trolleys

Trolley run, August 1989, Plymouth Street, Brooklyn

Once upon a time, from 1900 to about 1935, they were the kings of NYC streets. But then, they were driven out by a relentless government campaign to replace them with cars and buses. But...other cities like Boston and Philadelphia still have them, and they may yet rule the roads of NYC again. We're talking trolleys. On this page, we'll take a look at where traces of them can still be found in the streets of NYC, and we'll take a look at a little museum on Connecticut where many trolley cars are serving their forced retirement with comfort and care.

OVERGROUND RAILROAD. More tracks poking through the asphalt.

THE WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART. There are still a number of trolley stations and terminals in New York City.

CANARSIE'S BACKYARD TROLLEY. Remains persist from Canarsie's 'backyard' trolley line, which shut down in 1942.

RIDIN' WITH THE KINGSBRIDGE. Exposed tracks in The Bronx..

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH. Trolley man Robert Diamond is putting finishing touches on a plan to bring the first trolley cars to Brooklyn streets since 1956.

RIDGEWOOD RELICS. An unusual elevated route has preserved some trolley tracks from 1916.

REMNANTS OF NORTONS POINT. The last remains of a trolley line defunct since 1948..

JOHNSON AVENUE. Trolley tracks mark an ancient route, as well as an eliminated street.

SHELL OF A FORMER TROLLEY LINE. Tracks from a long-gone trolley line in Brooklyn are still visible in Brighton Beach.

TOWER SQUARE, Woodside, NY. At one time, all the trolleys in western Queens visited this impressive brick building. Now it's a Pizza Hut.

TROLLEY TRACKS. At various spots in New York City, the asphalt has worn down far enough to give a glimpse of the submerged trolley tracks that were never pulled up. See the tracks again here before the repavers get there.

TROLLEY POLES. Poles that supported the overhead trolley wires have been allowed to stand in some areas, and are used now to hang signs. They signify trolley routes that don't exist anymore.

JACKSON TRACKS. A very old trolley right-of-way in Jackson Heights still exists, albeit in deteriorated condition. It once brought passengers to the then-new LaGuardia Field.

1989 BROOKLYN TROLLEY RUN. For many years, Brooklyn resident Robert Diamond has dreamed of putting trolleys back in regular operations. On one summer afternoon in 1989, he did just that in downtown Brooklyn.

SHORELINE TROLLEY MUSEUM. Since 1945, this Connecticut museum has preserved trolley cars, many of which worked the streets of NYC, for future generations to marvel at.

E-mail me at erpietri@earthlink.net!