Trolleys and Streetcars

Trolleys, also called streetcars or trams, run on tracks built into the street. They are powered by electricity from overhead wires. Trolleys were one of the first ways people got around big cities. Many cities are bringing them back because they are clean and quiet.

The Golden Age of Trolleys

In the early 1900s, almost every American city had trolleys. They were the main way people got to work and school. Trolley lines helped cities grow because people could live farther from downtown. By the 1950s, most trolleys were replaced by buses and cars.

Trolleys Today

Many cities are building new trolley lines. San Francisco is famous for its historic cable cars that climb steep hills. New Orleans has streetcars that have been running since 1835. Modern trams in Europe carry millions of people every day. They run on electricity, so they don't pollute the air.

Fun Facts

• San Francisco's cable cars are the only mobile National Historic Landmark in the United States.
• The New Orleans streetcar line is the oldest continuously running streetcar in the world.
• Melbourne, Australia, has the largest tram network in the world.

Did You Know?

San Francisco's cable cars don't have engines! They grip onto a moving cable under the street. The cable is always moving at 9.5 miles per hour, and the car grabs on for a ride.