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Nebraska Interurbans and Streetcars: Lines, History, Photos

Published: May 2, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Streetcar railroads and interurban lines once played a pivotal role in the transportation network of Nebraska, profoundly influencing urban development and the daily lives of its residents during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

A postcard of Omaha & Southern Interurban car #226 during the early 20th century. The system ended service in 1931.

The genesis of streetcar railroads in Nebraska dates back to the late 1800s, a period marked by rapid urbanization and technological innovation. Omaha, the state's largest city, became the focal point for the deployment of streetcar systems.

The Omaha Horse Railway, established in 1867, was among the first, utilizing horse-drawn carriages along rails to ferry passengers around the city streets. As technological advancements emerged, these horse-drawn systems were gradually replaced by electric streetcars, following the global trend towards electrification in the late 19th century.

By the 1890s, Omaha had embraced electric streetcars, with the Omaha and Council Bluffs Street Railway introducing electric lines. These streetcars not only reshaped Omaha's urban landscape but also spurred suburban expansion, as people could now live further from their workplaces and commute daily. Other cities in Nebraska, including Lincoln, also adopted streetcar systems. Lincoln's streetcars, starting with mule-drawn services in the 1880s, transitioned to electric power, thereby boosting the city's connectivity and growth.

Throughout the state, the expansion of streetcars dovetailed with the rise of interurban railways. These electric railroads operated between cities and rural areas, providing a critical linkage in Nebraska's transportation network. By connecting urban centers with smaller towns, interurbans facilitated economic synergy and made regional travel more accessible, thus nurturing both urban and rural economies.

One prominent example was the Omaha, Lincoln, and Beatrice Railway, which connected these three cities and ran until the mid-20th century. This line, like many others, was instrumental in facilitating business travel and leisure excursions, fostering a tighter economic and social bond between disparate communities.

Despite their significance, the height of streetcars and interurbans was limited. The proliferation of automobiles and the construction of extensive highway systems in the mid-20th century led to a steady decline in these rail-based transportation modes. Convenience and the flexibility offered by cars drastically overshadowed the streetcar and interurban services, rendering them obsolete in the face of new transit preferences.

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.

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.

Legacy

By World War II, the only remaining system still serving Nebraska was the Lincoln Traction Company, which managed to survive until 1946.

In cities like Omaha and Lincoln, as well as across the countryside linking smaller communities, the impact of streetcars and interurbans is still evident in the urban layout and development patterns that they influenced.

Today, the legacy of Nebraska's streetcar and interurban systems lives on through historical accounts and the physical traces they left behind, like abandoned trackbeds and depots. These networks played a seminal role in shaping the state, contributing to the intricacies of its urban and rural tapestry and leaving an indelible mark on Nebraska's transportation history.