Omaha streetcars: Past, present and future
A map printed in the book “O&CB: Streetcars of Omaha and Council Bluffs” depicts streetcar lines that traversed Omaha in 1926.
People are also reading…
The Omaha-Council Bluffs streetcar era began in 1868 with wagonlike trolleys that ran on rails and were pulled by horses. By 1890, the metropolitan area had 90 miles of tracks — more than any city except Boston. Here, streetcars move along 16th Street in Omaha during the 1940s.
A streetcar at 10th and Howard streets in 1952. A combination of Omaha's rapid western expansion, increased bus service and a national rise in personal vehicles officially derailed the city’s streetcar system just a few years after this photo was taken.
Photos: Omaha's streetcar system through the years
Horse-drawn omnibus
In 1887, this horse-drawn omnibus operated from 16th and Cuming Streets to the "Cowshed" depot at 10th and Marcy Streets.
Streetcar, 1890
Omaha's first trolley car and a trailer are seen in this image from around 1890.
Streetcar, 1913 tornado
A streetcar smashed at 24th and Lake after the March 23, 1913, tornado.
Omaha Papillion trolley - 1920s
The Omaha Papillion trolley ran through Ralston in the 1920s. This picture is at 16th Street and Capitol Avenue. Pictured are, from left, Ben Ballard, conductor; George Shively; Julia Shively Giles; and G. Ed Shively.
Streetcars in the 1940s
Streetcars along 16th Street in Omaha in the 1940s.
Streetcar, 1942
Hugh Lee Jr. taking a picture of Streetcar No. 946 at 60th and Leavenworth in 1942.
Streetcar tracks, 1945
Farnam Street and streetcar tracks from 35th to 37th are seen in 1945. In the distance is the Blackstone Hotel.
Streetcar tokens 1949
The caption on this photo published on July 1, 1949 read: "A buck's worth of tram rides ... Tokens are back after a 14-month layoff."
The accompanying story read: "The tokens for streetcar and bus fares, absent since April 1, 1948, were clinking through coin boxes again Friday. The changeover from the 10-cent straight fare to the 13 cents or two-tokens-for-a-quarter fare began at midnight."
24th and N, 1951
A chaotic network of private streetcar lines led to the creation in 1903 of the Omaha & Council Bluffs Street Railway Co. Roads also were being improved and developed at the time, as was the city’s infrastructure. Above, 24th and N Streets in 1951.
Streetcars downtown, undated
Undated photograph of downtown Omaha with streetcars.
Dundee streetcar in the 1950s
A Dundee streetcar in the 1950s.
Dundee streetcar in the 1950s
A Dundee streetcar in the 1950s.
10th and Howard, 1952
Omaha streetcar history: 10th and Howard Streets in 1952.
March 4, 1955
Motorman A.W. Kiger welcomes Omaha attorney E.B. Wintroub and his son Frank, 7, aboard the last streetcar, No. 1017, to run publicly in Omaha on March 4, 1955. Fifty people showed up to ride.
Official last trip - March 5, 1955
The Omaha & Council Bluffs Street Railway Co. made a commemorative run on March 5, 1955. The sign on the side of this streetcar reads:
"Official last trip
.... Ending street car service in Omaha
completing the conversion to all-bus operation."
Old streetcar tracks, 1998
Hawkins Construction unearths old streetcar tracks from under 16th Street and Capitol Avenue during work on the First National Bank expansion in February 1998. This is looking south along 16th toward Capitol.
Streetcar wall sculpture, 2006
Simon Schoenbeck, right, shows his work to Tomo Bessho, center, and Anthony Rodriquez as the trio of 6-year-olds and other up-and-coming artists work on their drawings of the Dundee streetcar wall sculpture on June 1, 2006.
Proposed Omaha streetcar in 2006
A simulated photo of a proposed Omaha streetcar in 2006.
Proposed Omaha streetcar in 2006
A simulated photo of a proposed Omaha streetcar in 2006.
Dundee streetcar tracks unearthed
Dundee streetcar tracks unearthed at 49th and Dodge Streets.
Streetcar rendering, 2017
This is one concept of a modern streetcar, as envisioned by the Omaha City Planning Department.
