TRAMWAYS: MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, USA (2006)

The Memphis tram or trolley system is operated by the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) and currently transports more than 800,000 passengers a year over three lines radiating from the downtown area.  Conceived as part of a plan to resuscitate a failing pedestrian mall in a fading downtown, the trolley has grown into an effective transit circulator system.  The 2.5 mile Main St. Line line opened in 1993 and travels the length of Main St., linking the South Main and Pinch historic districts with numerous downtown attractions.  The 2 mile Riverfront Trolley Loop connects together the two ends of the Main St. Line, primarily using a railroad track shared with Amtrak.

To provide the service, Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) decided on authentic historic trolleys.  It purchased a number of ex-Porto, Portugal cars, which had been built between 1909 and 1929, from a dealer near Portland, Oregon,   Six of the best ones were thoroughly rebuilt from top to bottom, and four of them were ready for the line's April 26, 1993 opening.

Following this early success, more lines were planned, and further trams were obtained in the form of  ex-Melbourne, Australia vehicles which had previously operated in New Orleans.  The Melbourne cars date from 1925 to 1931.  Each tram carries a different colour scheme.  Even cars with apparently similar colours will be patterned differently.

These photographs were taken in September 2006.