Built to Move Millions: Streetcar Building in Ohio

by Craig R. Semsel

“A hobbyist’s enthusiasm, curiosity, and attention to detail exude from this technological history of Ohio’s streetcar industry . . . Highly recommended.” —ChoiceAt the beginning of the twentieth century, the street railway industry was one of the largest in the nation. Once ubiquitously visible on the city streets, by mid-century the streetcar was nothing more than a distant memory. Ohio was home to several large streetcar systems, especially in Cleveland and Cincinnati, and had more interurban tracks than any other state in the union. Thus, Ohio served as one of the street railway industry’s greatest centers of manufacturing.Built to Move Millions examines the manufacture of streetcars and interurbans within the state of Ohio between 1900 and 1940. In addition to discussing the five major car builders that were active in Ohio during this period, the book addresses Ohio companies that manufactured the various components that went into these vehicles.Includes extensive photos

517 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 27, 2008

Reviews

[M.J. Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing history of streetcars!

This book is very informative to a student of streetcar history. It describes the rise and fall of streetcar manufacturers and their ancillary industries in the state of Ohio. The streetcars described in this book are very unique and tailored to fit the requirements of particular streetcar companies in the United States.