The Cincinnati Bell Connector Streetcar

Thanks for the information.  I hope to ride it while on vacation this summer.  Handsome looking streetcars.

          Logan

Nice looking cars.  I see that they didn’t use the 2-wire system like the original Cincinnati streetcars.   Two wires obviously would not work with pantagraphs.  Are there any plans to expand it beyond downtown?

Bill

Thank you for answering my little blog on the Cincinnati Bell Connector.   The Cincinnati Streetcar changed its name approximately 10 days before the initial start.  The telephone company bought the naming rights to the Streetcar to the tune of $340,000 dollars per year for the next 10 years.   This got the attention of the Cincinnati Council.  Besides changing the streetcars name, The Cincinnati Bell Connector Streetcar changed its color to Green, Blue, White, etc about 10 days before its first revenue run.  It is not expensive to ride the car--$1.00 for 2 hours and a mere $2.00 the entire day.  I like to ride it on the weekends because the Washington Park Parking Garage located right below the Music Hall/Washington Park Streetcar Station is very accessible.  It cost usually around $5.00 to park at the garage on weekends.   Music Hall is going through a $130 million dollar renovation and the Park was renovated several years back plus they put this very nice parking garage below the park.  So, you can get on the streetcar and have a nice ride all the way to the ball-park  and back.  I  get on at Washington Park, Elm Street Station and ride all the way to the ball-park at the Banks. There are Restaurants at the Banks such as Ruth Crist Steak House, Holly Grail Restaurant, Moorlein Lager House,  Taste of Belgium Restaurant and other small restaurants.  The Cincinnati Bengals Stadium is located about 3 short blocks west of the ball-park.  Right in this vicinity  is the Cincinnati Underground Railroad Museum which helped the slaves escape from the South.  Very nice.   Not too far of a walk is the Roebling Suspension Bridge (a baby Brooklyn Bridge) that you could walk over to Covington, Kentucky and back.  Going East at the Banks is the old L&N Railroad Bridge which has been painted Purple and you can walk over this ex-railroad bridge (free) to Newport on the Levee which has a theater, bookstore,  the Newport Aquarium,  restaurants at the Levee and the surrounding area,  There is going to be a  " New Wheel"--A Large Ferris Wheel Type Structure built near Newport on the Levee.

Newport and Covington, Kentucky are trying to get a streetcar built to connect with the Cincinnati Bell Connector.  This would be a win win situation for all of the towns involved.  A man from the Connector Streetcar told our streetcar group that the extension of the Cincinnati Bell Connector up to the University of Cincinnati might happen but the Newport--Covington Streetcar might be next.

There is a lot more to see and visit on the Cincinnati Bell Connector--the Banks has about 3 billion dollars worth of new real estate which includes a GE World Office Building,  The Radius Apartment Building, The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and  Reds Gift Shop,   Besides this, The Banks has the Serpentine Wall Park, Carol Ann Carousal, Smale Park, a Jogging Park and more.

This is just one area of the downtown Cincinnati Area to visit.  The Streetcar passes many interesting spots along its route which include Cincinnati Fountain Square which has the beautiful Tyler Davidson Fountain, lots of restaurants and a Graeters Ice Cream Shop.  

I have only touched on some of the Interesting Spots to see along the streetcar route.  

You asked about "two wires" on the old Cincinnati Street Railway Route.  Back in the day, the fore fathers of Cincinnati, Ohio when building the old Cincinnati Street Railway decided to use 2 poles up to two wires in the overhead because they were afraid that the grounding track of the streetcar might leak stray electric currents and harm the telephone cables.  Today, the streetcar uses a single pantograph up to a wire that carries 750 volts of d.c. current. 

