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Indianapolis Railways A complete history by Jerry Marlette
Indianapolis Railways A complete history of the company and its predecessors from 1864-1957by Jerry Marlette
Hard Cover with Dust Jacket Reflections from the lights on some photos
301 pages
Copyright 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword i
Acknowledgements iii
Prologue v
Chapter 1 "Why Doesn't Indianapolis Have A Street Railway?" 1
Chapter 2 The System Begins-"Giddy Up, Mule!" 5
Chapter 3 Through the Years with Hoof and Rail10
Chapter 4 Growing Pains 18
Chapter 5 The Hidden Power-Electricity 28
Chapter 6 The Twentieth Century and the Interurbans48
Chapter 7 The Year of Disaster 56
Chapter 8 The Early 1900s 61
Chapter 9 The Turbulent Teens72
Chapter 10 The Roaring Twenties-A New Company and a New Era92
Chapter 11 Reorganization 112
Chapter 12 A Phoenix Rises 117
Chapter 13 The War Years 131
Chapter 14 The End Of The Line142
Epilogue 154
Barns and Real Estate157
Rolling Stock 167
Beech Grove Traction Company185
Indianapolis and Broad Ripple Rapid Transit Company194
Irvington Stratford and Indianapolis Railroad Company201
Indianapolis Traction Terminal203
Indianapolis Interurban Freight Lines218
Appendix A 228
Appendix B 258
Appendix C270
Bibliography289
Index 292
DUST JACKET INTRODUCTION:
The street railway history of Indianapolis is an intriguing one, filled with varying moments of hope, accomplishment, despair, frustration, and downright disgust. From the time the first street railway line was incorporated in 1861 until the final electric car run in 1953 and the succumbing of trackless trolley operation to motor buses in 1957, the several car companies fought off problems of financing, construction, government regulations, intrigue, stubborn passengers, private autos-seemingly, it was always just one problem after another.
But still they managed to survive, despite all the problems thrust upon them. Granted, profits were few and far between, but they were enough to keep the flickering fires of operation alive and the cars running, although looking back upon their troubled times, one cannot help but wonder what management ever thought they saw which got them into the business in the first place.
In this history, the author explores the various companies, from the first struggling mule operations through the advent of electricity to the final "club lounge" cars of the last days of Indianapolis Railways. Included are the many route services of the companies, their equipment used, and the service facilities required to maintain the many different types of cars.
Also covered are the problems with passengers, young and old, transfer passengers honest and not so honest, and the disastrous results of the giant struggles with the labor unions, resulting in deaths, distrust, and near financial disaster.
Photos of the many different city cars, including both mule and electric, service equipment, trackless trolley and bus units are presented, along with several plans of representative cars.
While not actually part of the Indianapolis city system, coverage is also offered of the three suburban lines which served the city, as well as the interurban passenger and freight operations which were models for the interurban industry.
The appendices include representative samples of tickets, transfers, and tokens dating back to the early days of the companies, along with maps, schedules, operating forms, car rosters, and many track and car barn plans of the various city line routes.
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