FIRST -- City in Western Hemisphere to convert to electric trolleys -- Montgomery AL
N 32° 22.654 W 086° 18.535
16S E 565007 N 3582496
In 1886 Montgomery converted its street railway system to electricity, the first city to do so
Waymark Code: WMWFQM
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 08/29/2017
Views: 1
This state historic marker on the back of the Central bank marker preserves the history of the western hemisphere's first street railway system to convert to electricity. The marker reads as follows:
"THE LIGHTNING ROUTE
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."
FIRST - Classification Variable: Item or Event
Date of FIRST: 01/01/1886
More Information - Web URL: Not listed
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