During the first third of the 20th century, 16 commuter rail operations in major North American metropolitan areas adopted electric traction. Ten of these electrifications survive. The other six were discontinued between 1929 and 1949, although parts of the alignments of some properties have been returned to regional transit use. With a comparison of the histories of the former electric railroads with those of operations that survived, the reasons for their discontinuance are investigated. Perhaps unexpectedly, the Great Depression does not solely account for the demise of most of these lines. Instead, major geographic barriers precluding direct downtown service and the construction of new highway links appear to have been at least as important. Furthermore, all surviving electrifications addressed practical operating needs. However, no installations undertaken as technological test beds or in response to competing lines have survived.


    Access

    Download

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Former Electrified Commuter Railroads


    Subtitle :

    What Are Their Lessons?


    Additional title:

    Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2012-01-01




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English






    External Requirements for Electrified Commuter Aircraft

    Helmchen, F. / Hupfer, A. / Armanini, S.F | DataCite | 2021

    Free access

    Sleet problems on electrified railroads

    Brown, H.F. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1942