A shot from the mid-1990s, when RTA was evaluating the use of PCC trucks for the Riverfront line. You can see the PCCs next to and in front of Car #29, the last of the Ford, Bacon & Davis streetcars from 1895-1898. From Mark Kavanaugh of Kavanaugh Transit. Thanks for use of the photo, Mark!
We're getting international press:
Streetcars and desire return to battered New Orleans Denis Staunton in New OrleansThe streetcars have come back to New Orleans - just two, in fact - old green trams trundling down part of Canal Street. They don't really go anywhere and, with only a fifth of the population back in the city, the streetcar is not much use to anyone.
Mr. Staunton is not quite right here. The 900s are running on the Riverfront, and that's the big tourist line. He's thinking in terms of the streetcars supporting commuters. That's not happening yet, but tourism support is a better role for the streetcars at the moment.
One other innacuracy in his article:
Until this year, New Orleans was the most popular convention venue in the US, attracting thousands of visitors on expense accounts for a few days on the wild side. A librarians' conference is coming in May and New Orleans is grateful for the vote of confidence but nobody is banking on bumper bar receipts that week.
Obviously, this man has never gone drinkin' with librarians. *snark*
Perley A. Thomas streetcar #952 makes its way through the "storm city" display at Lakeside Mall in Metairie. The display, created by Mr. Frank Evans of Gretna, has been a component of the mall's holiday decorations for 13 years, but this year, he's added some post-Katrina touches, such as blue tarps on the roofs of the model homes. Mr. Evans' additions this year stirred some controversy up, causing the mall to take the display down temporarily. Within days, however, the display was back up and the trains and streetcars once again circled the center of the mall.
The streetcar is a LGB model of the 900-series streetcars that run on the city's St. Charles Line. These 80-year old streetcars were safe in their barn at Carrollton Station during the storm. Mr. Evans' LGB streetcars are the same models that run in City Park's "Train Garden."
Here are some more photos of the Lakeside Mall display:
Reports are that RTA will bring one of the Perley Thomas 900s to Canal Street on Monday for testing. I'll see if we can get pictures of the move.
via Alan Drake and his "Streetcars Desired Everywhere" group on Yahoo comes this "letter of interest" from Skoda Electric USA to RTA. Skoda proposes a partnership with RTA to provide the city with electric trolley buses. Here's the letter:
