LOUISVILLE INTERURBAN TROLLY SYSTEM

LOUISVILLE INTERURBAN RAILWAY OVERVIEW

The Louisville Railway Company (LRC) was a street car and interurban rail operator in Louisville, Kentucky. It began under the name Louisville City Railway in 1859 as a horse car operator and slowly acquired other rival companies. It was renamed in 1880 following the merger of all Mule operations as the Louisville Railway Company. All tracks were 5 ft (1,524 mm) gauge.

Up until 1901, the Louisville streetcars were pulled by horses or mules. The system went total electric powered in 1901. Operating speeds in the city were between 20-25 MPH and between 60-80 MPH on runs outside the city.

1889 - First electric streetcar line in Louisville opened on Green St., now Liberty St.

1907 - Louisville & Eastern Railroad completes interurban line beyond Crestwood to La Grange

1911 - Louisville & Interurban Railroad acquires Louisville & Eastern Railroad.

1935 - Interurban line to La Grange abandoned, replacement bus service operated by Chaudoin Bus Lines. 

In the early 1900′s, the Louisville area had nearly 100 steam and electric commuter rail stations. There were over three miles of elevated rail lines downtown, some over 50' in height. The Big Four Bridge elevated approach line had an elevated station 60 ft. in the air, dubbed "Sky Station".  All manner of trains - steam, electric, diesel, passenger, freight, and local passenger commuter ran atop these elevated lines.

The first Interurban line opened in 1901 to LaGrange. The next lines, one to Jeffersontown and the other to Prospect opened in 1904. Subsequent routes were built to Okolona (1905), Orell (1907), and Fern Creek (1908). The lines paralleled  the existing roadways. These electric interurban commuter trains ran till around 1946.

One elevated electric train system was the Kentucky & Indiana Bridge Company’s original 5 1/2 mi. an elevated line from Louisville to New Albany. A small traction line extended it to Silver Hills. In Louisville the elevated segment was 15 blocks long with three elevated stations stretching primarily along the riverfront wharf area. The trains were three cars or longer, not trolleys. It was originally steam powered and known as the Daisy Line. The passenger cars were painted yellow with brown trimming, resembling a black-eyed Susan, hence the name Daisy Line. In 1893 this passenger line was electrified, one of the first in the United States. About 1908 the Louisville Railway obtained the passenger service and incorporated it into their streetcar system.

Pennsylvania RR also operated commuter rail for many years, serving a loop from New Albany to Jeffersonville to Louisville over the 14th street bridge, It ran from about 1870 to 1921 and remained steam only, never modernized to electric. Those trains ran from early am to late pm, continuously, making the entire loop about every 25 minutes. K&I's bridge trains, aka "Daisy" lines were in head on competition for ridership, with the Pennsy "Dinky" commuter trains.

Another commuter line was the 16 car B&O Commuter trains serving the Indiana Army Ordinance plant in Charlestown. The WWII train served three different shifts, as the plant operated around-the-clock. 

Interurban tracks can still be found around the Louisville area. The track gauge of the Interurban is 4+ inches shorter than conventional railroad gauge.

The demise of the Interurban began during the Great Depression and was completed by bus lines in 1935. If the bus lines had not claimed the Interurban, then it is certain that the introduction of cars as a common means of transportation.

 ARTICLE FROM HELEN McKiINNEEY IN 2003

Interurban ushered in a new era for Oldham County commuters  La Grange, Buckner train depots were busy stops on routeBy Helen E. McKinney Contributing WriterLA GRANGE, Ky. (January 2003) – 

In its heyday, the Interurban Railway brought convenience to Oldham County by providing a fast, safe mode of transportation. Its dramatic impact was felt all across the county at the turn of the 20th century. The interurban electric railway typically drew its power from an overhead wire. Unpowered trailer cars were often used, making a two-car train. 📷 The Interurban ferried passengers from Louisville to La Grange and other towns. Below are the La Grange train depot (right) and the Buckner train   depot (left). Percival Moore was a wealthy Anchorage, Ky., resident who instituted an electric railway line that began service on Nov. 18, 1901, traveling to Beard’s Station in Crestwood. Known as the Louisville, Anchorage and Pewee Valley Electric Railroad, this new method of transportation took residents of Oldham County to and from Louisville in one day. “It was just a blessing,” said Oldham County resident Jim Calvert, who has always been fascinated by trains. “It was fast, and warm in the winter.” By 1903, the line was reorganized, now under the control of the Louisville and Eastern Railway Company (L&E). In an era when the only other way to travel was by horse and buggy over unpaved, dusty roads, the interurban was a luxury to those who used it. Calvert, 80, remembers riding the interurban to Camp Kavanaugh when he was a boy. “A round trip ticket to Louisville cost 60 cents. It meant a lot to Oldham County,” he said. 

In competition with the L&E, a second interurban company, The Louisville and Interurban Railroad (L&I), opened its first interurban line east to Jeffersontown in 1904. The L&I was owned by the Louisville Traction Co., a holding company that also owned the Louisville Railway Co. Interurban tracks continued to stretch across Oldham County as the county embraced this new concept. A new line was opened northeast to Prospect the same year by electrifying a Louisville & Nashville steam railroad branch. The L&E interurban line to La Grange was completed by 1906. According to the History and Families of Oldham County, Ky: The First Century, 1824-1924,” it had “established itself as a quick and convenient way for people to travel between Louisville and La Grange, which just a few years earlier, would have been impossible to imagine.” The idea of the interurban had trickled down from the larger cities to the suburbs. Cars usually had a two-man crew, the motorman and conductor. If a trailer was used, a second conductor was added. Calvert said it was great for dairy farmers and their wives. It was now possible for the farmer’s wife to go to town, do her shopping, and still arrive home in time to fix dinner. 

The interurban could travel at speeds of “65 to 80 mph on the long runs such as Louisville to La Grange,” said Jack Diehl. Diehl has researched the interurban and written a column about it for the Division 8 National Model Railroad Association. In the city, they averaged 15-20 mph, said train enthusiast Charles Keeling of Louisville. Keeling, 86, also rode the interurban, a ride that he compared to, “A rolling barn-with wheels on it.” For the most part, the ride was smooth, and the cars were fast, said Diehl. His mother, Sylvia Vatter, lived in Louisville around 1918. Now 93, he said she remembered riding the interurban on its Jeffersontown line. The ride was “smooth because they were heavy in comparison to other types of vehicles. They were fast because the trains were short and the locomotives were electric and accelerated much faster than steam engines.” 

The interurban was not just a passenger electric train. Some lines also provided freight and cattle services. Farmers could ship milk to Louisville creameries more quickly. If taken by regular train, there was no method of refrigeration and the milk would often heat as the railroad cars were being switched out. Calvert said the La Grange line was easy to build. There were no major bridges to construct, as occurred within some of the seven routes that branched out from the downtown Louisville terminal at Third and Jefferson streets to points in Jefferson, Oldham and Shelby counties, as well as Jeffersonville and New Albany, Ind. Five of these routes were the Prospect line, the Shelbyville and La Grange line, the Fern Creek and Jeffersontown line, the Okolona line, and the Orell line. Stops were made every hour on each route in such towns as Harrod’s Creek, Glenview, Glenarm, Anita Springs, Eastwood, Buechel, Valley Station and Pleasure Ridge. 

