Richmond Union
Passenger Railway: 1888 to 1949
In February 1888, the electric street railway system designed by Frank Julian
Sprague for the Richmond Union Passenger Railway began operating in Richmond,
Virginia. Sprague’s Richmond system became the lasting prototype for electric
street railways because of its large-scale practicality and operating superiority.
This system, which combined Sprague’s engineering innovations with other
proven technical features, helped shape urban growth worldwide.
Images from The Library of Virginia
On November 8, 1887 a Richmond Dispatch reporter took a test ride. The Richmond Union Passenger Railway streetcar jumped the tracks and ran into a marble pillar at the Saint James Hotel on 12th and Bank Streets.
Starting February 2, 1888 (Groundhog Day) The Richmond Union Passenger Railway Company began regular operations with 10 streetcars as the world’s first commercially successful electric street railway system.
There were more than 74 attempts in over 60 communities in North America, England and Europe to demonstrate the feasibility of electric street railway service with poor results or failure.
Designed by Naval Academy graduate Frank Julian Sprague (1857-1934) of New York City, the former assistant to Thomas Edison formed the Sprague Electric Railway & Motor Company in 1884. Mr. Sprage was a pioneer in electrical engineering and urban transportation.
Electric Power supplied
through overhead trolley wires (450 V)
Two 7 ½ HP motors on each car
Running Speed = 7 ½ MPH
Max. Speed = 15 MPH
Weight (empty with motors)
6900 lbs.(large car)
6700 lbs. (small car)
Capacity
40 seats, 100 total (large car)
22 seats, 65 total (small car)
The Richmond system
had streetcars that were more than 3 times larger than previous experimental
electric railways built up to that time, with 8 times as many self-propelled
electric streetcars.
By June 1888 there were 12 miles of track (with 30 curves) using 40 rail cars
powered by electric motors that enabled the cars to climb some of the city’s
steep downtown hills, like Shockoe Valley and Church Hill. (10% grade up Franklin
St. Hill)
By 1895, almost 900 electric street railways and nearly 11,000 miles of track had been built in the United States
Although public transportation
policies have led to the elimination of electric street railways, the Sprague
system prototype continues to be used around the world as an integral part of
balanced transportation systems and is embodied in the design of many modern
Light Rail Transit systems.
After observing the
Richmond system, the city of Boston developed the second large-scale street
railway electrification project. (West End Street Railway Company of Boston)
Electric street railway service in Richmond ended on November 25, 1949, almost 62 years after the inaugural run.
Images from The Library of Virginia
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