January–June 2003 • $10.00 / Las Vegas Monorail • Transport for London, Part 2: London’s Jubilee Line Extension The Magazine of Electric Railways Published since 1939 by the Electric Railroaders’ Association, Inc. erausa.org/headlights Contents Staff editor and art director January–June 2003 Sandy Campbell Volume 66, Number 1–6 contributors Raymond R. Berger, James N. J. Henwood, John Linden, Raymond J. Mercado, Frank S. Miklos, Chris Slaight and William Vigras COVER STORY Electric Railroaders’ Viva Las Vegas Association, Inc. Raymond R. Berger and Raymond J. Mercado show us how a modest 13 casino shuttle using ex-Disneyworld monorail cars has been transformed E into a world class transportation showcase. Officers & Directors president FEATURE Frank S. Miklos first vice president Charles A. Akins London’s Jubilee Line Extension returns to London with a fascinating photo essay second vice president; corresponding secretary Sandy Campbell 26 Raymond R. Berger of one of the world’s most modern subways. third vice president; recording secretary William K. Guild director Randy Litz treasurer Michael Glikin librarian Richard C. Evans trip & convention chairman Jack May membership secretary Lewis Hitch National Headquarters Grand Central Terminal A-Tower, Room 4A New York City Mailing Address P.O. Box 3323 Grand Central Station New York, N.Y. 10163-3323 Subscriptions 1996 Jubilee Line units stable at Headlights is sent free to members of the ERA. Stratford Market Depot. 26 An application for ERA membership can be found on our website, or we will gladly mail one to you michael pead, wikipedia upon request. Back Issues COLUMNS Back issues of Headlights may be ordered from our website. Recent issues are also available for download in PDF format. News Frank S. Miklos compiles worldwide transportation reports. 3 Changes of Address All change of address requests should be e-mailed to [email protected]. Correspondence Book Reviews All inquiries regarding the activities of the ERA James N. J. Henwood reviews The Green Line: The Cincinnati, 6 should be e-mailed to [email protected]. Newport & Covington Railway by Terry W. Lehmann and Earl W. Clark, Jr., Submissions and Streetcar Scenes of the 1950s, in Color, by LeRoy O. King Jr. Manuscripts for publication should be e-mailed to the editor at [email protected]. © 2003 electric railroaders’ assoc., inc. On the Cover: One of Las Vegas Monorail’s all rights reserved. 06/01/06 sleek new Bombardier M-VI trains by John Linden Photography. 13 2 headlights | january–june 2003 CALIFORNIA Go Ahead for LA’s Exposition Light Rail San Jose is replacing its original fleet of LRV’s with new low-floor cars and has put the older cars up for sale or lease. They are slightly wider and longer than Sacramento’s existing fleet of cars which were built by Siemens Duewag and the Spanish builder CAF. The sta- tion platforms will have to be shaved to provide more clearance for the former VTA cars which will be limited to three car trains because of platform lengths. The cars are expected to be in service in time for the opening of the six- mile light rail line from Sacramento to Meadowview Road in October 2003. Another 10.9 mile extension to Folsom is scheduled to open in April 2005. Central Freeway Bridge Removed Over Market Street john stern, sprague library collection in San Francisco bill to rescue the proposed Exposition Light Rail line Service on the F-Market Street route was cut back to Van between Santa Monica and downtown Los Angeles Ness Avenue from April 18–23 while the Central Freeway was approved by the California State Senate Trans- bridge over Market Street was removed. Shuttle buses Aportation Committee. The legislation establishes a con- were operated between Van Ness Avenue and Castro struction authority to oversee the project’s design and con- Street while the streetcar service was suspended. In the struction which will be built along Exposition Boulevard on an abandoned Pacific Electric right-of-way (seen above in the 1950s). The $426-million project was threatened by funding shortages and proposals were advanced for less costly express bus service along that corridor. A similar construction authority successfully guided the completion of the new light rail line to Pasadena. Sacramento Looking to Acquire San Jose Cars The Regional Transit system may acquire 21 light rail cars from the Valley Transit Authority in San Jose. If an agreement can be reached, RT will lease the vehicles for frank s. miklos $250,000 each and modify them for service in Sacramento. days before the start of service on the F-Line, a Hiroshima At the end of 15 years the cars will become the property of car (above) was operated in conjunction with the San Sacramento Regional Transit. Francisco Trolley Festival. headlights | january–june 2003 3 COLORADO MARYLAND Denver to Golden Hikers and Bikers Block DC’s Light Rail Line Proposed Proposed Purple Line The Regional Transportation