National Capital Trolley Museum

The above film was recently discovered in the files of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 and was digitized by the Local for use in their activities. The file has been provided to the National Capital Trolley Museum by the Local and is used with their permission.

The car barn in the opening sequences is the Northern Carhouse located at 4615 14th Street NW. The "loop" at Northern (nearer to Decatur Street) is clearly visible in several scenes and it appears that the money truck is backed up into the Garage in one scene.

Immediately following these scenes is an operator apparently coming from Northern's operator entrance nearer Buchanan Street and boarding a northbound street car. The storefronts visible in this scene (west side of 14th NW between Buchanan & Crittenden) are the still the same today. PCC car 1107 is in this scene.

Other street car scenes appear to be shot at 14th & G (where Hahn's shoestore is visible). Among the identifiable street cars are PCC 1123 (?) and 1330, as well as the "Savings Bonds" street car.

Another sequence shows African-American track crews doing maintenance work on the U Street-Garfield Line. One of these sites is on 8th Street SE near the intersection at Pennsylvania Avenue.

The final scenes show buses leaving the old "Federal Triangle" at 13th & Pennsylvania Ave NW. The Warner Theater is clearly visible in one scene.

From the automobiles on the street and the clothing people are wearing, the scenes appear to have been filmed in late spring or early summer of 1955.

Credits: Craig Simpson, Eric Madison, Philip Kuhl and Wells Drumwright.

July 27, 2008