Northampton Street Railway Explained
| Northampton Street Railway |
| Imagesize2: | 240px |
| Imagesize3: | 240px |
| Owner: | Northampton Street Rwy. Co. |
| Area Served: |
|
| Transit Type: | Light rail
Bus (1933–1951)
|
| Headquarters: | 125 Locust Street
Northampton, MA
01060-2066 |
| Began Operation: | September 8, 1866[1]
August 26, 1893 (electrified)[2]
1933 (bus)[3] |
| Ended Operation: | December 25, 1933 (rail)[4]
August 22, 1951 (bus)[5] |
| Map State: | show |
The Northampton Street Railway (NSR), founded as the Northampton and Williamsburg Street Railway, was an interurban streetcar and bus system operating in Northampton, Massachusetts and its villages of Florence and Leeds, as well as surrounding communities with connections in Easthampton, and Williamsburg.[6]
Ultimately a prolonged labor strike beginning in August 1951, led to the company ceasing all services and relinquishing its routes and franchise later that year. Following its bankruptcy, several of the railway company's former bus routes were assumed by Western Massachusetts Bus Lines.[7] Purchased two years after the company ceased operations, today the railway's former headquarters serves as the main garage of the Northampton Department of Public Works.[8]
Notes and References
- Book: Poor's Manual of Railroads. XXXIII. Street Railways in Massachusetts. https://books.google.com/books?id=MPocAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA912. Poor. H. W.. Poor. H. V.. American Banknote Company. New York. 1901.
- News: Northampton's Electric Cars; Successfully Started - Interesting History of the Street Railway. 3. Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass.. August 27, 1893.
- News: Bus Will Replace Trolly. 3. Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass.. November 7, 1933.
- News: Busses to Make Run from Northampton. With the transformation of the Northampton street railway line to bus service Tuesday. December 21, 1933. 3. Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass..
- News: New Busses Do Well Despite Heavy Snow; Railroad Passenger Traffic Mounts as Storm Halts Automobiles. 10. Springfield, Mass.. Springfield Republican. December 27, 1933.
- News: 'Hamp Bus Drivers, 65 Strong, Out On Strike; Pellissier, Acting Head of Transit Firm, Says Sale Would Be Welcome; Walkout First Since 1914. August 22, 1951. 1. Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass..
- Map of the Street Railways of the State of Massachusetts. The Joint Special Committee on the Transportation Facilities of Western Massachusetts. January 1913.
- News: 'Hamp Awakes to See Busses Rolling Again. Fortier's Western Massachusetts Bus Lines will serve Northampton, Easthampton, Hadley, Amherst, Florence, Leeds, Williamsburg, and Mount Tom Junction for the present, with service nearly on a par with that given by the defunct Northampton Street Railway Co. which went out of business after union drivers struck for higher wages last August.. January 21, 1952. 8. Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass..
- News: Boston Firm Gets Bid for Bond Issue; $101,000 Loan to Be Used For Purchase of Former Railway Co. Garage. 7. Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass.. September 18, 1953.
