The Lightning Route - Alabama Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

Back side of the Central Bank marker. This side tells of Montgomery's being the first city in the Western Hemisphere to convert an entire street railway system to electricity.

Marker Name: The Lightning Route Marker Type: Urban Addtional Information:: The marker text is: In 1886, Montgomery became the first city in the Western Hemisphere to convert an entire street railway system to electricity. The Capital City Street Railway Co. initiated electric trolley service on one mile of the street car line the year before. Civil engineer J.A. Gaboury supervised installation of the system developed by Charles Van de Poele. The car line, fondly known as the "Lightning Route," operated until 1936. Investors in the mass transit system also were involved in the development of the early suburbs of Highland Park and Cloverdale, as well as the first public recreation area at Oak Park. Date Dedicated / Placed: 1993 Marker Number: Not Listed

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