Right now, The Duke Energy Convention Center located at 5th and Elm Street in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio has 9 Murals from the Cincinnati Union Terminal on the outside West Wall of the Convention Center.   These Murals were salvaged back in the mid-1970s from CUT because the Southern Railway was going to tear down the CUT Concourse (which they did) and they were moved to the Greater Cincinnati International Airport. They put all 9 murals in one of the Delta Terminals.  The Southern Railway tore the concourse down to make way for Piggyback Freight Cars and Double Stackers.   These fantastic Wienald Reiss (Artist) Murals remained at the airport until the business dropped and again the Murals had to be moved as Delta was going to tear down there terminal. Thanks to the kindness in Dukes Heart, they moved the Mosaic Tiled Murals from the airport to the West Wall on Central Avenue of the Duke Convention Center.  Just beatiful!  They are each probably 9 feet wide and 12 feet tall.   These murals were hung right below the very large CINCINNATI illuminated sign.  The Murals have been enclosed in thick plexi-glas sheets, illuminated at night, and most likely heated/air conditioned in the winter/summer.  Special plastic ultra violet blocking curtains protect them from the sunlight. You can drive right by them, but the City of Cincinnati is going to have to put a parking lane on Central Avenue to allow cars to stop and allow viewing of these gorgeous murals.

One Last thing---The Cincinnati Union Terminal is going through a very expensive remodel and most likely it will be done in 2018.   The exquisite fountain in front of the terminal is getting a new floor with lighting so it will not leak water below it. The terminal was built in the early 1930s.  The terminal back in the day had a streetcar ramp on the north egress side leading up to the terminal and also on the south exit ramp. They were never used.  These ramps are going through the remodel.  You never know, the Cincinnati Bell Connector Streetcar might make an appearance one of these days at the terminal because those ramps are large enough to handle this modern streetcar.  Most of the Museum Center, and the large Duke Energy Christmas Train Display are not open right now--but some things like the Omnimax Theater, Amtrak Station and certain displays are open to the public along with the Cincininati Railroad Tower A Club.  Check with these places to find out the times and days they are open.  The Terminal will be in full operation most likely sometime in 2018.

Well there you have it...When visiting Cincinnati, Ohio why not take a ride on the Cincinnati Bell Connector Streetcar.  

Sincerely yours       Ivan Schlan     (some revisions made on 01/17/2017).

The Kentucky suburbs of Cincy had a large streetcar system called the Green Line. They stopped at Dixie Terminal downtown.

The "two wire" set up was to prevent leaking current from corroding the gas mains through electrolysis. That was the main reason for the conduit plows in New York and Washington D.C.

