National Capital Trolley Museum - Recommended Readings

There are a variety of publications, journals, articles and videos available to assist with research on the topic of electric street railways in the city of Washington, DC and the neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia. The list offered here includes those books which serve as a definitive source of material. Several books which contain general information about the development of electric street railways and electric interurban railways are also listed. Some of the books listed are out of print, but may be available in circulating collections of local libraries. Others indicated (*) are available from the National Capital Trolley Museum Shop. Please call or write to the Museum for a complete list of publications and videos available for sale.

WORKS ON WASHINGTON'S REGIONAL STREETCARS:

: Harwood, Jr., Herbert H.; Rails to the Blue Ridge: The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad 1847-1968; Ashburn, VA: Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, 2000.; Harwood, Jr., Herbert H.; Blue Ridge Trolley: The Hagerstown & Frederick Railway; San Marino, CA: Golden West Books, 1970.*; King, Jr., LeRoy O.; One Hundred Years of Capital Traction: The Story of Streetcars in the Nation's Capital; Dallas, Texas: Taylor, 1972.; Kohler, Peter C.; Capital Transit: Washington's Street Cars: The Final Years 1933-1962; Colesville, Maryland: National Capital Trolley Museum, 2001.* (available in the NCT Museum Shop); Merriken, John E.; Every Hour on the Hour: A Chronicle of the Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis Electric Railroad; Dallas, TX: King, 1993.; Merriken, John E.; Old Dominion Trolley, Too: A History of the Mount Vernon Line; Dallas, Texas: King, 1987.; Metro at 25: Celebrating the Past, Building the Future; Washington, DC:Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority, 2001. *; Schrag, Zachary; The Great Society Subway: A History of the Washington Metro; Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006. *; Williams, Ames W.; Washington & Old Dominion Railroad; Arlington, VA: Arlington Historical Society, 1989.

FOR CHILDREN

: Beil, Karen Magnuson; Mooove Over; New York: Holiday House, 2004. *; Spector, Rachel Stewart Spector; Tilley the Trolley; Illustrated by Susan L. Schadt; Manchester, CT: RSS Publishing, 1996.; These books are among several used in our educational programs (Field Trips and during the summer). Unfortunately, there are very few trolley books for children still in print.

GENERAL REFERENCE WORKS:

: Carlson, Stephen P. and Schneider III, Fred W.; PCC - The Car That Fought Back; Glendale, CA: Interurban Press, 1980.; Carlson, Stephen P. and Schneider III, Fred W.; PCC From Coast to Coast; Glendale, CA: Interurban Press, 1981.; Middleton, William D.; The Time of the Trolley; Milwaukee, WI: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1967.; Middleton, William D.; The Interurban Era; Milwaukee, WI: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1961.; Rowesome, Frank.; Trolley Car Treasury; New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1956.; Trolley: The Cars That Built Our Cities; videotape (1 hr.); Baltimore, MD, Transit Gloria Mundi, 1991.

OTHER SOURCES:

: The St. Louis Car Company Collection, Washington University Archives, St. Louis, Missouri.
http://library.wustl.edu/units/spec/archives/guides/bysubject_stlouis/car-company.html

This collection contains a limited number of drawings photographs and records for the St. Louis Car Company. There are items of interest for Capital Transit Company and the Johnstown Traction Company, including builders’ photographs of some orders. The web site contains an index of the collection and a brief history of the Company.; The J. G. Brill Company Records (Collection 1556); The Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
http://www2.hsp.org/collections/manuscripts/b/brill1556.htm

This collection contains photos, and records of the J.G. Brill Company. The web site contains photos on line and an index of the collection.

September 2007