Sioux City had a colorful trolley history which included an elevated railroad for a number of years. Horse car service began in 1884, and the elevated began a year later. A steam dummy line was started in in 1886. A cable line began in 1887. Electric operation began in 1894. And the whole thing was consolidated in 1899. This meant that track gauges had to be standardized and overhead wire was strung over all non-electrified track. The elevated lasted only a few years after consolidation.

Most cars were built in the company shops, and the system grew until World War I. There was some modernization after that, but it was mostly in the form of one-manning the cars and acquiring Birneys. Abandonments began in 1926 with occasional cut backs until World War II. After the war, cutbacks continued until final abandonment in 1948.

28 was built in the company shops in 1904. This photo was supply by Carl Musselman, originally from Sioux City, now Omaha. His Great Grandfather Carl John Fredrickson was a streetcar man in Sioux City and was employed by the Sioux City Service company for 50 years. Heis the one on the ground at the left. Story has it that Carl John Fredrickson drove in the last horse drawn street car one night and drove out the first electric street car the next morning.

35, 39, 45, 55, 57, and 62 were built in the company shops in 1907, 1907, 1914, 1914, 1916, and 1917 respectively. They were rebuilt in 1929 with Taylor trucks replacing the original Brill maximum traction trucks.

63 was built in the company shops in 1922 from a body supplied by American Car Co that year. Order #1303.

Birneys 207 thru 226 were built by American Car Co. in 1920, order #1237. 212 was destroyed and replaced by 2^nd 212 built by American Car Co. in 1921, order #1290.

227 thru 231 were built by Cincinnati in 1921, Order #2425.

233 thru 236 were built by Brill in 1920, Order #20927, as Citizen Traction Co 76 thru 88 (even). They were acquired by SCS in 1928.

301 was built in the company shops in 1900.

AMDG

2/3/2000