Another line built by a private real estate company – the Beaumont Land Company in this case – to get prospective buyers out to their new addition.
The line began with through-service to downtown in 1911, but PRL&P – always looking to cut costs – kept attempting to convert it to stub line operation between the outer end of the line and the interchange with Rose City Park cars at NE Sandy Boulevard and NE 42nd Avenue. Attempts in 1914 and 1917 were defeated by protests from residents. Late night stub service seems to have appeared and disappeared over the years, mentioned in 1918, 1920 and 1931 articles as being “new”.
The line’s route was fairly consistent over the years, apart from a few different loops being used downtown. Repairs to the first Burnside bridge necessitated a temporary rerouting over the second Morrison Bridge from June to August 1913, with a strange one-way return route via East Ankeny and 28th streets. Apart from this, the one major long-term change was between June 1924 and May 1926 when the line was rerouted over the Steel Bridge while the new Burnside Bridge was being constructed. After the new bridge was completed, the line used a downtown loop of Burnside, Third, Washington and Fifth until the line was closed in 1936.
Replacement of the streetcar line by bus service was first mooted in 1934, but didn’t take effect until September 2, 1936. Indirect bus service via other lines was supplemented by a Beaumont line running to downtown over the course of the old streetcar line in March 1937.
Years of Operation: | December 11, 1911–September 2, 1936 |
---|---|
Operating Company: | ‣ |
‣ | |
‣ | |
Owned By: | Beaumont Land Company |
Gauge: | Narrow (3-feet, 6-inches) |
Headboard: | “BM” or “Beaumont” |
Car Barn: | ‣ |