Austin Street Railway Company

The age of the personal automobile arrived and brought with it a clear challenge to the streetcar business. Promotions for the automobile noted freedom from crowded street cars and the discomfort and delays of street car travel.

When the dam broke on April 7, 1900, the flood waters crushed into the power house drowning five employees and three small boys. On verso, "My husband's cousin was motorman on this streetcar and jumped before bridge gave away, coming in from Deep Eddy."

Photo of "Austin Street Railway Company" electric streetcar, with cables attached to grip on roof. Austin Rapid Transit Railway Company was the first operator of an electric streetcar in Austin (Feb. 26, 1891), soon to merge with Austin City Railroad Co.

Forward-facing view of streetcar interior, showing its center aisle from one-point perspective. Four rows of booths are visible (including double facing booths) with booths on each side of the aisle.

Front of the Montopolis Neighborhood Resource Center. A sign on the building reads, "City of Austin Human Resources Department. Montopolis Neighborhood Resource Center. Community action division." The building is brick with narrow windows.

View of street car facing camera, with railroad operator seated behind its driving wheel. Another railroad operator, wearing the same uniform as the driver, is walking on the street near the back of the train and headed forward.

Close range photograph of open-style trolley with lettering that reads, "Austin Street R.Y Co." Two men stand in front of the streetcar, both in uniform that includes a skipper cap.

View of a streetcar along the west side of the Capitol building. The signs on the streetcar read "Austin Street Railway Company" and "So. Austin."

Close range photograph of streetcar with a sign above the front that reads , "Farwest" Two men stand in front of the streetcar, both in uniform that includes a skipper cap. Two passengers, a man and a woman, are seated inside near the windows.

View of street car with Capitol in background

On Feb. 7, 1940, the city commemorated the last ride of the streetcar along the Congress Avenue main line. Ceremonies took place at the intersection of Sixth St. and Congress Ave., as pictured here near storefronts that include "Walk Over Bootery."

Close range view of "Austin Street Railway Company" streetcar. On February 7, 1940, the city commemorated the last ride of the streetcar along the main line of Congress Avenue.

Back reads: "Carl Lyda and Louis Kocurek sitting on front end of open air street car. This was at a passing switch on West Sixth Street near entrance to the old Confederate Home. About 1920."

Real photo postcard of wreck. On verso: "Flood of April 22, 1915, Austin, TX., w. Sixth St. line. Before car could be moved, a rain on April 24 washed it downstream with considerable damage."

Annual Meeting of Austin Street Railway Employees