History
Welcome to the MSM website's fledgling history section. This is definitely a work-in-progress and we anticipate adding more historic finds over time so keep checking back.
George Isaac's Layout
- This article from the June 1969 issue of Model Railroader magazine describes George's layout along with 10 images. Click here.
PCC Car No. 325
- Both MSM's PCC No. 322 and PCC No. 325 were sold in 1953 to Newark, NJ. No. 325 operated in the Newark City Subway for 48 years before being retired and sold to the Rockhill Trolley Museum. To learn more about this streetcar, click here.
History
- A brief history of transit in the Twin Cities from the horse drawn era to TCRT's purchase by MTC in the 1970s - click here
- Rapid Conversion Changes Twin City Transit Picture - This eight page article from the July 1954,
Mass Transportation Magazine, describes in glowing terms the conversion of TCRT to an all bus system, a conversion that did, in fact, destroy one of the finest street railway systems in America.
Warning - this is an 11 MB pdf file. Click here
Maps
- 1946 map of Minneapolis streetcar lines (pdf) - click here
- 1947 map of St. Paul streetcar lines (pdf) - click here
From Streetcars to Light Rail
- 1943 TCRT ridership data (pdf). Hiawatha's record setting August ridership is still much lower than Selby-Lake and University Avenue lines once carried - click here
- Investigation of existing streetcar tracks. A 2004 look at the feasibility of reusing the streetcar tracks under University Avenue for the Central Corridor light rail line. (It's not a good idea) - click here
