Sacramento's Streetcars

Images of Rail

by William Burg

Until 1947, Sacramento's streetcars linked a bustling downtown district with residential neighborhoods, workplaces, and a growing series of suburbs. Starting with horse-drawn cars on Front Street, the streetcar system owned by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company expanded to include Midtown, Curtis Park, Land Park, Oak Park, and East Sacramento. But PG&E was not alone; two other companies ran streetcar routes downtown, along with suburban lines to West Sacramento, North Sacramento, Rio Linda, Elverta, Colonial Heights, and Colonial Acres. Sacramentans rode the cars to work, to school, to the state fair, and just about anywhere they wanted to go until the streetcars were replaced by buses owned by National City Lines.

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 17, 2006

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about the history of Sacramento California's early transit systems. Includes info about the PG&E, Sacramento Northern Railway, and the Central California Traction Railroad rail systems that operated in Sacramento. Includes historic maps and photos of Sacramento and its streetcars. A good book to read while waiting (and waiting) for a bus!