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Bangor Maine Interurbans
Maps and Details on the Interurbans Systems in New England
Bangor was the first town in the state of Maine to have electric railway service. The first trolleys were launched in 1889 and electric service was soon spreading across the city. Over the years, service expanded off of Main Street, with spurs spreading to serve neighborhoods.
Up until shortly after World War II, Bangor was home to an extensive network of street trolley lines that connecting outlying towns, including Charleston, Brewer, Old Town and Hampden.
When the war came to a close, buses and personal automobile ownership began to gain favor. Trolleys couldn't compete effectively against regular vehicle traffic, and the trolley system was shut down on the last day of 1945.
Bangor Area Map
Pan and zoom in and out on the map below for a detailed understanding of the various trolley companies in service in 1924.
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Interurban Timelines - Predecessors/Mergers/End of Life
All Interurban timeline info sourced from the highly informative chicagorailfan.com site:
Interurban Railways in Maine
Bangor
- 1887-1905 - Bangor Street Railway
1905-1924 - Bangor Railway & Electric Co.
1924-1950 - Bangor Hydro-Electric Co.
1945 - streetcars discontinued
Further Details
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- Ninety Communities in Maine had Electric Railway Service
- Trolley Travel in Maine
- Bangor Street Railway
(Book) - Narcissus Restoration Project
- Main Street construction unearths long-hidden remnants of Bangor transportation history
Source/Credits
The Electric Interurban Railways in America |
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection - 1924 - Maine