After arriving in Memphis on the City of New Orleans and waiting for the Amtrak agents to return from gathering the luggage, they returned to the station and distributed it to those who claimed it. Once completed, they finally unlocked the station doors and I went in to waited until the agent went into his office and I paid the three dollars a bag to store my luggage until this evening. With that done, I walked downstairs through the station out onto the street.
Memphis Area Transit Authority Trolley HistoryThe MATA Trolley is a heritage streetcar transit system operating in Memphis, Tennessee which began on April 29, 1993. The last line of Memphis' original streetcar network closed on June 15, 1947. Since opening the system has been extended twice and now consists of three lines, operated by the Memphis Area Transit Authority. These lines are the Main Street Line, the Riverfront Loop and the Madison Avenue Line. Originally proposed as a 4.9-mile line along the Mississippi River, the Memphis City Council voted 9-4 in January 1990 to build the 2.5-mile, $33 million Main Street route. After multiple delays, construction of the line commenced in February 1991 for completion by December 1992. However, due to the longer-than-anticipated restoration of the vintage streetcars, the opening of the line was delayed until spring 1993. After further delay, testing of the first of the restored cars began on March 10, 1993, and the system opened to the public on April 29, 1993. On October 1, 1997, the Riverfront line opened. The system's third line, running east from Main Street along Madison Avenue for about 2 miles, opened on March 15, 2004. It was completed at a cost of about $56 million, which was approximately 25 percent below the original budget forecast for the project.
The trolleys used are almost all restored, vintage streetcars. The original three cars in operation on opening day were all formerly used in Porto, Portugal and are Car 187, circa 1927; Car 194, circa 1935; and Car 204, circa 1940. The cars were restored by Kerns-Wilcheck Associates of Memphis. Three additional ex-Porto cars (156, 164 and 180) joined them within weeks, and the fleet had six cars (all ex-Porto single-truckers) by May 1993. Gomaco-built number 1979, with a trolley pole, in its original livery. By 2003 all of the trolley poles were replaced by pantographs. Between the mid-1990's and 2003, the fleet expanded considerably in both number and capacity with the arrival of ten reconditioned Melbourne, Australia W2-class cars, all but one Car 417 supplied by Gomaco Trolley Company. Other additions were single-truck Car 1979 that was built new by Gomaco in 1993, as a demonstrator; double-truck Car 1794 that was originally an open-sided car from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but was heavily rebuilt and enclosed before entering service in Memphis, and, in early 2004, a replica Birney Safety Car, again manufactured by Gomaco.
The fleet and overhead wires were converted from trolley pole to pantograph current collection in early 2003, during a three-month suspension of service which started on January 5, 2003. An eleventh reconditioned Melbourne car, W5-class 799, was purchased in 2006 by MATA with a view toward eventual restarting of trolley service.
The route map of the Memphis Trolley system.
Streetcar 539 switched ends in front of the former Illinois Central station, now known as Central Station. I went into a corner café and acquired some change so I could ride the streetcar lines.
Streetcar 539 arrived and I boarded, buying a day pass.
Proceeding down Main Street, we met Streetcar 417 then passed the Orpheum Theater, where many rock bands have played over the years. I talked to our operator and she said to ride the east/west line and get off at Madison Street and also informed me that the Riverfront Loop would not be operating until later this afternoon. I detrolleyed and walked over to a waiting Madison Street trolley.
I boarded Melbourne W2 class streetcar 454 for the ride east and it slowly moved down to the official station then started its journey to the 3rd Street station. We came down the hill and then across Danny Thomas Boulevard, where the lines split to each side of Madison Street.
A westbound streetcar crossing over Danny Thomas Boulevard. We stopped at the Danny Thomas station and continued to the Orleans station. The next stop was Forest Park, after which we passed by the University of Tennessee Medical Center then went up a slight hill, passing the Baptist College to Pauline station. We next crossed over Interstate 240 and up a slight hill to Cleveland station, the line's turn-around point.
My streetcar at Cleveland station.
I detrained and photographed streetcar 1794 then my streetcar for the return trip to downtown came from its turn-around point and I boarded, sitting next to the operator so I could take photographs.
