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Seattle Trolleybus Photos 15

28 April 1940 — the present

An unidentified Brill on route 6 or 16 is about to turn left from Mercer St. onto Dexter Avenue. Up until 1958, the 6 and 16 had turned from Mercer St. onto Aurora Ave. Traffic conditions made it necessary for an underpass to be built here. The 6 and 16 were rerouted with new wire to Dexter Ave. then to Roy St. turning right at Aurora Ave. I believe, that the 6 and 16 were interlined, that is, they were treated as branches of the same line. I do know that they were through-routed with the two #12 branches (E. Cherry and 26th Ave. So.) At this time, the Brills normally ran on these lines. The 6 and 16 were diseaselized in the summer of 1963. The two 12s, remaining interlined, continued as trolleys terminating downtown (6th Ave. to Union St. to Third Ave. to Pike St. to 7th Ave. The two twelves were renumbered in 1978. The 12 E. Cherry became the #3 and the 12 26th Ave. So. became the #4. This line was extended over to MLK Way S., down MLK to S. Walker St., to S. Rainier, to 23rd Ave. S., return S. Plum St. to MLK Way.

Before 1955/6 the two 12s were not through-routed with the 6/16. They terminated downtown as I mentioned above, while the 6/16 continued south on 3rd Ave. to University St. and turned right laying over between 3rd Ave. and 2nd Ave. They went outbound on 2nd Ave. to Stewart St., down Stewart St. to Westlake Ave. then down 7th Ave. to Aurora Ave. The interlining of 6/16/12/12 was brought about when the downtown streets were converted to one-way streets (except for 1st Ave. and 3rd Ave.) The 6/16s were rerouted circa 1950 to travel north on 3rd Ave. to Cedar St. to Roy St. to Aurora Ave., but the express trolleys stayed on Stewart St., Westlake Ave. and 7th Ave. Photographer unknown. 30 JN 1959. Courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives Photograph Collection. See the 1963 map for the last routing of the 6/16. Submitted by Mike Fecund (the friendly Freund).

An unidentified Brill going southbound on 2nd Ave in 1943. The Brill was probably on the 9 Broadway, as Brills did the 9, but Twins did the 5 and 14. The Trolley is pulling out just south of Pike St. The former Rhodes Dept. store is on the right on the far side of Union St. Many of the buildings in this picture are now gone, but those north of Pike St. are mostly still there. They are eyesores. Photographer unknown. 25 AU 1943. Courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives Photograph Collection. Submitted by Mike Freund .

An unidentified Twin Coach heading north on the same block as above. This trolley was either on the 5 Phinney or the 14 Summit. Photographer unknown. 25 AU 1943. Courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives Photograph Collection. Submitted by Mike Freund.

An unidentified Pullman-Standard is trudging its way up N. Queen Anne Ave., the Counterbalance. Photographer unknown. Date: between 1963 and 1978. Submitted by Charlie Davis. Courtesy of

Pullman-Standard 1003 (?) behind an unidentified Twin Coach on the 14 Summit probably on 3rd Ave. Photographer and date unknown. Date: between 1963 and 1978. Submitted by Charlie Davis.

Twin Coach 919 signed for route 18 Ballard. It is probably at Jefferson Garage when it was new. The thing is, as far as I know, the Ballard/West Seattle runs never operated out of Jefferson Garage but out of Atlantic. Photographer unknown. 15 DE 1941. Submitted by Charlie Davis.

The trial Twin Coach that Seattle tested before making the decision to go for trolleys. Here it is at a streetcar barn, but I don't know which one. It could be Fremont. Photographer unknown. 1937. Submitted by Charlie Davis.

Street scene in Seattle of 4th Ave., Pike St., and Westlake Ave. Note the streetcar wires. When the trolleys arrived, this block of Westlake, which is angles off to the right, was not wired. The wires were installed on Westlake from Pine St. to 7th Ave. for route 5 Phinney. Routes 6 and 16 went down Stewart St. to Westlake where they turned onto it. Though a few buildings in this picture are still standing, not many of the businesses remain as far as I can tell. Westlake was cut back to Stewart St. when many streets in downtown Seattle were converted to one-way. In the first block today, there is a park. The second block gave way to a highrise. Westlake now goes only as far as 5th Ave. The was was extended over the cut of corner visible in the picture, but I think the building is still standing. Photographer unknown. Date: between 1935 and 1940. Submitted by Charlie Davis.

Another shot of Pike, 4th and Westlake, looking down Westlake. The bus in front is a short gasoline Twin Coach. The Twin Coach trolleys that Seattle got were similar to these but longer. Photographer unknown. Date: circa 1941. Submitted by Charlie Davis.

Another show Pike, 4th and Westlake, looking down 4th Ave. A Twin Coach is about to cross 4th Ave. 15 or so uears later, the trolleys would no longer be going westbound on Pike St. They were rerouted over to Union St. which became westbound one way. Photographer unknown. Date: circa 1941 — probably taken about the same time as the above photo. Submitted by Charlie Davis.

The SW corner of Pike, 4th, and Westlake taken a decade or more earlier. Of interest here is a control tower regulating streetcars crossing here. The Georgian Hotel assures that it is 4th Ave. at Pike St. Photographer unknown. Date: the the 20s. Submitted by Charlie Davis.

Special service to Dick's hamburger joint? Not really. The dash sign tells it all. The trainers and trainees rolled Pullman Standard 656 up onto and over the sidewalk and parked the trolley. And they all went in for lunch. There would be no problem starting the trolley up. First Ave. N. slopes downhill slightly towards the bay. Photo by Wayne Hom. Date: between 1963 and 1978. Submitted by Mike Freund.