The two wire streetcar system was a shoe in for the electric trolleybus and as streetcars were phased out (sad) the trolleybus was phased in.  The last Marmon Harrington Trolleybuses were discontinued in the year 1965.  Newport and Covington, Ky had a nice streetcar system known at the Green Lines.  All streetcars  that ran in those cities were built by the Cincinnati Car Company in Winton Place, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio.   All lines of The Cincinnati, Newport and Covington Railway located in Covington came over the Suspension Bridge (Ross Roebling Bridge) into the Dixie Terminal Building via ramps into the building on the second floor. All streetcars of the C N & C Railway in Newport came over the Central Bridge, over Pearl St to 3rd St and into the basement of the Dixie Terminal Building.  About 20 years ago the person who owned the Dixie Terminal forbid the C N & C to run there buses in this magnificent DixieTerminal Building.  Hence the buses came over to Cincinnati, Ohio circled the downtown area and back over there respective bridges into Newport or Covington.   The Dixie Terminal  Building is still there but I am not sure whats in it now since no buses were allowed to use it and the ramps into the second floor were removed when the Ft Wasington Connector Way (espressway) was remodeled about the year 2000.  All Cincinnati Street Rail Way Cars were also built by the Cincinnati, Car Company except for the PCCs and Brilliner.  The PCC Streetcars of Cincinnati, Ohio 26 air electric St Louie  cars and 24 All Electric St Louis PCC cars were  sold to Toronto Canada (TTC) in the spring of 1950. Contrary to popular opinion, the last modern streetcar operated until the Spring of 1950 and the last All Electric streetcar with the number 1174 were all sold to Toronto Canada.  This was the start of a long procession of PCCs going second hand to Toronto Canada.  Yep,  Cincinnati Street Railways St Louie PCC cars were the first batch of used PCC streetcar for Toronto.  The last streetcars operating up to April 29, 1951 (death of the Cincinnati Street Railway) were 100 Cincinnati Street Railway  Peter Witt Cars numbered 100 thru 199.  These Witt Cars and one beat up prototype Pullman Air Electric PCC car plus one beat up prototype Brilliner Streetcar were put on trucks or flat cars and sent to Armco Steel in Middletown, Ohio for the ultimate death--scrapping on April 29, 1951.. The new CAF Cincinnati Bell Connector Streetcars are  numbered 1175 thru 1179 based the last PCCs 1174 etc that went to Toronto Canada.  Every newspaper and television news channel said that the first number of the new CAF Streetcar was based on the last modernized PCC streetcar that stopped running in Cincinnati on April 29 1951.  THIS IS WRONG..THE NUMBER 1175 WAS BASED ON THE LAST PCC STREETCAR IN CINCINNATI, OHIO THAT WAS SOLD TO TORONTO, CANADA IN THE SPRING OF 1950.    And here is another real corker about the 26 Air Electric PCC streetcars  and 24 All Electric PCC Streetcars of the Cincinnnati Street Railway.   The 26 Air Electric PCC Streetcars used in Cincinnati were obtained in 1940 from St Louis and they were run 10 years and then sold to Toronto.  The 24 All Electric PCC streetcars in Cincinnati were obtained from St Louis in 1947 and were sold to Toronto, Canada in 1950.  In otherwards, the last 24 St Louis PCC streetcars only ran 3 YEARS in Cincinnati, Ohio and then they were shipped to Toronto.  Toronto got almost new PCC streetcars from Cincinnati and they soldiered on in Toronto for another 25 years and then they were scrapped by the TTC.   I hope all of you who read this "rag"  can understand what happened.  Besides this, the Vine Street Hill (double tracks) was completely rebuilt starting in 1946 and then Cincinnati completely abandoned Streetcars in April 29, 1951.  The new Cincinnati  Bell Connector will most likely go up Vine Street Hill to the University of Cincinnati and they will have to rip up 1 1/2 miles of practically new 1946 streetcar track totally replacing it SOON for the new connections to the University, Hospitals, and Zoo. 

Have a great New Year....from Ivan Schlan

Thought I would post some more info on the new Cincinnati Bell Connector Streetcar.....

About 2 weeks ago, the Cincinnati Connector experienced there first morning of 8 degree F weather.  Of the 5 CAF streetcars parked in the car yard, only 1 would run.  The other streetcars had compressor problems.  That must of been an embarrassing morning for the people that run the streetcar.  Well, CAF in Elmira, N.Y. must of had a fix for the problem and parts for the compressors were sent to Cincinnati, Ohio because the compliment of 4 cars was running by late morning.

Of course some of the streetcars business has slowed down because of winter.  The test of the streetcar is when they build the route up to the University of Cincinnati, Ohio--The University of Cincinnati Hospital--The Cincinnati Veterans Hospital and of course--the Cincinnati Zoo (the home of the legendary gorilla that had to be killed last spring because of a 3 year old child penetrated his compound--The Gorillas Name was Harambe.  This caused quite a stink with animal rights activists and of course Peta.  

It will be at least till next November 8th 2017 til we  know if we get our extention (phase 2) on the Cincinnati Bell Connector.  Reason for this will be new Mayoral Elections in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The current Mayor (Granley) is hostile to the streetcar--Yvette Simpson on the Cincinnati Council will run for Mayor and a new tall gentlemen will be running for mayor.  These last 2 people are Pro-Cincinnati Streetcar.   

The University of Cincinnati Complex is a hot bed of Activity and has one of the finest new Soccer teams (FC-Cincinnati).  If you wish, will keep you informed on what happens next November.\

One other point of interest:  In Melbourne, Austraiia, the Yarra Tram Company, has 10 trams (streetcar lines) going to the University of Melbourne of which 8 lines terminate at the University and 2 other lines go furthur out.  If you want to see the Melbourne Tram Lines, look them up on You Tube.  I think Melbourne has about 28 tram lines operating in the City.  Yarra Trams are the largest tram system in the world.

