Hi folks. Would anyone have both postwar era & present day info on the typical cross section of street running trackage for trolley or streetcar equipment? Mostly how the track is laid under the streets, and the brick or concrete surrounding roadway surface. It can be specific to a particular line or region (i.e. Toronto), as it is for a general overview.

Needed for a simple presentation.

Thanks!

Chris
cscardinal AT live.com

No national standards existed for street railway track. Usually the operating company had its own track standard. However since most were mergers of previous operating companies, sometimes track construction would vary in different parts of the same system.

Track usually was cheaply built. A ditch was dug in the streets and wooden ties were laid on the dirt. Stone ballast rarely was used. A few companies used cinders and ash from their coal fired power plant under their ties. Then dirt or gravel filled the hole. Bricks or cobblestones paved the streets. The companies usually were responsible for maintaining paving between rails. In some cases they were responsible for pavement a specified distance from the nearest rail.

In my old hometown the trolley system was abandoned in 1933. Rails were removed as a WPA project. Ties were left in place. Brick pavement was restored. Fifteen years later, the old ties had rotted. Bricks over each old tie were 6-8 inches below the other pavement. That made for a washboard ride in an automobile or bicycle.

Hi

You might look at the APTA (American Passenger Transport Ass.) web site, there maybe some information there you could use for your presentation, or look at old Electric Railway Journels, ect... the info is out there.

Karl Johnson