Typical Horse-Drawn Streetcar (not Greensboro)

A horse-drawn street railway, first proposed in 1886, was established in October of 1891.

The Street Railway Journal of 1891 reported "At a meeting of the directors of the Greensboro Street Railway Company, the following officers were elected: President, R.M. Douglas; Vice President, J.M. Jordan; Secretary & Treasurer, G.S. Sergeant; Attorney, R.R. King."

The Street Railway Journal of March 1892 reported: "The Greensboro Street Railway Co. have begun a survey of their road made, and construction will probably be begun soon."

The Greensboro Electric Company, financed by New Yorkers and chartered in May of 1901, began electric streetcar service on June 11, 1902, replacing a small horse-drawn operation.

Greensboro Open Streetcar

The 6th Annual Report of the North Carolina Corporation Commission, dated December 31, 1904, reported that the Greensboro Electric Company operated eleven (11) passenger cars and one (1) trailer on 3.27 miles within the city limits of Greensboro and 5.31. miles outside the city limits. The company had twenty-six (26) employees serving 831,308 passengers in the year of 1904. Company officers named were: John Karr of Hockettstown, NJ as President; Z.V. Taylor of Greensboro as Secretary; M.D. Burr of New York as Treasurer; and, A.H. Jones of Greensboro as Superintendent.

Typical Open Streetcar - 1910s

In 1909, the W. N. Coler Company of New York City purchased the streetcar systems and electrical and gas utilities of Greensboro and the franchise for High Point, and organized a new company, North Carolina Public Service Company. Based in Greensboro, the company was controlled by officers and directors from the north, although it included representatives from its NC service areas. By 1915, the company had expanded Greensboro’s North Elm Street line to the upscale Irving Park neighborhood and purchased utility companies, including two more streetcar systems, in Salisbury and Concord. In 1926, the North Carolina Public Service Company was sold to Duke Power Company of Charlotte, NC. Streetcar service ended on July 14, 1934.

North Carolina Public Service Company Streetcar in Greensboro, NC

The 11th Annual Report of the North Carolina Corporation Commission, dated December 31, 1909, reported that the North Carolina Public Service Company operated twenty-eight (28) passenger cars and two (2) trailers on six (6) miles of track within the city limits of Greensboro and 5.91 miles of track outside the city limites. The company carried 1,415,851 passengers during 1909. The original company officers were: L.H. Hale of New York as President; B.S. Coler of New York as Secretary & Vice President; L.H. Hale, Jr. of New York as Treasurer; E.C. Deal of Greensboro as Manager; and, Z.V. Taylor of Greensboro as 2nd Vice President.

The Electric Railway Journal of November 25, 1916 reported: "North Carolina Public Service Company, Greensboro, NC, has ordered two city cars from the Southern Car Company, High Point, NC."

The Electric Railway Journal of February 3, 1917 reported: "North Carolina Public Service Company, Greensboro, NC, has ordered fifteen light-weight, single-truck, double-end cars from the American Car Company."

Click Here for a full-page advertisement in the Electric Railway Journal of January 26, 1918 pertaining to North Carolina Public Service Company.

The Electric Railway Journal of March 18, 1922 reported: "North Carolina Public Service Company, Greensboro, NC, will maintain double car tracks on South Elm Street and will extend the double tracks on North Elm to the intersection of Church and Bellemeade Streets. The City Council recently approved of this improvement."

Graham Brothers of Detroit - 14-Passenger Bus - 1925
(not Greensboro)

The Electric Railway Journal of February 14, 1925 reported: "The Greensboro Bus Company, a newly organized subsidiary of the North Carolina Public Service Company, Greensboro, NC, recenlly started the operation of three buses supplementing its railway service. The bus service will accommodate residents in this vicinity not reached by railway lines. Buses are of the latest 22-passenger street car type, manufactured by Graham Brothers of Detroit. The fare on the buses is 10 cents, and free transfers are given passengers from buses to the street cars. A charge of 3 cents will be made when passengers enter the bus with a transfer received from the street cars at Jefferson Square."

The Electric Railway Journal of March 14, 1925 reported: "The North Carolina Public Service Company through its subsidiary, the Greensboro Bus Company, Greensboro, NC, plans to extend a bus line to serve west of the North Carolina College, out Spring Garden Street as far as Pomona, and a second line through Glenwood and Piedmont Heights. At present the company operates two bus lines from Jefferson Square to the county home through Westerwood and West Market terrace. The new line will parallel the present car line for practically the entire distance. The fare on the buses, it was stated, will be 10 cents."

Thomas Car Works Streetcar for North Carolina Public Service Company - 1929

The Electric Railway Journal of September 1929 reported: "The North Carolina Public Service Company, Greensboro, NC, recently placed an order for five new cars with the Perley A. Thomas Car Works, High Point, NC. These cars are now being delivered to the railway by the car builder. They are of the double-end type, arranged for one-man service, with front entrance and rear treadle-controlled exit doors. A feature of this car is that the motorman will be seated when operating the controls. The window spacing in front of the car is so arranged that he has a clear view of the street in front of him, and the visibility is not obstructed by wide posts. The flooring of the cars is made up of 1-1/2 in. square rubber tiles of two colors. The total weight of the car is 33,200 lb., and the length overall is 41 ft. 5 in. The length over the body posts is 27 ft. 10 in. and the width overall is 8 ft. 6-1/2 in., while the height from rail to trolley base is 10 ft. 7 in. An all-steel construction is used for the body. The type of car is one-man, double-end, double-truck, and the seating capacity is 40 passengers."

The Electric Railway Journal of September 1931 reported: "Greensboro, NC—The City Manager announced, following a conference with K. K. Garrett, general manager of the North Carolina Public Service Company, that plans were being worked out for the substitution of buses for street cars on the Asheboro run."