About the book
Seattle's population was growing rapidly during the 1880s, but steep hills and shorelines impeded residential development, pushing expansion northward and creating a long, narrow corridor ideal for a public transportation route. Frank Osgood arrived from Boston in 1883, recognized the potential, and opened Seattle's first street railway the following year, operating from Pioneer Square north on Second Avenue to Pike Street. The tiny streetcars were pulled by horses.
Motivated by potential increases in real estate values, by 1896 thirteen private companies ran streetcar lines in the Emerald City. Horse-drawn streetcars were gone, replaced by electric trolleys and cable cars. But many of the lines were cheaply built or spaced too close together, and small, independent companies lacked economies of scale. Consolidation began, and the Seattle Electric Company acquired almost all of the independent street railways. The firm started a massive improvement and expansion program, and by 1910, ridership totaled 103 million annual passengers--a number equivalent to every Seattleite boarding a streetcar 435 times that year.
Following voter approval, Seattle became one of the country's first large cities with a publicly owned transit system. The new Seattle Municipal Street Railway took over operations in April 1919, initially adding new bus routes and extending some existing streetcar lines. But a huge debt load, declining ridership, and the Great Depression caused severe financial troubles and maintenance issues. By 1938, Seattle and San Francisco were the nation's only cities still operating cable cars. Over the next three years, Seattle converted its entire transit system to trolley coaches and motor buses.
Utilizing narrative, maps, and many previously unpublished photographs, author Mike Bergman offers a detailed jaunt through Seattle's fascinating streetcar era.
Editions of Seattle's Streetcar Era
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780874224078
Read an Excerpt
Seattle's population was growing rapidly during the 1880s, but steep hills and shorelines impeded residential development, pushing expansion northward and creating a long, narrow corridor ideal for a public transportation route. Frank Osgood arrived from Boston in 1883, recognized the potential, and opened Seattle's first street railway the following year, operating from Pioneer Square north on Second Avenue to Pike Street. The tiny streetcars were pulled by horses.
Motivated by potential increases in real estate values, by 1896 thirteen private companies ran streetcar lines in the Emerald City. Horse-drawn streetcars were gone, replaced by electric trolleys and cable cars. But many of the lines were cheaply built or spaced too close together, and small, independent companies lacked economies of scale. Consolidation began, and the Seattle Electric Company acquired almost all of the independent street railways. The firm started a massive improvement and expansion program, and by 1910, ridership totaled 103 million annual passengers--a number equivalent to every Seattleite boarding a streetcar 435 times that year.
Following voter approval, Seattle became one of the country's first large cities with a publicly owned transit system. The new Seattle Municipal Street Railway took over operations in April 1919, initially adding new bus routes and extending some existing streetcar lines. But a huge debt load, declining ridership, and the Great Depression caused severe financial troubles and maintenance issues. By 1938, Seattle and San Francisco were the nation's only cities still operating cable cars. Over the next three years, Seattle converted its entire transit system to trolley coaches and motor buses.
Utilizing narrative, maps, and many previously unpublished photographs, author Mike Bergman offers a detailed jaunt through Seattle's fascinating streetcar era.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Seattle's Streetcar Era about?
Seattle's population was growing rapidly during the 1880s, but steep hills and shorelines impeded residential development, pushing expansion northward and creating a long, narrow corridor ideal for a public transportation route. Frank Osgood arrived from Boston in 1883, recognized the potential, and opened Seattle's first street railway the following year, operating from Pioneer Square north on Second Avenue to Pike Street. The tiny streetcars were pulled by horses.
Motivated by potential increases in real estate values, by 1896 thirteen private companies ran streetcar lines in the Emerald City. Horse-drawn streetcars were gone, replaced by electric trolleys and cable cars. But many of the lines were cheaply built or spaced too close together, and small, independent companies lacked economies of scale. Consolidation began, and the Seattle Electric Company acquired almost all of the independent street railways. The firm started a massive improvement and expansion program, and by 1910, ridership totaled 103 million annual passengers--a number equivalent to every Seattleite boarding a streetcar 435 times that year.
Following voter approval, Seattle became one of the country's first large cities with a publicly owned transit system. The new Seattle Municipal Street Railway took over operations in April 1919, initially adding new bus routes and extending some existing streetcar lines. But a huge debt load, declining ridership, and the Great Depression caused severe financial troubles and maintenance issues. By 1938, Seattle and San Francisco were the nation's only cities still operating cable cars. Over the next three years, Seattle converted its entire transit system to trolley coaches and motor buses.
Utilizing narrative, maps, and many previously unpublished photographs, author Mike Bergman offers a detailed jaunt through Seattle's fascinating streetcar era.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Seattle's Streetcar Era?
Lifestyle, Hobbies and Leisure > Transport: general interest > Trains and railways: general interest
Where can I read a sample of Seattle's Streetcar Era?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780874224078
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Seattle's Streetcar Era?
Michael Bergman
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Seattle's Streetcar Era is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780874224078)
Where can I buy Seattle's Streetcar Era online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Seattle's Streetcar Era from below
Where can I buy Seattle's Streetcar Era?