Sincerely yours,   Ivan Schlan

Great info. I travel to Cincy several times a year and next visit I will catch a ride for certain. Cincinnati is undergoing an amazing transformation that is being done in a first class way. Don't forget to try some of the very good local restaurants after your rides!! 

Attn:  BigTruckPete:    Next time you get to Cincinnati, give me a call on my cell phone...859-801-1172.  Would be glad to ride the new Cincinnati Bell Connector Streetcar with you-----I shall bring my friend Richard along too.  If you wish, we can have some lunch at the sports bar and restaurant known as Howl at the Moon.  This restaurant is located within 50 feet of the Cincinnati Bell Connector Streetcar Reds Baseball Stop at the Banks.  Looking forward to seeing you...railbear601 -- Ivan Schlan

Planning to see Ringling Brothers in Cincinnati in March before they end.  Looking forward to visiting the trolley line as well as Union Terminal. 

I read about a group that had passenger cars in Covington KY, including some cars from the B&O Columbian.   Do you have any inside scoop on this?

Pictures Please!

PCRR/Dave

Hi Vistadomescott:  Yep it is a wise idea to get to Cincinnati, Ohio in March 2017 to see the last (sad) Ringling Brothers Circus at the U.S. Bank Arena at the Banks in Cincinnati, Ohio.  I am not sure what day the Circus will get into town.  All I know is if you bring your camera and get down onto  Riverside Drive (formerly Eastern Avenue), you will see for the last time a  big silver train bringing in the Circus on the stub end of this track.  The track they are coming in on is the ex Pennsylvania Railroad, ex Conrail, and now Genesee and Wyoming switches this railroad which is owned by the city of Cincinnati.  Usually two big dash-8 GEs or electric diesel engines will bring the passenger cars all the way on the track just East of the Banks and the U.S. Bank Arena.  Cincinnati, Ohio bought the tracks from NS several years ago so they could expand the river front area (now called "The Banks").  Cincinnati also had the intensions of building a lightrail line on this track.  It is a double track railroad that ends at a junction called Oasis. The L&N Railroad use to come over the L&N Railroad Bridge (from Newport, Ky)--the bridge is now the painted Purple People Bridge.  The track was cut right at Oasis and this allowed Cincinnati, Ohio to expand the Banks without having to put up with Conrail trains coming thru the Banks area.   This track continued West behind the Reds Baseball Stadium and went down 2nd Street--Crossed over the CSX railroad via a bridge that was caught in a gas line fire back in the day which put that line OUT of business.  The NS track connected with the NS Gest Street Yards and also with the CSX Queensgate Yards.  To add  more confusion, the CSX got the Circus Train to Cincinnati, Ohio via the old (now abandoned) L&N Decoursey, Ky  Rail Yards.  Look up on youtube, and you will see "jawtooth" dvd movie of the movement of the 2016 Circus Train into Cincinnati Ohio starting at the mouth of the abandoned L&N (now CSX) Decoursey rail yards.   The Genesee and Wyoming Railroad has the rights to do switching on the railroad next to Riverside Drive which the City of Cincinnati, Ohio owns.  This prevents the current mayor (hostile to the Cincinnati Streetcar) from building a bike trail on this railroad cause G & W still switches a few industries and G & W saids no to the current mayor cause having a switching railroad right next to a bike trail ain't a good idea.   So, Cincinnati, Ohio will lose a piece of railroad history sometime in March 2017 forever and also lose the Circus forever.  Thanks animal rights groups and the lot.   Strange, the Shrine Circus is coming to Northern Kentucky University located in Coldsprings, Ky and they are bringing there elephants?????   So how does the CSX get the Circus Train down to the Banks,  Its this way...The Circus Train comes over the Ohio River on the C&O Railroad Bridge.  The train passes by the Cincinnati Union Terminal and then on to Winton Place and heads straight for about 3/4th of a mile, and heads East on the old B&O line through Norwood, Ohio (this line is owned by the G & W all the way to Columbus, Ohio).  At Norwood, Ohio there is a switch that allows the G & W to ride over the old Pennsylvania Line to Underclift Yards (whats left of Underclift) down the double tracks along Riverside Drive to the Montgomery Inn where the line ends in a stub end.  And there you see (or don't you see) how the Circus gets to the US Bank Arena

Sincerely yours   Ivan Schlan.    

