Washington DC Streetcar History

O. Roy Chalk and the Last Days of D.C. Transit

June 2, 2026May 28, 2026 by ghostsofdc

Restored DC Transit GMC Fishbowl bus number 1400 in green, white, and coral livery

Just after 2 a.m. on January 14, 1973, WMATA condemned D.C. Transit and its suburban sister company out of existence. The owner was a New York lawyer named O. Roy Chalk, and he had run Washington’s bus system for sixteen and a half years.

Gas Rationing in Washington, D.C.: The Long Lines of 1942

May 12, 2026May 1, 2026 by ghostsofdc

Washington, D.C. Passengers, drivers, and dogs were tired by the time they reached the gas pumps on the day before stricter gasoline rationing went into effect

In June 1942, Washington D.C. gas stations on upper Wisconsin Avenue ran dry by 8:30 a.m. These Office of War Information photos show how the city lived through wartime gas rationing.

Capturing History from Above: Washington, D.C. Street Scene in 1939

October 22, 2023February 27, 2023 by ghostsofdc

Washington, D.C. A street scene showing street cars crossing at 14th Street and New York Avenue, photographed from a building near the Lotus Club

This blog post examines a photograph of Washington, D.C. taken from a building near the Lotus Club in 1939. The image depicts a street scene showing streetcars crossing at 14th Street and New York Avenue, providing a unique aerial perspective of the city during that era. The post reflects on the historical significance of the photograph, serving as a time capsule of the past and a reminder of the rich history of our nation’s capital.

Revisiting Streetcar Life in Washington, DC: A Look Back at Life in 1943

May 11, 2026August 4, 2022 by ghostsofdc

What was it like riding the streetcars of Washington on the 1940s? Take a look at this series of great old photos.

Abandoned Capitol Traction Company Powerhouse in 1967

November 9, 2022January 19, 2022 by ghostsofdc

These haunting 1967 photos show the inside and outside of the old Capitol Traction Company Powerhouse, previously located on the Georgetown waterfront.

Step Back in Time: Take a Look at What a D.C. Streetcar Looked Like Over 100 Years Ago

November 9, 2022September 29, 2016 by ghostsofdc

Take a trip back in time and see what a D.C. streetcar looked like well over 100 years ago. Click on the image for more details and soak up the nostalgia.

Washington, DC and the 1942 Wartime Gas Shortage

December 4, 2023September 16, 2015 by ghostsofdc

1942. "Effect of gasoline shortage in Washington, D.C." Note the streetcar control tower. Photo by Albert Freeman, Office of War Information.

During World War II, a 1942 gasoline shortage pushed Washington, DC onto streetcars. Albert Freeman’s photo captured the 14th Street control tower.

1950s Film Footage of Washington, D.C.: Dupont Circle, East Capitol Street, and Union Station

November 9, 2022May 13, 2015 by ghostsofdc

This is some awesome footage of the old streetcar system here in D.C. from the 1950s. What’s really great is seeing some recognizable spots in the city, like the Dupont Underground, East Capitol St., and of course Union Station. The footage is quite long, but skip around a little and you’ll see some great stuff.

From 1942 to Now: Revisiting a Street Corner in Washington, DC

November 9, 2022February 27, 2015 by ghostsofdc

Washington, D.C. Street corner, 7th Street and Florida Avenue, N.W.

Revisit a street corner in Washington, DC from 1942 to now with this blog post and Google Street View. See how the building across the street has changed from 1942 to now.