Interurban/Trolley Lines

Beginning in the late 1890's, thousands of families no longer enjoying the industrial city life began moving to areas dubbed "Suburbs". With the migration of people to areas beyond major cities such as Chicago, New York, and Washington D.C. People needed to be transported from their suburban households to their jobs in the city. Thus began the Trolley era of rapid transport which lasted for many decades until roads were improved and personal vehicles such as the automobile were mechanically perfected and efficiently produced. The earliest electric streetcar system in Virginia began operating as early as February 2, 1888, utilizing the first trolley cars powered by an overhead wire as invented by Frank J. Sprague. Dubbed the Richmond Union Passenger Railway, after a string of subsequent consolidations, all of Richmond's intercity trolley systems were abandoned when service was abolished on November 25, 1949. Although, if the silent observer were to look closely, remnants of the cities trolley systems can still be found throughout the city albeit overgrown and partially paved over. This page will cover all of the Old Dominion's extensive trolley and interurban systems with individual pages showcasing photographs, rosters, and maps.