Don't forget to ride the railroad in the street -- The Cincinnati Bell Connector Streetcar if you are coming to Cincy...And you can catch the streetcar right at the Rights Baseball Stadium Station Stop...

Whoops -- I goofed--- you can catch the Cincinnati Bell Connector right at the REDS Baseball Stadium Station Stop.  I am tired -- its been a long day -- have a great week everyone....Ivan

Ivan, thanks for the info!  Looking forward to the Cincinnati weekend in March.

Vistadomescott:  Thought I would look up on the net the day the Ringling Bros Circus is at the US Bank Arena down at the "Banks" in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.   It said Friday  the 10th of March 2017 at 7PM.  I presume the train will get to Cincinnati, Ohio on Wednesday?  You will have to look this up on the net to get the exact schedule the train crosses the Ohio River (if it is even coming this way).  The train might be coming from Indianapolis, Dayton, Ohio etc and that means it would not be crossing the Ohio River from Kentucky.  If it does cross the  ole C&O railroad bridge into Cincinnati, Ohio---what a sight for the LAST time, this huge Circus Train will snake around the "streetcar like" curves of the CSX Railway as it clears the bridge.  Then, on its way to Norwood, Ohio (Genosee and Wyoming) and down to the  G & W along Riverside Drive to the Montgomery Inn and they  will drop off the Passenger Cars there.  As far as the cars with the Animals, I am not sure where they will unload them.  Look up on You Tube, the Ringling Bros Circus entering Cincinnati, Ohio via Jawtooth  2016.  Don't forget, this is the LAST time (History Making Event) that this train will be coming to Cincinnati, Ohio.   There will be no elephants this year on this train (SAD).

This past Sunday,  January 22, 2017, I went to a Toy Train Swap meet at the Montgomery Country Fair Grounds in downtown Dayton, Ohio. Sad to report that this will be its Last Show as the Hospital Across the street has bought the entire fairgrounds and will tear down and destroy every thing there because they will build a new parking garage and parking lot.  This is progress?  I noticed on the street neat the fairgrounds that there was electric trolleybus wire.  Unfortunately,  the Trolleybuses in Dayton do not run on Saturday and Sunday until they take delivery of the new Nexgen Trolleybus. (I think this will take place sometime this year). I took a look at this fairgrounds, (I did not have my camera with me)  Right near the building were the Meet was is the "Cattle Milking Building".  I guess that name tells it all.  I presume that this fairgrounds is probably close to 100 years old.  Sad it will disappear soon.  This is not the first building(s) in Dayton, Ohio to have the wrecking ball hit them.  The Dayton O'Hara Arena is now closed and we use to have a huge NMRA Train Show twice a year.  Yep, this building goes to the wrecking ball soon.  I think we all should get our cameras or video cameras out and start taking pictures of these places before there gone...cause...when there gone THEY ARE GONE.   Did you know, the ICONIC Cincinnati Gardens located in Bond Hill, has been sold and will  be torn down. They are going to build an Industrial Park in this area.  (Trump will like that, cause people will be put back to work here). I guess this is some progress.  

Have no fear, the NMRA Show has a new home in Dayton, Ohio (well near Springfield) and we just had a meeting there.  It was in an Abandon Shopping Center building and was quite nice.  They hope to move the show next time to the abandon J C Penny Building in this same shopping center.  

The Syrian Shrine Circus is coming on February 3rd to the 5th at the Northern Kentucky University in Coldsprings, Kentucky.  Nope, they do not have a Railroad train to unload at the University,  only trucks and people.  But what is very interesting, this Circus will be bringing there Elephants to the University. mmmmmmmmmmmmm 

 sincerely yours,  Ivan Schlan   railbear601