Galveston Island Trolley
Encyclopedia
The Galveston Island Trolley is a heritage streetcar
in Galveston
, Texas
, United States
. As of late 2006, the total network length was 6.8 miles (10.9 km) with 22 stations. The Galveston Island Trolley is operated by Island Transit. Operation has been suspended since September 2008, due to heavy damage from Hurricane Ike
, however the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and the Federal Transit Authority have agreed to fund the repair of the rail cars.
s. In 1891 electric trolleys were introduced. They remained in service till May 1938.
Galveston Island Trolley, a heritage streetcar system, was opened on July 23, 1988. Barry Goodman Associates (now the Goodman Corporation) was a key consultant in the creation of the Trolley, leading the early design studies and helping to secure funding. The project was designed by HNTB
, engineers, who were responsible for all aspects of track and vehicle design; Ochsner Associates
, architects, were responsible for the maintenance facility and the passenger shelter (on 20th Street).
Initially, the Galveston Island Trolley connected the historic Strand District
on the north side of Galveston Island with the Seawall beach area. It was mainly used by tourists. In the 1990s planning for an extension of the line began. The new branch to the University of Texas Medical Branch
(UTMB) opened on March 14, 2005. This line was popular among UTMB staff, students and patients.
, but actually they are modern build and diesel-electric powered. Therefore, there are no overhead wires in Galveston. This means that the vehicles are not rightfully referred to as "trolleys," since they do not "troll" for power from overhead wires, but they are "streetcars."
There are four cars. All of them are technically identical, though they are painted in different colors. The cars were built by Miner Railcar, Pennsylvania
. Each car can accommodate 80 passengers: 40 sitting and 40 standing. Cars are designed for an operational speed of 25 mph (11.2 m/s). Each car weighs 63000 lb (28,576.3 kg).
In 2005, all cars were equipped with air conditioning
.
Heritage streetcar
Heritage streetcars or heritage trams are a development of the heritage railways that are becoming popular across the world. As with modern streetcar systems, the vehicles are referred to as trams or tramcars in the United Kingdom, Australasia and certain other places , but as streetcars or...
in Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of late 2006, the total network length was 6.8 miles (10.9 km) with 22 stations. The Galveston Island Trolley is operated by Island Transit. Operation has been suspended since September 2008, due to heavy damage from Hurricane Ike
Hurricane Ike
Hurricane Ike was the second-costliest hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States, the costliest hurricane ever to impact Cuba and the second most active hurricane to reach the Canadian mainland in the Great Lakes Region after Hurricane Hazel in 1954...
, however the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
(FEMA) and the Federal Transit Authority have agreed to fund the repair of the rail cars.
History
Galveston has had streetcars before. The first urban rail public transit system was introduced in 1867. The cars were pulled by muleMule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
s. In 1891 electric trolleys were introduced. They remained in service till May 1938.
Galveston Island Trolley, a heritage streetcar system, was opened on July 23, 1988. Barry Goodman Associates (now the Goodman Corporation) was a key consultant in the creation of the Trolley, leading the early design studies and helping to secure funding. The project was designed by HNTB
HNTB
HNTB Corporation is an architecture and engineering consulting firm headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri that has designed many bridges, roadways, airports and professional sports stadiums across the United States and around the world.The firm started in 1914 as Harrington, Howard & Ash...
, engineers, who were responsible for all aspects of track and vehicle design; Ochsner Associates
Jeffrey Karl Ochsner
Jeffrey Karl Ochsner is an architect, architectural historian, and professor at the University of Washington in Seattle. He is known for his research and writing on American architects Henry Hobson Richardson and Lionel H. Pries, and on Seattle architecture.Ochsner graduated from Rice University...
, architects, were responsible for the maintenance facility and the passenger shelter (on 20th Street).
Initially, the Galveston Island Trolley connected the historic Strand District
Strand National Historic Landmark District
The Strand Historic District, also known as the Strand District, in downtown Galveston, Texas , is a National Historic Landmark District of mainly Victorian era buildings that now house restaurants, antique stores, and curio shops. The area is a major tourist attraction for the island city and also...
on the north side of Galveston Island with the Seawall beach area. It was mainly used by tourists. In the 1990s planning for an extension of the line began. The new branch to the University of Texas Medical Branch
University of Texas Medical Branch
The University of Texas Medical Branch is a component of the University of Texas System located in Galveston, Texas, United States, about 50 miles southeast of Downtown Houston...
(UTMB) opened on March 14, 2005. This line was popular among UTMB staff, students and patients.
Rolling stock
The Galveston Island Trolley cars look like vintage electric trolleysTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
, but actually they are modern build and diesel-electric powered. Therefore, there are no overhead wires in Galveston. This means that the vehicles are not rightfully referred to as "trolleys," since they do not "troll" for power from overhead wires, but they are "streetcars."
There are four cars. All of them are technically identical, though they are painted in different colors. The cars were built by Miner Railcar, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Each car can accommodate 80 passengers: 40 sitting and 40 standing. Cars are designed for an operational speed of 25 mph (11.2 m/s). Each car weighs 63000 lb (28,576.3 kg).
In 2005, all cars were equipped with air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
.
Hours of operation
Currently suspended pending repairs. The Trolley formerly operated on a daily schedule using one car on weekdays and two cars on weekends.Sources
- Island Transit official site
- Galveston Island Trolley (web page by Jon Bell)
- The book: Trams 2007 by B.A. Schenk and M.R. Van Den Toorn. Alk publishings, Netherlands, ISBN 90 6013 466 4 (book in Dutch)
- North American Vintage Trolley Systems