Streetcar

The Lawrence J. Fleming Papers consist primarily of correspondence, grant applications, notes, drawings, photographs, articles, promotional items, technical documentation, and other materials showing Fleming's work to establish, maintain, and expand the Arizona Street Railway Museum, including acquiring and restoring three trolley cars (#44, #116, and #504) that ran on the Phoenix Street Railway. Also included are materials documenting Fleming's service to the Arizona Historical Society's Central Arizona Chapter, research on the Fleming and Coyne families, and work with the Central Arizona Air Museum.

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"Last Run" Video

Created1948-02-17
DescriptionThis video depicts the final streetcar run on the Phoenix Street Railway.

Part 1

ContributorsFleming, Lawrence J., 1932- (Interviewer) / Smith, Joseph Nelson, 1901-1980 (Interviewee)
Created1972 (year uncertain)
Description
Smith and Fleming discuss the Railway's development, including the expansion of routes in central Phoenix, the Kenilworth line, the Washington Street line, and the Glendale line; the quality, laying, maintenance, and sale of track used on the Railway; the types of cars employed, the methods of their operation, their braking…

Smith and Fleming discuss the Railway's development, including the expansion of routes in central Phoenix, the Kenilworth line, the Washington Street line, and the Glendale line; the quality, laying, maintenance, and sale of track used on the Railway; the types of cars employed, the methods of their operation, their braking systems and bells, and their individual eccentricities; various of Smith's colleagues; and anecdotes regarding a dog who slept in a trolley car's cog wheel and citizens taking cars on the Washington line on joyrides. Smith also reflects on Phoenix's development, including "millionaire's row," the growth of residential neighborhoods, canals, and businesses.

Part 2

ContributorsFleming, Lawrence J., 1932- (Interviewer) / Smith, Joseph Nelson, 1901-1980 (Interviewee)
Created1972 (year uncertain)
Description
Smith and Fleming discuss the cars used on the Railway, including their colors, fare boxes, electric bells, and logistical aspects of their operation; specific Railway lines, including the Kenilworth line, the Hollywood line, a loop running to Eastlake Park, and Stout's siding; rules motormen were expected to follow and the…

Smith and Fleming discuss the cars used on the Railway, including their colors, fare boxes, electric bells, and logistical aspects of their operation; specific Railway lines, including the Kenilworth line, the Hollywood line, a loop running to Eastlake Park, and Stout's siding; rules motormen were expected to follow and the organization of a union in 1913; scheduling and use of multiple cars on a single line; acquisition of new streetcars for the Railway system; maintenance of the Railway system, including lowering tracks on Adams Street; logos and marketing slogans; and various of Smith's colleagues. Smith also mentions Phoenix's Mexican, Chinese, and Black communities.

Part 1

ContributorsFleming, Lawrence J., 1932- (Interviewer) / Hodges, Sam (Samuel Rosco), 1889-1986 (Interviewee)
Created1972 (year uncertain)
Description
Fleming and Hodges discuss specific Railway lines, including the Indian School line, the Hollywood line, the Orangewood line, the Glendale line, the Washington Street line, the Grand Avenue line, the Fairgrounds line, and the track around "Desert Curve"; Phoenix's development; the construction and operation of cars used on the Railway,…

Fleming and Hodges discuss specific Railway lines, including the Indian School line, the Hollywood line, the Orangewood line, the Glendale line, the Washington Street line, the Grand Avenue line, the Fairgrounds line, and the track around "Desert Curve"; Phoenix's development; the construction and operation of cars used on the Railway, specifically cars 1, 30, 31, and 32; the track used on the Railway; various of Hodges' colleagues; and working conditions, including scheduling, salary, job responsibilities, uniforms, and seniority.

Part 2

ContributorsFleming, Lawrence J., 1932- (Interviewer) / Hodges, Sam (Samuel Rosco), 1889-1986 (Interviewee)
Created1972 (year uncertain)
Description
Fleming and Hodges discuss working conditions, including scheduling and various of Hodges' coworkers; a trip Hodges took to visit his sister in California, including his impressions of Parker, Arizona; the challenges American military personnel face when returning from deployment; the Phoenix Street Railway's infrastructure, including bridges and the types of…

Fleming and Hodges discuss working conditions, including scheduling and various of Hodges' coworkers; a trip Hodges took to visit his sister in California, including his impressions of Parker, Arizona; the challenges American military personnel face when returning from deployment; the Phoenix Street Railway's infrastructure, including bridges and the types of cars used on the various lines; an accident involving a split switch that Hodges had while operating a streetcar in 1914; and Hodges' time working on an Arizona ostrich farm.

