Having these picture sets on our website is only possible due to the dedication and organization of Barry G. Smith from Arlington, Virginia. Over past decades the long time trolley enthusiast collected, organized, and preserved hundreds of slides and other artifacts on the Washington D.C. area trolley system. We thank him for his dedication to the hobby.

The Capital Traction Company was started on September 21, 1895 when two small street railway companies merged. These companies were the Rock Creek Railway and Washington and Georgetown Railroad. Also, in 1895 they began construction of the Car Barn building in Georgetown next to the Exorcist stairs. Prior to being electrified in the early 1890s the trolley cars were pulled by horses.

Capital Transit Company was formed with the merger of Washington Railway, Capital Traction, and Washington Rapid Transit On December 1, 1933.

In 1955 Capital Transit became DC Transit and began changing its service to busses. The last streetcar ran in Washington DC on January 28, 1962.

The Presidents’ Conference Committee (PCC) is a streetcar design that was first built in the United States in the 1930s. The design proved successful in its native country, and after World War II it was licensed for use elsewhere in the world where PCC based cars were made. The PCC car has proved to be a long-lasting icon of streetcar design, and many are still in service around the world.

National Capital Trolley Museum (NCTM) is located in Colesville, MD and has several trolleys on display and you can take a trolley ride on the 1.25 mile track.

Barry G. Smith operating car #1101 at the National Capital Trolley Museum on Sept. 5, 1983. Original picture is #103 in Photo Set 2.