River Rail Streetcar

Infobox rail line
name = River Rail Streetcar

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image_width =
caption = Two River Rail streetcars pause at the Museum of Arkansas stop in June 2005
type = Heritage Streetcar
system = Central Arkansas Transit Authority
locale = Little Rock, Arkansas
start = North Little Rock (south)
end = Presidential Library (north)
stations = 14
routes =
ridership =
open = November 1, 2004
close =
owner = Central Arkansas Transit Authority
operator = Central Arkansas Transit Authority
character =
stock =
linelength =
tracklength =
notrack =
gauge =
el = Overhead catenary
speed =
elevation =

The River Rail Streetcar is a heritage streetcar system operating in Little Rock and North Little Rock is the U.S. state of Arkansas. It has operated since November 1, 2004. As of February 17, 2007, the system is convert|3.4|mi|km long after its first extension was put into service. River Rail Streetcar is operated by Central Arkansas Transit Authority.

History

Little Rock's first horse tramway opened in 1876. Horse tramways operated till 1895. A steam tramway operated between July 3, 1888 and 1889. Electric traction was introduced December 23, 1891. Electric streetcars operated until September 1, 1947, extending as far west as the city's Hillcrest and Stifft's Station neighborhoods.

The "River Rail Streetcar" opened on November 1, 2004. Phase I consisted of a single convert|2.5|mi|km long line that connects two cities, Little Rock and North Little Rock, situated on opposite sides of the Arkansas River.

The River Rail Streetcar carried 200,000 passengers in its first year of operation.

In January 2006, construction of the Phase II began. Phase II is the convert|0.9|mi|km|sing=on extension to the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Heifer International headquarters.

On February 16, 2007, Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines, Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, and North Little Rock Mayor Pat Hays cut the ribbon marking the official opening of the River Rail extension to the Presidential Center and Heifer International, adding almost a 33% increase in new track to the system. The total mileage is now convert|3.4|mi|km.

Additional extensions to the system are under discussion, the most ambitious of which is a convert|2.5|mi|km|sing=on extension to Little Rock National Airport.

Rolling stock

River Rail Streetcar initially used three replica vintage electric trolleys. Two more streetcars were added as a part of the new Phase II extension. The design of these cars is generally similar to Birney type streetcars used in Little Rock until after World War Two. The original number series for those cars was 400-407. The present cars continue that number series, albeit 60 years later, with the current cars being numbered 408-412. All of the present cars are manufactured by Gomaco Trolley Company.

ee also

*List of heritage railways

External links

* [http://www.cat.org/rrail/streetcar.html Central Arkansas Transit Authority: River Rail Streetcar]