There were also suburban lines running from the downtown Louisville terminal over the Big Four bridge to Jeffersonville and over the K&I bridge to New Albany. These routes had been arranged between the Louisville & Southern Indiana Traction Co. and the Big Four steam railroad.One of the earliest passenger specials was a Sunday trip labeled, “Meet The Steamer,” in which a resident of Seymour, Ind., or points south could take the interurban to Louisville to board one of two steamers, City of Cincinnati or City of Louisville. The combined cost of this enjoyable scenic river cruise and interurban ticket was only $1.75. Most interurban routes passed through serene countryside en route to the bigger, bustling cities like Louisville and New Albany, Ind. Calvert said that Henry Watterson, editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal, remarked that traveling the interurban to and from work each day was “the most peaceful time of day for him.” “The interurban had a quick rise, and a slow decline,” said Calvert. By 1935, the La Grange route was defunct, the Depression having taken its toll on America. The advent of the automobile slowly contributed to its demise, as many workers carpooled. Bus lines eventually began operating in competition with streetcars and the interurban railway routes. This was perhaps the biggest detriment to the success of the interurban, as many lines were phased out and replaced by such companies as the Chaudoin Bus Line. This line replaced the La Grange interurban route. Interest in light rail travel may rise again with the completion of the Interurban Greenways Trail. The nonprofit Greenways for Oldham County have chosen to institute a walking and bike trail along the original route of the interurban railway. It will run from the La Grange train depot to Pewee Valley, a distance of roughly 10-13 miles. Greenways president Judy Hall said the interurban route was chosen because it represented “the history of the railroad itself. We thought it was a golden opportunity.” Phase I of this project is scheduled for completion in late spring of 2003, said Hall. The trail will eventually be part of the county parks system.
Timeline 1889 - First electric streetcar line in Louisville opened on Green St., now Liberty St.1901 - Electrification of streetcar lines completed 1901. The Crescent Hill Mule Car Line was the system's last mule operation.1901 - Louisville & Eastern Railroad opens the first interurban railway in the area, extending northeast to Crestwood.1904 - Louisville & Interurban Railroad opens its first interurban line, east to Jeffersontown. Louisville & Interurban Railroad was owned by Louisville Traction Co., a holding company that also owned Louisville Railway Co.1904 - Line also opened northeast to Prospect by electrifying a Louisville & Nashville steam railroad branch former Louisville Harrods Creek and Westport Railway. This would be the only 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge interurban line in the Louisville area, with broad gauge on all other electric railways in the area.1905 - Louisville & Interurban Railroad opens interurban line southeast to Okolona.1907 - Louisville & Eastern Railroad completes interurban line beyond Crestwood to La Grange. Louisville & Interurban Railroad opens interurban line southwest to Orell.1908 - Louisville & Interurban Railroad opens interurban line southeast to Fern Creek.1910 - Louisville & Eastern Railroad opens interurban line east to Shelbyville.1911 - Louisville & Interurban Railroad acquires Louisville & Eastern Railroad.1923 - Louisville Railway Co. forms subsidiary Kentucky Carriers Inc., which operates first bus route in Louisville on 3rd St. This route was not successful and would be discontinued within a few months. Additional bus routes were created that year, which would be more successful.1927 - People's Transit Co. begins operating bus routes on Broadway in competition with streetcars but is soon ordered to cease operating. Additional new bus routes were created, operated directly by Louisville Railway Co. Also, Virgil Pierce begins operating a bus route on Preston St. to Camp Taylor, competing with the interurban railway route, which operated south to Okolona.1928 - Kentucky Carriers bus routes transferred to Louisville Railway Co., with Kentucky Carriers subsidiary remaining only as a charter bus operator.1931 - Interurban line to Okolona abandoned, with Virgil Pierce bus route remaining to provide local service.1932 - Interurban line to Jeffersontown abandoned. Blue Motor Coach Co. formed, providing replacement bus service.1933 - Interurban line to Fern Creek abandoned, replaced with bus service operated by Blue Motor Coach Co. Bus service operated into downtown Louisville, not carrying local passengers within the city.1934 - Interurban line to Shelbyville abandoned, with no direct bus replacement. Southeastern Greyhound Lines already provided service along this route, on its route between Louisville and Lexington.1935 - Interurban line to La Grange abandoned, replacement bus service operated by Chaudoin Bus Lines. The interurban line to Prospect abandoned, replaced with the Paxton Bus Line route. After World War II, Paxton Bus Line would be succeeded by Goebel's Bus Line, and later Prospect Bus Line. The interurban line to Orell also abandoned, replaced with the Louisville Railway Co. bus route. Virgil Pierce bus line sold to Blue Motor Coach Co.1936 - Walnut becomes the first trolleybus route in Louisville.1938 - Newberg Bus Line begins operation, serving Newberg and Buechel areas southeast of downtown Louisville. The line would later be sold to Buechel Bus Co., which would later extend service to General Electric's appliance factory, completed in 1951.1945 - Chaudoin Bus Lines sold to Kentucky Bus Lines.1948 - Last streetcars replaced with buses Louisville Railway ended all streetcar service on the 4th Avenue Queen Loop route Derby Day1948 - Blue Motor Coach Co. introduces service between Louisville and Middletown, over objections of Southeastern Greyhound Lines, already serving Middletown along its route between Louisville and Lexington.1951 - its trolleybuses ceased service on Market Street, Walnut, and Fourth Street following the expiration of a power agreement with Louisville Gas and Electric and Louisville Railway Company.1951 - Louisville Railway Co. sold to Louisville Transit Co. Blue Motor Coach Co. discontinues the Middletown bus route after a court battle, leaving Southeastern Greyhound Lines as the only provider service along this route.1953 - Louisville Transit Co. assumes Middletown service from Southeastern Greyhound Lines after service proved inadequate and unprofitable for Greyhound. The Middletown route was formed by extending its St. Matthews Express bus route.1958 - Louisville Transit Co. acquires Buechel Bus Co.1972 - Louisville Transit Co. acquires Kentucky Bus Lines routes.1974 - Louisville Transit Co. becomes publicly owned Transit Authority of River City. Discontinues service to Lagrange and Shepherdsville1976 - Transit Authority of River City acquires Blue Motor Coach Co.1977 - Transit Authority of River City acquires Prospect Bus Line. 

1889 - First electric streetcar line in Louisville opened on Green St., now Liberty St. 

1901 - Electrification of streetcar lines completed 1901. The Crescent Hill Mule Car Line the systems last.  

