The Lost Streetcars of Chicago | Finding the Last Green Hornet Tracks - IT'S HISTORY

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IT’S HISTORY - Weekly tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.

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Scriptwriter - Imana Schoch
Editor - Rishi Mittal
Host - Ryan Socash
This video is sponsored by Endel

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» NOTICE
Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.
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Living in Chicago, I've seen loads of tracks sticking out here and there. Bricked roads as well. Usually on side streets or around warehouses. I've even seen some exposed during street renovations and under bridges. It makes me sad for some reason? Like an era lost and nearly forgotten. Still very cool to see

SArtisto
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In Amsterdam, NY the trolley car tracks are still visible in places just under the asphalt of the roadways.
Two generations ago you could take a trolley to Albany, Schenectady, and many local towns in the area.
We have General Motors to thank for destroying the trolley car transportation system in America.

freetolook
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Thank you Ryan Socash for keeping the past alive....🙂

piavmes
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the green hornets were gorgeous. Chicago should consider investing in modern streetcars like in Portland Toronto, Milwuakee, Atlanta, and a lot of other North American cities

carstarsarstenstesenn
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The MBTA in Boston still runs PCC cars on the High Speed Line from Ashmont Station in Dorchester to Mattapan.

bendover
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I remember my mother taking me with her to ride the Green Hornets on the North Broadway line in Chicago. I remember the rapid acceleration, and smooth, quiet ride of the cars, much superior to the buses that would replace them. The only negative was the inability of the streetcar to maneuver around traffic, as noted in the video.

Ad_Valorem
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Used to ride the PCC green trolleys in Philadelphia during the 60s and 70s.

LUIS-oxbv
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The Green Hornets' trucks (wheel sets and electric traction/propulsion motors) were recycled, being placed under then new CTA "L" cars, the 6000 class, known somewhat affectionately as "Spam Cans". Some of these cars, now retired and kept at museums, have been reacquired by CTA and restored for it's Heritage Fleet.

samholmes
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I work as a trucker around the area, and one place I deliver to on occasion is not far off the Bishop Ford. On 104th St either at Torrence or Muskegon, there's a pothole revealing a real cool glimpse of cobblestone and streetcar track

adamcontreras
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Love this. I operated streetcars in Toronto years ago and love seeing some history on any mode of rail transportation.

ryanbalkissoon
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As a kid growing up in Chicago during the md to late 1960's I remember riding the electric buses that ran powered by overhead wires. They were capable of some maneuverability unlike the streetcars. It was cool watching the sparks fly wherever the buses crossed another set of wires.

rhino
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16:00 - This rail-track was not paved-over, because the thicker road surface would reduce clearance height under the bridge.

g
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Ongoing issue. Remnant . There is no extra "e" after the "m." Rem-nant.

wintersbattleofbands
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Can remember entering the center door of old trollies back in the 1950's with my dad to pay the fare. Philly still has 4 or 5 trolley lines and better yet some track less trolley lines that have a small diesel engine to take over during power problems. Backup engines can only supply enough power to go maybe 25 MPH on a level road.

garbo
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Yes my grandfather and father operated a trucking company out of a building at 2577 W. Armitage which was formerly owned by the CTA. I’m not sure what happened and where inside the building, but I’m sure the building is still standing to this day. Also, I don’t know if you’re old enough to remember, but I am, when the L cars were in dark green and white before they were replaced by the brushed aluminum

rogerpenske
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Wow I'm so thrilled. I wasn't born then but I'm so amazed. I love my Chicago hometown. Thank you for sharing.

mylescornelious
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The Chicago streetcars were great, but a couple of factors led to their demise:

1) The economics of the time (late 1940s to 1950s) were working against a large system.

2) The demographics at the time were changing. White flight at the time led to an emptying out if formerly dense neighborhoods.

3) When the CTA took over in 1947, competition between the surface lines and the 'L' ended. The thinking of the CTA at the time was that the surface lines should be a feeder to the 'L' and that the 'L' should do the heavy line haul service.

4) Because of their high cost and inflexibility, the streetcars could not achieve the above.

5. Even before the CTA took over, the former Surface Lines was using buses for expanding services.

paulj
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The city of Toronto Canada TTC used PCC street cars just like the Green Hornets. Called the Red Rockets, these cars were in service for decades until replaced by more modern vehicles in the 1980s. My Dad was a Test Technician at Canadian General Electric in the 1940-50s and he tested the traction motors for Red Rockets. He told me a story of a time when he was on the last run of the night and he persuaded the TTC driver to “give her” and they got that street car up to nearly 70 mph on Danforth Ave. East.

assessor
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Outstanding report, great photographic views.
So good to know that Americans are awakening to the truth that we need more rails and PCC trolleys or trams to advance mobility and advance commerce. Keep up the great work.

merccadoosis
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Very sad they can’t bring the street cars back, I do believe it would boom. Living outside Charlotte, they have brought back a couple street lines and they are really busy. Definitely a lost era

vettebecker