urbanSTL

The only streetcars that ran on south Kingshighway were between Euclid and Manchester (Taylor and Forest Park lines) and between S. Vandeventer and Devonshire (Southampton).



The construction of the grade separation on Gravois with the Missouri Pacific (Iron Mountain) tracks probably was the reason for the abandonment in 1939 of the Cherokee streetcar line. This was a heavily travelled rail line at the time with frequent passenger trains. MoPac att one time offered commuter rail service. There was a station in Carondolet Park and on South Broadway near River Des Peres.

The book "Streets and Streetcars of St. Louis: A Sentimental Journey" is available at most local bookstores. It's a great resource with lots of picture and maps that will blow your mind.



http://www.amazon.com/Streets-Streetcar ... 0964727935



I gave it to my father-in-law for Christmas a few years ago and we had a great time looking through it. I can't imagine what this city would be like if even 5% of those routes remained.

The book is great as far as it goes. However, it mainly concentrates on those streetcar lines that were still running after about the late 40's. It doesn't cover the important lines that were abandoned before that time like the Fourth, Tower Grove, Compton and Cherokee. Also, several lines such as Taylor, Cass, Lee, Eighteenth and others which were still running in the late 40's weren't covered.



What's ironic is that so many streetcar lines were lost because of street widening projects: Natural Bridge, Jefferson, Broadway (I-70 & I-55), Cherokee (Gravois), Vandeventer and Market. Others were hindered by the lack of foresight in establishing, early on, sufficient street right of way width to accommodate a growing city. Grand avenue was originally intended to be a wide, "Grand" avenue but the city fathers at the time refused to go along and limited it to 80 feet. The Manchester lines were hindered by being built on one side of the road which meant that one track was running against automobile traffic.



I recently visited Berlin, Germany where they have numerous wide streets, often with streetcar lines on reserved right of way in the center. Some of these lines have been extended recently and there are several line extensions in the planning stage. Many wide streets, especially in West Berlin feature exclusive bus lanes which helps considerably.



Check out this link about St Louis streetcar lines in 1902: http://books.google.com/books?id=9sJHAA ... q=&f=false