This file covers what I call the 'Second Period', from roughly 1950 to 1963.
An unidentified Twin Coach westbound on S. Jackson St. at 5th Ave. S. The
destination sign is illegible, but it could be either 85th St. or 65th St.
all day long or Cowen Park or 45th and University during the peak hours. The
trolley was most likely a yellow canary, referring to the paint scheme which
dates back to their introduction in 1943. The unidentified Brill behind it
shows a green front, which was the second paint scheme used. The Brill was
probably on route 3 N. Queen Anne, originating at Jefferson Park loop. Route
10 trolleys, 10 Mt. Baker -- 10 Capitol Hill, were frequently the smaller
Twins. Photographer unknown. The date of the photos is between 1955 and 1963.
Seattle's downtown streets became one way in 1956. The automobiles suggest
that it was closer to 1956. Courtesy of Tom's
Trolley Bus Pictures and the Steve Scalzo collection.
Twin Coach 704 (?) on route 14 Summit turning from 2nd Ave. onto Pike St.,
the downtown terminus of the route except in the peak hours. In the first
period all 14s terminated at Main St. via Second Ave. After the introduction
of one-way streets, route 14 terminated at Main St. only during the peak hours.
Photographer unknown. Between 1956 and 1978. Courtesy of Tom's
Trolley Bus Pictures and the Steve Scalzo collection.
Brill 799 on route 9 Broadway. It appears that the trolley is on Pine St.
heading because of the slope of the street. If so, then the operator forgot
to change the destination sign, since Martin St. is the destination of the
9 Broadway. This was a short turn at Aloha St. The Martin St. Loop was dismantled
when route 9 was rebuilt in 1979-1981. The new destination loop is in the
University District on 11th Ave. NE at E 45th St. When the line was reopened
in 1981, it was renumbered as route 7 and through-routed with Route 7 (Rainier
Ave.). It was renumbered route 49 in 2005. It is through-routed with Route
7 evenings and Sundays. Photographer unknown. Date unknown. Courtesy of Tom's
Trolley Bus Pictures and the Testagrose collection.
Pullman-Standard 1003 on route 15 Admiral Way/California and Alaska heading
south on 1st Ave. at Pine St. Route 15 had two branches in West Seattle, the
one mentioned here had other one at Alki. Route 15 was Pullman territory,
though Pullmans sometimes operated on routes 18, 21 and 34. Both ends of the
15 went diesel in 1963. Photographer unknown. Circa 1950s. Courtesy
of Tom's Trolley Bus Pictures.
Twin Coach 976 going southwest on Stewart St., passing by the former Greyhound bus terminal. The terminal was the downtown terminus of the late Seattle-Everett interurban. Photographer unknown. 1957. Both ends of route 7 went diesel in 1963. The Rainier Ave. branch was reelectrified in 1981. Tom's
Trolley Bus Pictures and the Testagrose collection.
Twin Coach 948 probably on route 3 Jefferson Park. It is turning from 3rd Ave. to 3rd Ave. S. In the back ground to the right is the Smith Tower, once the tallest building west of Chicago. Route became a diesel circa 1970. The route was reelectrified and assigned route 1 extended past S. Spokane St. to S. Ferdinand St. The route number was changed 36. The idea behind was to extend it southwards on S. Beacon Ave. It remained through routed with the route 1 to Kinnear. Route 36 was extended to Othello circa 2000 and extended again to Martin Luther King Way S. to connect to the Sound Transit light rail ling. Ever since it was extended past S. Ferdinand, every other trip saw diesel buses which continued to S. Henderson. The diesel buses were rerouted to S. MLK Way S. when the trolleys were extended. The intention is to build a new layover wires on Virginia St. When complete, all trips will be by trolley. One difference since the extension to MLK Way S. is that trolleys now operate at night. Trolleys have not operated on Beacon Ave. since 1958 when the interlined 3/4 operated as diesels at night and Sundays taking over the route 36 diesel route. Photographer not known. Courtesy of Tom's
Trolley Bus Pictures and the Testagrose collection.
This page last updated 10 AU 2011