Part 1

ContributorsFleming, Lawrence J., 1932- (Interviewer) / Scott, Bill (William Henry), 1892-1975 (Interviewee)
Created1972-01-30
Description
Fleming and Scott discuss the types of cars used on the Railway and details of their construction and operation, including the procedure for charging them, use of lights to indicate whether passengers were waiting at a particular stop, what colors they were painted, and handling livestock grazing on right-of-ways; individual…

Fleming and Scott discuss the types of cars used on the Railway and details of their construction and operation, including the procedure for charging them, use of lights to indicate whether passengers were waiting at a particular stop, what colors they were painted, and handling livestock grazing on right-of-ways; individual Railway lines, including the exact route of the Glendale line and the year of its decommissioning, the various lines Scott drove on, and the use of buses on the Kenilworth line in the 1930s; working conditions, including salaries and motormen being robbed; the construction of the tracks the Railway ran over; and Fleming's efforts to locate, acquire, and preserve historic streetcars.

Part 2

ContributorsFleming, Lawrence J., 1932- (Interviewer) / Scott, Bill (William Henry), 1892-1975 (Interviewee)
Created1972-01-30
Description
Fleming and Scott discuss specific routes, including a route running to the fairgrounds, the Hollywood line, and the Orangewood line; operation of the cars, including bells, handbrakes, airbrakes, issues caused by dirt on the tracks interrupting the electrical connection with the car, running out of power, single versus double trucks,…

Fleming and Scott discuss specific routes, including a route running to the fairgrounds, the Hollywood line, and the Orangewood line; operation of the cars, including bells, handbrakes, airbrakes, issues caused by dirt on the tracks interrupting the electrical connection with the car, running out of power, single versus double trucks, turning individual cars, and altering seating configurations; specific cars, including #33; various of Scott's colleagues, including "Shorty" Baker; anecdotes regarding Scott's time as a motorman, including accidents and a passenger who used the noise made by a defective wheel as an alarm clock; and Fleming's memories of riding on the Railway as a small child.

Part 3

ContributorsFleming, Lawrence J., 1932- (Interviewer) / Scott, Bill (William Henry), 1892-1975 (Interviewee)
Created1972-01-30
DescriptionFleming and Scott discuss the construction of the cars used on the Railway, Fleming's planned book regarding the Phoenix Street Railway, Scott's photographs depicting the Railway and its employees, various of Scott's colleagues, and Phoenix's growth.

Interview with Joseph N. Smith

ContributorsFleming, Lawrence J., 1932- (Interviewer) / Smith, Joseph Nelson, 1901-1980 (Interviewee)
Created1972 (year uncertain)
Description

Joseph Smith started working as a motorman on the Phoenix Street Railway in October of 1926 and retired in 1956. In this interview, Smith and Fleming discuss the Phoenix Street Railway's development, the types of cars employed, the track used, individual routes, maintenance issues, and working conditions for Railway employees.…

Joseph Smith started working as a motorman on the Phoenix Street Railway in October of 1926 and retired in 1956. In this interview, Smith and Fleming discuss the Phoenix Street Railway's development, the types of cars employed, the track used, individual routes, maintenance issues, and working conditions for Railway employees. Smith also reflects on Phoenix's development, including "millionaire's row," the growth of residential neighborhoods, canals, and businesses.

Interview with Sam R. Hodges

ContributorsFleming, Lawrence J., 1932- (Interviewer) / Hodges, Sam (Samuel Rosco), 1889-1986 (Interviewee)
Created1972 (year uncertain)
Description

Sam Hodges went to work with the Phoenix Street Railway in 1913. He left the Railway to serve in the Army during World War I and returned to Phoenix in 1922. He continued working with the Railway until 1948, when he ran one of the last cars down Washington Street…

Sam Hodges went to work with the Phoenix Street Railway in 1913. He left the Railway to serve in the Army during World War I and returned to Phoenix in 1922. He continued working with the Railway until 1948, when he ran one of the last cars down Washington Street in the "Last Run" ceremony. In this interview, Hodges and Fleming discuss specific lines, the construction and operation of cars used on the Railway, working conditions for Railway employees, and accidents on the Railway. Hodges also discusses a trip he took to visit his sister in California, the challenges American military personnel face when returning from deployment, and his time working on an Arizona ostrich farm.