MATA Trolley
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| MATA Trolley | |
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| Locale | Memphis, Tennessee |
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| Transit type | Heritage Streetcar |
| Began operation | April 29, 1993 |
| No. of lines | 3 |
| No. of stations | 24 |
| Daily ridership | ~2500[1] |
| Operator(s) | Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) |
The MATA Trolley is a heritage railroad streetcar system operating in Memphis in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It has operated since April 29, 1993.[2]
As of 2008, the system consists of three lines: the Main Street Trolley, the Madison Avenue Loop and the Riverfront Loop. [3] These lines are operated by the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), and were put into operation over fifty years after Memphis’ original streetcar network was dismantled in the 1940s.[2]
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[edit] History
Originally proposed as a 4.9 mile line stretching along the Mississippi River, in January 1990 the Memphis City Council voted 9-4 to build the 2.5 miles (4.0 km), $33 million Main Street route.[2] After multiple delays, construction of the line would commence in February 1991 and be complete by December 1992.[4] However, due to the restoration of the cars taking longer than anticipated, the opening of the line would be pushed back to Spring 1993.[5] After delay, the first of the restored cars began its testing on March 10, 1993,[6] and open to the public on April 29.
[edit] Rolling stock
The trolleys used are all rehabilitated, vintage streetcars.[2] The original three cars that were in operation on opening day were all formally used in Porto, Portugal, and are Car 187, circa 1927; Car 194, circa 1935; and Car 204, circa 1940.[2] These cars are each 30 feet 6 inches (9.3 m) long, 7 feet 10 inches (2.4 m) wide and weigh 25,820 pounds (11.71 MT) without passengers. Each were restored by Kerns-Wilcheck Associates of Memphis.[2]
An additional seven cars originally from Porto were also eventually restored and placed into service along with another two from Australia by the mid-1990s.[7]
[edit] Stations
The MATA Trolley network consists of 24 stations along its three lines.
[edit] Main Street Line
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[edit] Riverfront Loop
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[edit] See also
- Memphis Area Transit Authority
- Memphis Suspension Railway
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
[edit] References
- ^ Bring back the streetcars!. APTA (July 2002). Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- ^ a b c d e f Huston, Jerry. "Trolley rumbles to life in city – Line readied for comeback downtown", The Commercial Appeal, April 22, 1993.
- ^ MATA Trolley Service. Memphis Area Transit Authority. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
- ^ Huston, Jerry. "Trolley, mall work nearing an end", The Commercial Appeal, October 15, 1992.
- ^ Huston, Jerry. "Delays in trolley car restoration move starting date for rail line", The Commercial Appeal, November 26, 1992.
- ^ Patterson, Patti. "Trolley's test launch thrills cheering, wine-sipping fans", The Commercial Appeal, March 11, 1993.
- ^ Risher, Wayne. "Craftsman on track with trolley work", The Commercial Appeal, June 11, 1992.
[edit] External links
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