Link to construction of the Little Rock streetcar line including original rails being removed. Photos by Ken Ziegenbein.

Little Rock Streetcar Photo Page
tnold@northtexastransport.org

> Link to construction of the Little Rock
> streetcar line including original rails
> being removed. Photos by Ken Ziegenbein.

Nice shooting ... thanks for the link!
Two things come to mind
1. Why do most City engineering departments either throw out or forget that their streets has streetcar rail in them? This gets so time consuming and costs a fortune in changes and delays when new construction goes in.
2. I see "T" rail, splice bars and railbonds ...I don't see any ties or anything in the shots to indicate they were removing anything holding the rails in gauge ???



lamontdc@adelphia.net

1989 - 1990. Charlotte, NC city engineering repaves Central Avenue, eliminating the existing streetcar track in the process, during the restoration of Charlotte Trolley car #85 which was supported by the city, and got a lot of press including the proposed future operating trolley line.

2003 - City of Charlotte promises gentrified politically prominent streetcar suburb Plaza - Midwood trolley service restored to them by 2012 - by laying a new track up Central Avenue.

Plan behind.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

Though I'm no engineer, the installation of the Little Rock streetcar looks deceptively straightforward and dare I say, cost-efficient. Makes you wonder about the glut of federal and state regulations that cause many transportation projects to be overbuilt for exorbitant costs. i.e. the new 24 mile diesel-powered transit line in Southern New Jersey for a cool billion and change. Here's a link to a Philadelphia Inquirer article about the many challenges this line is already facing even before collecting the first fare: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news ... 407017.htm

http://www.readingrailroad.org/profiles/rdg_profil

The engineering challenges were solved a century ago. Faced with the unpalatable option of a public works project that didn't cost enough and inconvenience the public adequately, our bureaucrats in the public sector created a quagmire of regulatory challenges instead to "protect" us from the possible adverse effects of clean and quiet transportation systems.

Most projects are funded by federal grants - the requirements tied to these grants assure that the cost of simply meeting them exceeds the construction costs if one were to simply replicate standards and practices of 1920. Either way produces useable transportation.

I sometimes wonder what would happen if, instead of going the federal route, our cities just built the damn things in house like we in the museum business do? Might end up cheaper in the long run.

There is a new Community Streetcar act pending in legislation last I heard. Anybody have an update? The gist was, it would streamline the process for smaller trolley-type project funding.

Dave



irondave@bellsouth.net

If I remember correctly, Portland built a streetcar system rather cheaply. The rails and equipment are lighter than what is used for Portland's light rail, but they ended up with an effective transportation system. I think they used lightweight rails in concrete pads, like Little Rock.

david.wilkins@inisightbb.com

> I sometimes wonder what would happen if,
> instead of going the federal route, our
> cities just built the damn things in house
> like we in the museum business do? Might end
> up cheaper in the long run.
In 1981, San Diego Trolley did just that, because
the cost of the required Boing Standard Light
Rail Vehicles and other red tape was more than
the ammount of Federal money offered.

104577.651@compuserve.com