Puget Sound Electric Railway

The Puget Sound Electric Railway was an interurban railway that ran for 38 miles[1] between Tacoma and Seattle, Washington in the first quarter of the 20th century. Portions of the right-of-way still exist as multi-use trail through Milton, Washington, as well as from Pacific to Tukwila, Washington.

Puget Sound Electric Railway
A train between Seattle and Tacoma c.1914
Overview
HeadquartersKent, Washington
Reporting markPSE
LocaleSeattle–Tacoma, Washington
Dates of operation1902–1928
Technical
Length199.4 mi (320.9 km)

History
Hoops were used to deliver orders to passing trains
Puget Sound Electric Railway, the Interurban Line near Tacoma

The PSE began operations on September 25, 1902[2] with a line that started in downtown Tacoma, ran along Pacific and Puyallup Avenues, followed the course of present day Pacific Highway through Fife and to Milton, turned southeast towards Puyallup and paralleled the path of today's SR 167 through Pacific, Algona, Auburn, Kent, Orillia and Renton, then into Seattle on its own dedicated right-of-way, via South Park, from there running on surface streets to the area near Pioneer Square, where it interchanged with other interurbans in the area.

Power was supplied via overhead wire in urban areas, and third rail in rural areas. The third rail was the cause of several accidents throughout the PSE's operations which involved livestock or people being electrocuted, and in some cases dead cows caused accidents involving the trolleys themselves.

The railroad ran for 26 years, until competition from trucks, buses, and automobiles on an ever-expanding road network, as well as the steam railroads, led to reduced ridership in the early 1920s and a decision to shut down operations was made by the operators. Despite protests, the interurban was allowed to suspend operations by a federal judge in a ruling made on October 13, 1928.[3] The final trains ran on December 30, 1928.[4] The rails were not pulled up until 1930.[1]

It was headquartered in Kent, Washington.[5]

Stations

As of 1910.[6]

Second life

Portions of the PSE exist today as multi-use trails in Milton and linking Tukwila, Kent, Auburn, Algona, and Pacific in King County.[8] The City of Edgewood's portion is currently in planning stages, with construction slated to begin in the Summer of 2011.[9][10]

References
  1. Perpetual Motion Pictures. The Seattle-Tacoma Railway: A Journey into the Past. Seattle, WA. 1996.
  2. Crowley, Walt (September 19, 2000). "Interurban Rail Transit in King County and the Puget Sound Region". HistoryLink. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  3. "Interurban Tariff Slate is Canceled". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. December 3, 1928. p. 16.
  4. Whitely, Peyton (August 17, 2002). "Been there, done that—railway question not new to region". The Seattle Times. p. B1.
  5. Wilma, David (March 2, 2003). "Interurban rail service between Seattle and Tacoma begins on September 25, 1902". HistoryLink. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  6. Fifth Annual Report of the Railroad Commission of Washington. Olympia, Washington: E. L. Boardman. December 1910. p. 23. Retrieved February 24, 2018 – via Google Books.
  7. "Seattle-Tacoma Interurban Will Cease Service Tonight". The Seattle Times. December 30, 1928. p. 16.
  8. "Interurban Trail (South)". King County Parks.
  9. "The Interurban Trail" (PDF). City of Edgewood.
  10. "Work starts this summer on long-awaited Edgewood trail"
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