Intrepid Trolleys of 1950s Washington Baltimore Atlantic City Boston DVD

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See trolleys of the 1950s in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Atlantic City and Boston

In cities and suburban America, people once relied on trolley systems for transportation. Although "light rail" is the buzzword in urban transportation today, this film shows its origins are rooted in the intrepid trolley travel of the 1950s!

Trolley service in Washington DC ran for 100 years, 1862 to 1962. A conduit buried beneath the streets powered the cars in lieu of overhead wires that would have marred historic sights, including the Capitol Building and White House shown in this film. The "Silver Sightseer" offered the comforts of air-conditioning and armchairs as a stewardess narrated highlights in the nation's capital. Heading out of town, trolleys stopped at Plow Pits to transfer to overhead power.

The 5' 4-1/2" gauge of the Baltimore trolley system was the widest in America. The brightly painted PCC cars on the high speed Sparrows Point Line cross the picturesque Bear Creek Trestle to the steel mills.

In Atlantic City, "The Miss America Fleet" runs down Atlantic Avenue along the boardwalk. Ride inside the cars, dodging people and traffic!

In Boston, the orange and cream PCCs of the fabled "MTA" ran on many of the routes still in service today, starting from Park St. Station, the oldest subway stop in the nation.

Filmed by Frank Pfuhler, Jr.

Color, 38 minutes.