Today, March 31, 2026, is the last day of the DC Streetcar discussed in this review.
Washington, D.C. Streetcars Through Time
John Deferrari's book, "Capital Streetcars: Early Mass Transit in Washington, D.C." (2015) offers a thorough, readable overview of the history of streetcars in the nations capital from the Civil War through the final streetcar run in January, 1962, and beyond. I didn't live in Washington, D.C. during the streetcar era; I lived in Milwaukee and, when young, witnessed the end of streetcars in that city which took place in 1958. I have kept my love for the streetcar while my love for my adopted city has grown with the years. I welcomed the opportunity to learn about the D.C. streetcar system. Deferrari is a native Washingtonian who has written extensively on local history.
The book begins with a short discussion of pre-Civil War Washington, D.C. and moves to the development of horse-drawn streetcars through the end of the nineteenth century. It includes an excellent discussion of the transition from horses to mechanized transportation, including cable and then electricity. The different technologies and their histories are described in terms easily understandable to a lay reader. Deferrari describes how the Washington, D.C. system was unique, due in part to Congressional control over the city. The use of trolley lines was early forbidden in the central part of the city. Streetcars operating downtown had to rely on underground power in a system called conduits. Defarrari describes how the system worked and how it interfaced with trolley lines in the areas outside the central part of town. The book describes the rise of the streetcars in the early years of the 20th century and the competition they faced almost immediately from automobiles. The streetcar had a resurgence in the years of WW II but began their inevitable demise soon thereafter in the 1950s.
Many people, myself included, have a great nostalgia for the streetcars. The reasons for loving the old cars comes through well in this book. But Defarrari is no sentimentalist. He points out the many difficulties of streetcar transportation, the noise, crowded conditions, expense, safety hazards, erratic schedules, interference with other traffic and more. In contrast to some lovers of traction, Deferrari has little doubt that the era of the streetcar properly came to an end. Yet, the book shows how streetcars in their long day were an integral part of urban America and of Washington, D.C as people rode for work and for pleasure and as the city expanded along the routes of the cars.
This book is particularly valuable for placing streetcars in the context of urban history. Deferrari discusses events closely intertwined with the streetcars' history, including a large fire in downtown Washington, D.C. in the late 1880s which doomed the use of cable, a severe race riot in 1919, discrimination against African Americans in employment with the streetcar companies, and the use of women as conductors and as operators during WW II. I learned a great deal about local history from this book. Deferrari also describes the economics of the public transit business and the history of corporate greed in operating mass transit systems in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere in the country.
The book is thoroughly researched with a comprehensive bibliography and endnotes. The text includes many quotations from newspapers, streetcar patrons, and observers over the years that greatly enhance the text. Some of the chapters begins with short poems that give contemporary responses to streetcar travel. The book includes many photographs which offer views of streetcar travel and of Washington, D.C. during the streetcar era. There is a large inset of color photographs in the middle of the book.
The book concludes with a discussion of the possible limited revival of streetcars in Washington, D.C., including the on again off again history of the D.C. Streetcar project. After the publication of this book, the long-awaited D.C. Streetcar began operations on a line of about 2.5 miles from D.C's Union Station down Benning Road,, a historic D.C. Streetcar route. I have ridden on the D.C. Streetcar and loved it. Still, the streetcar probably does not have a promising future as a form of Washington, D.C. transportation. Deferrari's book also includes an introduction by the president of the National Capital Trolley Museum, a local non-profit educational organization designed to foster understanding and appreciation of the streetcars and their history.
"Capital Streetcars" will help keep streetcars and their history alive. I enjoyed reading this book and learning about and reliving my passion for streetcars.
