Nebraska Interurbans and Streetcar Railroads

(Please note that the below photos do not depict Nebraska interurbans or streetcars.)

Amazing as it seems, Nebraska interurbans were very uncommon. Nearby states such as Kansas, Iowa, Colorado, and even South Dakota were home to at least a few such systems. Of course, Nebraska was not entirely without streetcar lines and included companies such as the Omaha, Lincoln & Beatrice, Omaha & Southern Interurban Railway, and the Omaha & Lincoln Railway & Light Company. A few others are also mentioned below, which primarily only served a local city (all of the state's systems, large and small, were located to the east between Omaha and Lincoln). In any event, most of the state's electric lines were gone when the interurban industry collapsed during the 1920s and early 1930s. Interestingly, however, the OL&B built up such a profitable freight business that it not only sustained the company well past the end of the industry but also it still survives today as shortline railroad.

The information below includes short paragraph descriptions of most Nebraska interurbans and streetcar railroads.

Lincoln Traction Company: The Lincoln Traction Company, as its name implies served the City of Lincoln. It began operations in 1897 after the Lincoln Street Railway was reorganized. The interurban railroad operated until 1943 when it was sold to National City Lines. NCL continued to operate streetcars for about three years until all rail service was discontinued in 1946 being replaced by buses.

Nebraska Traction & Power Company: The Nebraska Traction & Power Company began operations on May 19, 1909, connecting Omaha and nearby suburbs of South Omaha, Ralston and Papillion. In total the interurban railroad operated about 14 miles of track. It would eventually become part of the Omaha & Lincoln Railway & Light Company. It was never a particularly profitable operation and was abandoned by 1926.

Omaha, Lincoln & Beatrice Railway, "The Big Red Line": The Omaha, Lincoln & Beatrice Railway today is a Class III, shortline freight railroad. However, it has its roots dating back to 1903 when it was originally meant to connect Lincoln, Omaha and Beatrice but was unable to complete the planned route operating only around Lincoln. In 1928 it gave up on passenger service but in 1929 was purchased by a company called NEBCO and began hauling freight. The company still owns the railroad today although it has long since scrapped its freight motors for more traditional diesel locomotives. Part of the reason the company has been able to sustain for so many years is that it earned significant profits as a kind of terminal railroad transferring and shuffling freight around Omaha. For more information about this railroad please click here.

Omaha & Southern Interurban Railway: The O&SI was Nebraska's last notable electric line. It operated an 8-mile line serving Omaha and Fort Cook opening to the public on October 20, 1906. It was never able to develop a successful freight business and began seeing deficits by the 1920s when automobiles came into widespread use. The system was abandoned by 1931.

For a small gallery of photographs highlighting Nebraska interurbans and streetcar railroads please click here.

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