District has proposed a new When the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad abandoned its light rail line linking Denver with Golden, Colorado. The Georgetown Branch between Bethesda and Silver Spring, 12-mile line will utilize the right-of-way of the abandoned the right-of-way was purchased by the State of Maryland Denver and Inter-mountain interurban route that was for a future passenger service between those two commu- abandoned in the 1950s. If the construction of the line is nities. In the interim, the right-of-way was utilized for hik- approved, it is expected to carry 31,000 daily riders. No ers and bicyclists. When plans were announced for a light date was given for the projected completion of the line. rail service on that line, the hikers and bikers protested the destruction of their “historic trail.” (Below) The Platt Valley trolley in Denver operates along a portion of the former standard-gauge Despite such objections, strong support for the rail project, interurban line to Golden. It uses a diesel-powered to be known as the Purple Line, was voiced by residents at open-bench car built by Gomaco. public hearings. The plan also had the support of Maryland frank s. miklos Governor Glendening, but was opposed by members of a country club that did not want light rail trains operating along the edge of its property. Maryland’s county executive proposed an alternate outer route that would run completely underground as a branch of the Washington Metro, but the $5 billion cost was so expensive as to make funding very unlikely. Residents and other local officials supporting use of the old B&O alignment urged that construction of the Purple Line be approved to provide an alternative to the congested road- ways between Bethesda and Silver Spring. Before this could be done, Maryland’s new governor voiced support for new highway construction projects in the area. His transportation secretary expressed concern for the interests of the country club along with those who wanted to preserve the hiking and biking trail. He stated that “this trail is a treasure” and proposed a bus transitway that would operate along Jones Bridge Road an east-west artery north of the country club. That route had been pro- posed for light rail in 2000, but rejected as unsuitable. Supporters of the Purple Line light rail service continue to push for it to be constructed, but they are up against supporters of busways and an expensive subway, neither of which seems as practical as the original light rail plan. At this point the situation may remain unresolved for years to come. 4 headlights | january–june 2003 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS Arborway Service Still on Hold lans for restoring the outer end of the Arborway Earlier in the year, the Sierra Club voiced strong criticism of streetcar line have been challenged by merchants in the MBTA’s plans for Phase III of the Silver Line bus service the Jamaica Plain business district who claim the ser- on Washington Street. They noted that the transit agency Pvice will disrupt traffic and cause hardship to their shops had promised equal or better service than that which was and restaurants. A group called Better Transit Without provided by the discontinued Orange Line along that cor- Trolleys has been formed to protest the restoration of the ridor. The new plans call for the construction of tunnels rail service. MBTA general manager Matthew H. Mulhern that would allow buses to travel underground into the was quoted as saying, “We need to bring the trolleys to Boylston Street station of the Green Line and continue to the curb or the curb to the trolleys.” He also cited concerns South Station. The Sierra Club pointed out that a better about public safety and the effect that the streetcars will service could be provided by utilizing the unused Tremont have on the response times of emergency vehicles. Street trolley ramps to provide direct light rail service into the Boylston Street subway station. A light rail line from Supporters of the rail service have vowed to file a lawsuit Dudley Square to downtown Boston would cost approxi- because the MBTA’s capital budget did not include con- mately $160-million compared with a cost of over $1-billion struction funds for the trolley line. Newly elected Governor for the Silver Line bus service. They stated that light rail for Mitt Romney is reviewing transportation funding in an less money is the smart, convenient choice. effort to minimize spending, and proposals are being advanced for the use of compressed natural gas buses as Rail Link Plans Dropped an alternative to the trolleys. Rail service proponents have rejected this because any bus scheme will not provide pas- Meanwhile plans for a rail link between North Station sengers with a one seat ride into the Green Line subway and South Station have been dropped because of funding for people traveling into downtown Boston.