879 to allow a second streetcar line to be constructed on Washington street starting at Second avenue to the area know known as Goose Hollow, Portland, Oregon. M. E. Corbett and D. E. Budd were the organizers behind the plan, which they hoped would help Portland expand west.[5]

The Portland City Council approved a plan to extend the First street line during a meeting in May 1882. The plan, which was to be completed by September 1, 1882, called for the line to be extend to to the southern city limits.[6]

Steam powered streetcars edit

Electric streetcars edit

Portland Streetcar (2001–present) edit

Timeline edit

  • January 1873 — A streetcar company opens their offices at Boss' Saloon on the corner of First and F streets.
  • September 1873 — Streetcar service extended on G street
  • June 1874 — The Street Railway Company add ten more horses and one car to their fleet.

References edit

  1. ^ "Street car office". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. 25 January 1873. p. 3.
  2. ^ "Local brevities". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. 5 September 1873. p. 3.
  3. ^ "Local brevities". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. 24 June 1874. p. 3.
  4. ^ "Time table for street car". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. 10 August 1874. p. 4.
  5. ^ "New street-car line". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. 18 February 1879. p. 3.
  6. ^ "The city council". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. 18 May 1882. p. 3.