Jul. 17, 2007 - 23:02 MDT

THEN AND NOW

Memory takes me back to the old Denver Tramway system that I grew up with, which in that course of time changed as I got older. I was acquainted with those massive vehicles on rails, the frame was steel, the rest of it wood except for the motor and associated moving parts, of which the wheels were of utmost importance.

Then one could get from anywhere to anywhere else in our town, just needing to transfer from one route to another.

I loved 'em, they'd rock and roll, front end twisting left as the back end twisted right, depending on the speed of transit. Late at night it was a hoot.

There were a few bus lines serving new neighborhoods as well.

During World War Two the system had problems, no new rolling stock available and parts almost unavailable.

The war over the company put trolley buses on the routes, I didn't see where it helped a whole lot, but it was novel to see a trolley bus swing over to the curb to disgorge passengers or pick some up.

Gradually over time regardless of updates on our highways, we became knee deep in cars and gridlock the norm.

The powers that be have been working on the problem, and we now have some "Light Rail" trolleys, which entailed laying new track and building new electric overhead lines. They run North and South quite a distance now.

The powers that be also are dealing to use rail lines in use by the rail roads, much dickering going on there. Any way the lines are being extended in all directions. Some of the Tramway trackage once used by the Interurban trolley from Downtown Denver to Golden at the base of the foothills has been torn out to make way for Light Rail to go west.

Eventually it will be possible to go from our railroad station in Lower Downtown Denver all the way out to our airport (a matter of over twenty miles) by Light Rail.

So the attempt is being made to bring mass transit into the years numbered into the two thousands. With modern equipment there should be a wonderful difference between THEN AND NOW . . . . . . . . . . .

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