railway short electric street railroad operating city virginia united_states early 20th century line preceded lines operating horse drawn electric powered cars dating facing financial difficulties predecessor lines reorganized electric operated overhead line system powered railroad power plant offered electric power generated plant city line received numerous upgrades including construction new power plant new company headquarters building expansion track purchase new increased expenses decreasing coupled great depression caused railway cease operations railway reorganized transition bus service today provides bus service city city recently investigated feasibility line following route history background gained railroad arrived progressed westward blue ridge mountains orange alexandria railroad chartered entered contract early 1850s use track extension southward line began operations april major railroads east west direction orange alexandria north south direction ensuring town prosperity reorganized form renamed ohio railway series orange alexandria railroad incorporated newly formed significant junction railroads railroad stations operation line second west station junction southern railroads local transit system established line operating regular schedule service consisted large horse drawn cart operated downtown fare way trip cost today service soon replaced development system development system earliest predecessor line chartered march line constructed horse drawn line began operation june renamed january incorporated general_assembly march began work electrified line renamed suburban railway continued operation time companies operated horse drawn electric parallel tracks simultaneously beginning operation electric january continued holdings transferred suburban railway july time operation horse drawn ceased companies including acquired suburban railway having months payments bonds suburban railway sold public auction november reorganized expansion development decline reorganization company new railway faced establishing profitable business census population people industries making development electric power provider service difficult furthermore company electric power service time direct current competed municipal gas provider service expansive running miles main street station west multiple branches suffered railway went debt purchased new ownership company improvements including construction new power plant producing alternating current electricity purchase man operated man company power service mile track expanded mile time reach new stadium new man required alteration track end line accommodate turning cars failing receive permission construct loop station constructed small later replaced loop increased number main street reducing travel time minutes grown serve customers employed people prosperity soon reverse coming great depression end decade like transit companies suffered financially depression decrease increased operational costs ended operations february company renamed began providing bus service today provides bus transit operation infrastructure route description line approximately miles long line began easternmost point continued west intersection ridge street short branch line ridge street service reach company car barn main street line continued past ridge street passed tracks coming junction approximately miles west southern tracks point line split line following south approximately miles line approximately mile long continued west passing turning north rugby road line ended reaching mainline passing located following locations approximately halfway station intersection near union station intersection approximately halfway branch company headquarters began construction new company headquarters building completed built style architecture new building featured red brick white trim green bronze letters spelling company building served company headquarters sales room electrical attached rear office building featured purpose reducing power generated power plant power use street railway system contained devices prepare power use street lighting took advantage installed raising voltage volts use southern line building office building located company headquarters building railway car barn location stored maintained constructed rail iron car barn suited railway purpose repair work shop car barn entrance lines bus station power plant original power plant located city produced direct current power distribution city residents ownership change power plant worn expensive maintain costing hour generate electricity equivalent today plant suffered explosion caused dollars worth damage february high expense difficulties distributing power expanding system building new power plant produce power deemed necessary location selected east mainline followed providing easy water supply rail access chartered march charged construct horsepower plant merged november old power plant temporarily new equipment produce power city new plant completed coal provided new plant way rail spur railway provided allow coal cars storage beneath boilers installed multiple turbines generators order generate electricity completed plant produced month consumed cars worth coal month contrasted old power plant generation month consuming cars worth demonstrating new plant efficiency located near university western owned acre park improved renovated dance hall materials harvested hotel torn nearby park featured motion picture shows roller skating swings park attractions garner passengers line possessed multiple types history open closed cars cars seating average passengers weighing pounds closed cars refurbished series upgrades line include new interior paint lamps orange blue exterior paint cars attractive students school colors old cars received upgrades energy cars heavy weight caused railway seek new improved car orders placed new near man june additional cars ordered placed service making total seven new new cars offered multiple advantages company lighter weighing pounds seated people operated man near cars length feet inches rode single truck benefits new cars allowed company scrap older cars soon arrival new replacements future plans long gone public transit interest city rise personal automobile struggled provide effective public transportation system bus service implemented city challenged expanding development lack consumer willingness use public transportation early 2000s city began planning analyzing methods public transportation implementation includes development system study entitled shaping community transit laid plans development system operate downtown following path created december city_council examine feasibility system concrete plans developed implemented
Charlottesville and Albemarle Railway