1901 - Louisville & Eastern Railroad opens first interurban railway in area, extending northeast to Crestwood.  

1904 - Louisville & Interurban Railroad opens its first interurban line, east to Jeffersontown. Louisville & Interurban Railroad was owned by Louisville Traction Co., a holding company which also owned Louisville Railway Co.  

1904 - Line also opened northeast to Prospect, by electrifying a Louisville & Nashville steam railroad branch former Louisville Harrods Creek and Westport Railway. This would be the only 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge interurban line in the Louisville area, with broad gauge on all other electric railways in area.  

1905 - Louisville & Interurban Railroad opens interurban line southeast to Okolona.  

1907 - Louisville & Eastern Railroad completes interurban line beyond Crestwood to La Grange. Louisville & Interurban Railroad opens interurban line southwest to Orell.  

1908 - Louisville & Interurban Railroad opens interurban line southeast to Fern Creek.  

1910 - Louisville & Eastern Railroad opens interurban line east to Shelbyville.  

1911 - Louisville & I

nterurban Railroad acquires Louisville & Eastern Railroad.  

1923 - Louisville Railway Co. forms subsidiary Kentucky Carriers Inc., which operates first bus route in Louisville on 3rd St. This route was not successful, and would be discontinued within a few months. Additional bus routes were created that year, which would be more successful.  1927 - People's Transit Co. begins operating bus route on Broadway in competition with streetcars, but is soon ordered to cease operating. Additional new bus routes created, operated directly by Louisville Railway Co. In addition, Virgil Pierce begins operating bus route on Preston St. to Camp Taylor, competing with interurban railway route which operated south to Okolona.  

1928 - Kentucky Carriers bus routes transferred to Louisville Railway Co., with Kentucky Carriers subsidiary remaining only as a charter bus operator.  

1931 - Interurban line to Okolona abandoned, with Virgil Pierce bus route remaining to provide local service.  

1932 - Interurban line to Jeffersontown abandoned. Blue Motor Coach Co. formed, providing replacement bus service.  

1933 - Interurban line to Fern Creek abandoned, replaced with bus service operated by Blue Motor Coach Co. Bus service operated into downtown Louisville, not carrying local passengers within city.  

1934 - Interurban line to Shelbyville abandoned, with no direct bus replacement. Southeastern Greyhound Lines already provided service along this route, on its route between Louisville and Lexington.  

1935 - Interurban line to La Grange abandoned, replacement bus service operated by Chaudoin Bus Lines. Interurban line to Prospect abandoned, replaced with Paxton Bus Line route. After World War II, Paxton Bus Line would be succeeded by Goebel's Bus Line, and later Prospect Bus Line. Interurban line to Orell also abandoned, replaced with Louisville Railway Co. bus route. Virgil Pierce bus line sold to Blue Motor Coach Co.  

1936 - Walnut becomes first trolleybus route in Louisville.  

1938 - Newberg Bus Line begins operation, serving Newberg and Buechel areas southeast of downtown Louisville. The line would later be sold to Buechel Bus Co., which would later extend service to General Electric's appliance factory, completed in 1951.  

1945 - Chaudoin Bus Lines sold to Kentucky Bus Lines.  

1948 - Last streetcars replaced with buses Louisville Railway ended all streetcar service on the 4th Avenue Queen Loop route Derby Day  

1948 - Blue Motor Coach Co. introduces service between Louisville and Middletown, over objections of Southeastern Greyhound Lines, already serving Middletown along its route between Louisville and Lexington.  1951 - its trolley buses ceased service on Market Street, Walnut and Fourth Street following the expiration of a power agreement with Louisville Gas and Electric and Louisville Railway Company..  

1951 - Louisville Railway Co. sold to Louisville Transit Co. Blue Motor Coach Co. discontinues Middletown bus route after a court battle, leaving Southeastern Greyhound Lines as the only provider of service along this route.  

1953 - Louisville Transit Co. assumes Middletown service from Southeastern Greyhound Lines, after service proved to be inadequate and unprofitable for Greyhound. The Middletown route was formed by extending its St. Matthews Express bus route.  

1958 - Louisville Transit Co. acquires Buechel Bus Co.  

1972 - Louisville Transit Co. acquires Kentucky Bus Lines routes.  

1974 - Louisville Transit Co. becomes publicly owned Transit Authority of River City. Discontinues service to Lagrange and Shepherdsville  1976 - Transit Authority of River City acquires Blue Motor Coach Co.  

1977 - Transit Authority of River City acquires Prospect Bus Line.  

2014 Louisville Railway Company reformed as a non profit to promote restoration of Market Street Streetcar Service