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As cities find streetcars put them on track for growth, Omaha aims to get on board

Editor's Pick

As cities find streetcars put them on track for growth, Omaha aims to get on board

Henry J. Cordes Omaha World-Herald
Feb 2, 2022
Feb 2, 2022 Updated Aug 9, 2022
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7 min to read

Mayor Jean Stothert and Mutual of Omaha CEO James Blackledge announce plans for a new Mutual of Omaha headquarters skyscraper on the site of the current downtown library. The plans also include building a three-mile streetcar system that would run from the riverfront to the Nebraska Medical Center. Photographed at the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center in Omaha on Wednesday, January 26, 2022.

HalesCharles_1001 — Charlie Hales

Mutual 11 — Omaha’s streetcar would run along Farnam Street to connect midtown to downtown.
CHRIS MACHIAN, WORLD-HERALD

Hal Daub - mug (copy) — Hal Daub

Photos: Omaha's streetcar system through the years

Horse-drawn omnibus

Horse-drawn omnibus — In 1887, this horse-drawn omnibus operated from 16th and Cuming Streets to the "Cowshed" depot at 10th and Marcy Streets.
THE WORLD-HERALD

Streetcar, 1890

Streetcar, 1890 — Omaha's first trolley car and a trailer are seen in this image from around 1890.
THE WORLD-HERALD

Streetcar, 1913 tornado

Streetcar, 1913 tornado — A streetcar smashed at 24th and Lake after the March 23, 1913, tornado.
THE BOSTWICK-FROHARDT/KM3TV COLLECTION/THE DURHAM MURSEUM PHOTO ARCHIVE

Omaha Papillion trolley - 1920s

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 in the 1940s — Streetcars along 16th Street in Omaha in the 1940s.
THE WORLD-HERALD

Streetcar, 1942

Streetcar, 1942 — Hugh Lee Jr. taking a picture of Streetcar No. 946 at 60th and Leavenworth in 1942.
RICHARD ORR

Streetcar tracks, 1945

Streetcar tracks, 1945 — Farnam Street and streetcar tracks from 35th to 37th are seen in 1945. In the distance is the Blackstone Hotel.
THE WORLD-HERALD

Streetcar tokens 1949

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."
THE WORLD-HERALD

24th and N, 1951

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.
THE WORLD-HERALD

Streetcars downtown, undated

Streetcars downtown, undated — Undated photograph of downtown Omaha with streetcars.
THE WORLD-HERALD

Dundee streetcar in the 1950s

Dundee streetcar in the 1950s — A Dundee streetcar in the 1950s.
BILL KRATVILLE

Dundee streetcar in the 1950s

Dundee streetcar in the 1950s — A Dundee streetcar in the 1950s.
BILL KRATVILLE

10th and Howard, 1952

10th and Howard, 1952 — Omaha streetcar history: 10th and Howard Streets in 1952.
THE WORLD-HERALD

March 4, 1955

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.
JAMES BREELING/THE WORLD-HERALD

Official last trip - March 5, 1955

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."
THE WORLD-HERALD

Old streetcar tracks, 1998

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.
BILL BATSON/THE WORLD-HERALD

Streetcar wall sculpture, 2006

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.
JEFF BEIERMANN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Proposed Omaha streetcar in 2006

Proposed Omaha streetcar in 2006 — A simulated photo of a proposed Omaha streetcar in 2006.
HDR

Proposed Omaha streetcar in 2006

Proposed Omaha streetcar in 2006 — A simulated photo of a proposed Omaha streetcar in 2006.
HDR

Dundee streetcar tracks unearthed

Dundee streetcar tracks unearthed — Dundee streetcar tracks unearthed at 49th and Dodge Streets.
CATE KRATVILLE

Streetcar rendering, 2017

Streetcar rendering, 2017 — This is one concept of a modern streetcar, as envisioned by the Omaha City Planning Department.