Streetcars remembered

[Coyote]

Michael Kelly: Omaha's streetcars gone, not forgotten

From the notebook:

• Fifty years ago today, streetcar trolleys in Omaha reached the end of the line.

Car No. 1011 made a ceremonial "official last trip" on March 5, 1955, although the final day of operation was the day before.

Richard Orr of Omaha, a longtime fan of trolleys, filmed them as a young man. Several years ago he produced a video, "Streetcars of Omaha and Council Bluffs, 1947-55."

Horse-drawn streetcars came to Omaha in 1868, and electric trolley cars eventually took over. Post-World War II prosperity, suburban expansion and more cars caused ridership to decline.

The ceremonial last trip carried hand-waving businessmen, many of whom, Orr says on the video, "probably had not ridden a streetcar in years."

Longtime railroader Bill Kratville of Omaha also filmed the ceremonial last trip and thought his film was lost - but happily found it this week.

"When I was growing up, you practically lived on a streetcar," said Bill, 75. "Every kid in town knew the streetcar routes."

A restored streetcar rests in the Durham Western Heritage Museum in the old Union Station.

[DTO Luv]

Hopefully one day soon they won't be a distant memory.

[PapioGrandpa]

For a short time after WWII my father was a streetcar "driver". In his mind, 42nd street was the western edge of town. With the exception of Peony Park, 42nd street was as far west as the streetcar rails were extended.

There were streetcar rails embedded in 24th street (and others) as late as the early 60's. They were a pain for auto traffic. The rails disappeared as the streets were repaved.

One of the side benefits my Dad mentioned was snow removal. Evidently the streetcars had plows attached during the winter. (I don't know if that was a widespread practice, but I have heard it from others.)

I have some old tokens somewhere. I haven't thought about that stuff in years.

I met Richard Orr several years ago. He had produced a calendar with shots of Omaha streetcars. At that time he had built a small model train layout in his basement. In his case the trains were streetcars, complete with overhead wire. He's a pretty interesting guy once you get him talking.

[FatGuy]

So, I went to the Underwood Bar late this morning and I noticed on the west wall 6 black and white photos of old omaha streetcars. Neat pictures of how the tracks were laid out and how the lines ran. I could not help to think how great it would be if they still exist.

Zephyr- would you get on with your new system!