Passing outbound Streetcar 435.
Descending the Danny Thomas bridge for the journey to Main Street.
Southbound Streetcar 539 before my next northbound car arrived. However, this trolley only went as far as almost to Butler Street, where I had to transfer to another car to take me to Exchange station. Anyone trying to go further had to transfer to a bus. I stayed on and went back to Butler then switched back to another southbound car, taking that south to Peabody Street, where I detrained and walked towards the Mississippi River to Vance Park.
The Memphis Harbour and the Pyramid Arena, which used to be a basketball arena and concert venue but earlier this year, became a Bass Pro Shop and entertainment complex.
A freight train crossing the Mississippi River bridge.
Looking north at Mud Island and the Interstate 40 bridge across the Mississippi River.
Mud Island and the Pyramid Arena.
Downtown Memphis.
A higher view of the Mississippi River. I then walked along a bicycle path and back to Front Street.
The Statue of Jefferson Davis - "A True American Patriot". He was the first and only president of the Confederate States of America, a Southern planter, Democratic politician and hero of the Mexican-American War who represented Mississippi in the United States House of Representatives and Senate. He also served as U.S. Secretary of War from 1853-57. He was chosen to serve as president of the Confederacy in 1861 and held the post until the Civil War ended in 1865.
The Pyramid Arena and Memphis grain elevator.
The Pyramid Arena and Convention Center.
Pavilion of Flags. I had wanted to tour the Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange but it was closed.
However, I found this plaque on the side of the museum's wall honouring John Grisham, one of my favourite authors.
On my walk through downtown, here is a passing streetcar. I was getting hungry so found a Hooters, a chain which I have never been to before, for lunch.
Hooters in Memphis where I had chicken wings for my 50th Birthday lunch.
After lunch I went to Peabody Place and found a very interesting Muvico Movie Theater with a real railroad theme. Inside were wall paintings on both sides with two massive 2-6-6-4's passing another train's caboose, very impressive. I saw "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" and learned at the end that Trevor Rabin, the former Yes guitar player, recorded the soundtrack. It was a fantastic film, then during my walk back to Vance Park, saw a Riverfront Loop streetcar on its way south and went to the Beale Street station to wait for the next one. Ten minutes passed then the crossing gates went down and here it came.
We ran on the edge of the bluff above the Mississippi River along the Canadian National main line by Vance Park then veered off the main line to travel through the curves to Central station. Our streetcar made its way down the hill into the neighbourhood before turning left and going under the main line and stopped in front of Central Station. Here we waited on our departure time so we would be in the proper position to go down Main Street. After ten minutes, we turned left onto Main Street and went north through downtown Memphis, passed the Transit Center, turned and stopped as our operator took a break.
My taking this photograph started the rest of the passengers taking their pictures. Back on the move, we went west where there was a red train signal.
I was interested to see how the streetcar crossed the main line of the former Illinois Central Railroad. After receiving a green signal, we crossed the main line then ran along the Canadian National towards The Pyramid station, then stopped for Mud Island and the Convention Center before making another stop then returned to Beale Street station, which completed the Riverfront Loop. I walked back to Front Street and found a steak house but it did not open until 5:00 PM so walked back to Vance Park and found my streetcar sitting there having problems.
Streetcar 416 on the Riverfront Loop as I was getting hungry.
I walked back to Front Street and soon found Gus' World Famous Hot & Spicy Fried Chicken for my 50th birthday dinner. It was the best fried chicken that I had ever had in a restaurant and after that fantastic meal, I walked back to Peabody Street and boarded a streetcar back to Central Station.
I detrained at Central Station and took one last picture then reclaimed my luggage and waited for my trip home to start, doing a few Sudoku puzzles before watching a Jackie Chan film followed by a Kiss concert to pass the time. I called Julie, Amtrak's automated agent and learnt the City of New Orleans was running on time so walked out to the platform for some colder fresh air!
A horse-drawn carriage decorated for New Year's Eve.
The last streetcar of the trip was photographed about twenty minutes before my train was due to arrive to finish my stay here.
