Streetcars in Cleveland

Like most large cities in the United States, there existed a large network of streetcars in Cleveland in the late 19th and early 20th century. The city's first horsecar line began operation in 1860. Cleveland hosted the first electric streetcar line in the United States, opened in 1884, though this initial service would prove unsuccessful. Electrification was again initiated in 1888 with more permanence, and a small system of cable cars was established the following year. Initially formed from several distinct operators, the streetcar system was consolidated under one private company, the Cleveland Railway, in 1910 after attempts to form a municipal system failed. The Peter Witt streetcar was developed for use in the city. Streetcar service ended in 1954 as a result of the plan to build what would become the rapid transit Red Line across Cleveland, which would have feeder services provided by buses.

Cleveland additionally served as a hub of interurban lines with remnants of the network still in operation as part of RTA Rapid Transit. The subject of streetcars in Cleveland primarily addresses traction operations which ran directly on city streets and interacted with other road traffic, whereas the modern light rail lines are descendant from a system which had significant dedicated right of way.