Richard Thompson ist ein öffentlicher Historiker und Berater, dessen Werk sich mit der reichen Geschichte der Straßenbahnen in Oregon befasst. Sein tiefes Engagement für das industrielle Erbe wurzelt in seinem familiären Erbe und seinem akademischen Hintergrund in Geschichte. Diese Leidenschaft für Straßenbahnen hat ein bedeutendes persönliches Archiv hervorgebracht, das zahlreiche Publikationen und historische Einträge gespeist hat. Thompsons vielfältige Karriere umfasst umfangreiche Erfahrungen in der Archivarbeit und im Museumsmanagement.
The historical significance of Slabtown in Northwest Portland is highlighted through its pivotal role in the development of street railway systems. Home to the West Coast's first streetcar manufacturing factory, it was integral to the early streetcar network, with local production dominating until the 1910s. By 1950, Slabtown residents were among the last to use the dwindling streetcar lines, marking the end of an era in public transportation. The narrative captures the evolution of urban transit and the community's connection to this transformative period.
Set in the late 19th century, the narrative explores Portland's groundbreaking role in developing interurban electric railways, establishing a vital network throughout the Willamette Valley. It chronicles the early local railways that expanded south to Oregon City and east to Estacada and Bull Run, showcasing over 200 historic images. The story captures the evolution from humble beginnings to the peak of railway innovation, concluding with the abrupt cessation of service in 1958, highlighting both the achievements and the decline of this transportation era.
Exploring the rich history of Oregon's streetcars, this book reveals captivating stories, such as the 1922 fire that devastated Astoria's railways and the charming tale of Old Charlie, a horse outpacing steam locomotives in Albany. It also highlights the amusing midnight express trains for university students and Cherry Grove's pioneering use of battery technology. Local historian Richard Thompson honors the forgotten trolley lines that once connected communities, offering a unique glimpse into the state's transportation heritage.
Street railways arrived early in Portland and made lasting social and economic contributions that are still apparent in the layout and character of the cityA a
Written in a plain and accessible style with apposite cartoons and anecdotes, this text gives practical advice about how to plan, write, edit, present, and submit a successful thesis.
The history of Portland's neighborhoods is intricately linked to the streetcar system, a 19th-century innovation that shaped the city's layout and growth. The carlines facilitated not only daily commutes but also recreational outings, connecting residents to parks, shopping, and social activities. The peak of trolley use occurred in the 1910s, followed by a gradual decline leading to the end of streetcars in 1950, when buses took over. This book delves into the legacy of these classic streetcar lines and their influence on the city's development.
The narrative explores the rise and fall of electric interurban railways in Oregon's Willamette Valley, highlighting their role in providing elegant transportation before the dominance of automobiles. It details the establishment of major systems like the Oregon Electric Railway and Southern Pacific Red Electrics between 1908 and 1915, which transformed Portland into a central hub. However, the decline of this era is marked by the shift towards highways and cars, leading to the eventual demise of electric passenger trains by the early 1930s.
Streetcars played a key role in the frenzy of development that followed completion of the first bridges across the Willamette River in Portland in 1887. As carlines radiated eastward, a revolutionary shift in population saw suburban neighborhoods like Sunnyside spring up overnight. In 1888, the first steam streetcars expanded the city of East Portland beyond the limits imposed by horse-drawn transportation. Within a year, "motor" lines were running north and south of Mount Tabor and local entrepreneurs, prompted by opposition to locomotives rumbling over city streets, were experimenting with new-fangled battery, gasoline and electric-powered streetcars. In 1889, Southeast Portland residents raised their own money to fund one of the first electric street railways in the country. By 1891, rival companies had merged to form the largest streetcar system in the West. The process would continue into the early twentieth century, as Portland built the third largest system of its type in the United States. Most of its carlines would serve Southeast Portland, operating from the city's largest carbarn complex. This is the colorful story of those sixteen lines, from the first steam dummy to Sunnyside in 1888 to the last trolleys to Mount Tabor and Montavilla sixty years later.
