Memphis Street Railway
Street Cars

Memphis Street Railway Co. was incorporated March 28, 1895, as a consolidation of the Citizens Street Railroad, the City & Suburban Railway, Easte End Street Railway, and Memphis & Raleigh Springs Railroad. As of 1911, it was reported that the company's franchise with the City of Memphis would expire in 1945. The company operated 51 miles of double track and 26.5 miles of single track, using 109 open cars, 69 semi-convertable cars, and 132 closed cars (1911 roster.) The company also operated a wholly owned subsidiary, the Memphis & Lake View Railway (successor to Memphis Interurban Co, originally the Lake View Traction Co.) providing service on 10.83 miles on private right of way between Memphis, TN and Lake View, MS., using 4 closed cars.

1876-1895 - several companies operated Memphis streetcar routes
1895-1911 - Memphis Street Railway Co.
1911-1922 - Memphis Street Railway Co. (American Cities Co.)
1922-1925 - Memphis Street Railway Co. (Electric Bond & Shares Co.)
1925-1949 - Memphis Street Railway Co. (National Power & Light Co.)
1931 - first trolley bus route started
1947 - streetcars discontinued
1949-1958 - Memphis Street Railway Co.
1960 - trolleybus operation ended
1958-1961 - Memphis Transit Co.
1961-present - publicly owned -- Memphis Area Transit Authority

This Magnolia Street trolley is seen sometime between 1890 and 1900. The operator [motorman] on left is B.M. Bennett.
Contributed by Richard Lee Bland

Thompson Collection, Memphis/Shelby County Public Library and Information Center
This view of open cars appears to have been made at the turn of the 20th century.

Thompson Collection, Memphis/Shelby County Public Library and Information Center
>Here an open Street Railway car meets up with a Frisco 0-6-0.

Contributed by his grandson
Operator of Memphis street cars between 1900 and 1927

Contributed by Bill Pollard
This shot, looks north on Main Street. The IC city ticket office is on the left. Note that both cars 87 and 101 appear to be open cars. The southbound car has "Kansas Avenue" on the sign below window, while the northbound car has "U.S. Mail". The US Mail is curious.... raising the issue of possible streetcar RPO cancellations, versus closed pouch mail service. Either way, its a part of the Memphis Street Ry that would be interesting to follow.

The top image is reported as 1912. The caption is mistaken in that this view is obviously looking south as Court Square is on your left in this view toward the Porter Building. The middle image is reported as 1918. No date is given for the bottom image.
Contributed by Eric Fleet

From Rock Island magazine, Contributed by Bill Pollard

Thompson Collection, Memphis/Shelby County Public Library and Information Center
In this view of main street, three sets of powered cars with trailers are shown. Also note the junction of a line leading off to the east.

Contributed by Alton Lanier

Contributed by Bill Pollard
Lake View traction #23 is actually a trailer, not a powered car. Note that it is at a crossing with another electric trolley line, with a car passing out of picture on left side.

Contributed by Alton Lanier

Edward Frank Jr. collection passed on to Bill Schull and submitted by Bill Strong
This trolley line bisected Overton Park, going right in front of the zoo’s main entrance, then proceeding east on Broad St. At this point the trolley line has pulled slightly north of Broad to cross the north-south L&N line from Leewood to Aulon. Note the building to the right. This is the L&N’s Binghamton Station. Click here for map of this crossing.

Contributed by Bill Pollard

Contributed by Bill Pollard
National Avenue Line, taken on June 7, 1947.

Richard Andrews Photo. Collection of Phil Gosney.
Memphis Street Railway Car 317 is on route "2 Fairgrounds" at the layover point near that location in 1947.

Contributed by Alton Lanier

Richard Andrews Photo. Collection of Phil Gosney.
MSR car 600 is on Route "7 Crosstown" and appears to be northbound along Riverside Park. We note from this view, taken from aboard a southbound car, that the line becomes single track at this location. A spring switch is also noted with the loop located at Riverside and Person Ave ahead, and to the south.

Richard Andrews Photo. Collection of Phil Gosney.
Car 606 is at end of the line on "Route 12 Chelsea-Florida" in 1947.

Contributed by ?
Anyone have any details of this accident with car #614?

Richard Andrews Photo. Collection of Phil Gosney.
MSR car 616 is on route "2 Fairgrounds" westbound on Madison Ave., passing (General Nathan Bedford) Forrest Park. Baptist Hospital is located directly behind the car. 1947. In 2003 tracks were completed down Madison Ave. and "new" trolleys occupy this scene again.

Contributed by Bill Pollard
June 7, 1947.

Thompson Collection, Memphis/Shelby County Public Library and Information Center
In this view, Street Railway car 634 rolls past Central Station and its Interstate Restaurant, a chain of station restaurants similar to the Harvey House chain once found along the Santa Fe and Frisco Lines.

Contributed by Bill Pollard
Car 302 looks like it is at the loop at end of line (from overhead wire details behind car).

Contributed by Bill Pollard

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