Galveston Island Trolley
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Galverton Island Trolley is a heritage streetcar in Galveston, Texas. As in late 2006, the total network length was 6.8 miles. There are 22 stations. The Galverton Island Trolley is operated by Island Transit.
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[edit] History
Galveston has had streetcars before. The first urban rail public transit system was introduced in 1867. The cars were pulled by mules. In 1891 electric trolleys were introduced. They remained in service till May 1938.
Galvseton Island Trolley, a heritage streetcar system, was opened on 23 July 1988. It connected the historic Strand district on the north side of Galveston Island with the Seawall beach area. It was mainly used by tourists. In 1995 the line was extended.
The new branch to the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) was opened on 14 March 2005. This line is popular among UTMB staff, students and patients. Therefore now Galveston Island Trolley can be considered more “real” public transport than just a heritage streetcar for tourists.
New extensions are being planned.
[edit] Rolling stock
The Galveston Island Trolley cars look like vintage electric trolleys, 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. Cars were build by Miner Railcar, Pennsylvania.
Each car can accommodate 80 passengers: 40 sitting and 40 standing. Cars are designed for operation speed of 25 mph. Each car weights 63,000 lbs. In 2005 all cars were equipped with air conditioning.
[edit] Hours of Operation
The Trolley operates seven days a week from after 10 a.m. to before 6 p.m. On weekdays it runs every 40 minutes on one trolley and on weekends every 20 minutes on two trolleys.
[edit] List of Trolley Stops (North to South)
- Market and Eighth Street (Northern Terminus)
- Eleventh Street and Mechanic
- The Strand and Thirteenth Street
- The Strand and Sixteenth Street
- The Strand and Eighteenth Street
There is a Trolley Loop in this segment due based on original terminus Southbound loop only:
- The Strand and Twenty-first Street
- University of Texas Medical Branch (1700 Strand)
- The Strand and Twenty-third Street
- Twenty-fifth Street at The Strand in front of Galveston Railroad Museum
Northbound loop only:
- Mechanic at Twenty-fourth Street
- Twenty-third Street/Tremont at Post Office
- Twenty-first Street/Moody at Post Office
- Island Transit Bus Terminal (Twentieth Street past Post Office)
Trolley Loop Segment Ends
- Twenty-fifth Street at Market
- Twenty-fifth Street at Church
- Twenty-fifth Street at Sealy
- Twenty-fifth Street at Avenue L
- Twenty-fifth Street at Avenue N
- Twenty-fifth Street at Avenue P
One way loop clockwise
- Avenue P between Twenty-fourth and Twenty-third Streets
- Avenue P and Twenty-first Street
- Seawall Boulevard and Avenue Q past Twenty-first Street
- Seawall Boulevard between Twenty-fourth and Twenty-third Streets
- Seawall Boulevard and Twenty-fifth Street (Southern Terminus)
[edit] Sources
- [1]
- Island Transit official site
- 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
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