1652-5 Transportation BISCAYNE BAY TROLLEYS
STREET RAILWAYS OF THE MIAMI AREA
by
Edward Fiidolph
Published and sold by:
Harold E. Cox
80 Virginii Terrace
Forty Fort PA 18704
Copyright 1981
by Harold E. Cox
A few days later, after the ashes had Although the barn fire ended Miami
cooled at the car barn, closer inspection of Traction' s street car operations, the
the three surviving cars showed they were company's involvement in the city's transit
unfit for service. It was probably a moot picture was still a long way from over. The
point anyway, because with no maintenance only real assets the company had left after
facility and no way to recharge the batteries the fire were the tracks and the franchise,
between runs the remaining cars couldn't have but these would prove to be as valuable as
been kept on the street. Even under the best anything the company ever owned. For nearly
of conditions passengers had frequently two years the Tatums and the city would
complained that cars coming into the barn to negotiate over either the sale of these
be recharged didn't have enough power left to assets or the resumption of service, and it
top the small rise just south of the building, would be late in 1921 before the matter was
and they would have to get out and help push resolved. Meanwhile, waiting in the wings,
the car over the hill. Obviously, the battery another company was preparing to take its
car system was finished. turn at solving Miami's transit problems.
3
Trolleys to the Beach
To the casual observer around 1910, the connection to the mainland when he built a
area that later became famous as Miami Beach wooden causeway across the Bay to Miami.
bore little resemblance to the resort city Collins ran short of cash before his bridge
that would one day bill itself as "the sun was completed, and the money to finish it had
and fun capitol of the world. " At the time been loaned by his friend Carl Fisher. Fisher.
the Beach consisted of a chain of swampy, low was a native of Indiana who made a fortune in
lying islands located due east of Miami, and automotive appliances, then went on to
separated from the city by several miles of increase it by promoting the Indianapolis
shallow Biscayne Bay. Speedway and other ventures. Fisher would
Other than boats, there was no physical play as important a role in the development
connection with Miami, and there was little of Miami Beach as George Merrick later did
reason for one. The islands were practically in the development of Coral Gables. Beginning
uninhabited, with only a few fishermen's in 1913, Fisher poured more than five million
shacks and a couple of other ramshackle of his own dollars into converting Miami
seaside buildings dotting the flat monotonous Beach from a swamp to a city. Fortunately, he
landscape. Although a steady stream of not only had the financial backing, he also
visitors did make the trip across the Bay to had the business acumen and the contacts so
swim and fish in the Atlantic Ocean, there necessary for a major development. Eventually
was no town and no permenent population to the company Fisher founded would pump more
speak of. than six million cubic yards of sand from the
Miami' s progress had started with thle bottom of Biscayne Bay into the jungles and
coming of Flagler's railroad, but it was sone swamps to help make Miami Beach a city.
years later before the Beach started down the About a year and a half after Collins'
same path to prosperity. In 1913 John Collins bridge opened, Fisher established the first
an early-day entrepreneur who had tried primitive transit line between Miami and the
farming the sandy soil and numbered a coconut Beach. In December 1914, he began operating
plantation among his agricultural ventures on a bus line across the Bay, and although the
the island, established the first permanent vehicles he used would hardly be called buses
15
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Miami Beach car 102, just in from Cincinnati
draws a crowd as it is unloaded at the nized the role the Causeway car line would
Flagler St. crossing of the F E C. The old play in helping develop Miami Beach, and he
Miami Traction track crossing in the fore- began the negotiations that would insure his
ground will provide a path for the new cars recently organized Miami Beach Electric
to reach the Miami Beach line. Historical Company would control any street car system
Association of Southern Florida. serving Miami Beach,
• by the standards of even a few years later, After some maneuvering on Fisher's part,
the line forecast better things to come. the city, on 19 March 1919, granted Miami
For the next several years, due in part to Beach Electric the exclusive franchise to
the World War, events moved slowly on the operate street cars in Miami Beach. This was
Beach. In 1915, a total of 33 voters, which subject to approval by the city's voters, but
comprised the electorate of the 300 or so this presented no problem, and on 28 June the
permanent residents,got together and formally franchise was approved by a landslide. Out of
incorporated the City of Miami Beach. Then, 37 votes cast, 36 were in favor of the grant.
late in 1916, an event of almost equal Meanwhile, Miami Beach Electric and Miami
importance occurred when Dade County decided Traction were trying to decide who would
to build a new causeway and street car line operate the Causeway cars, and early in April
between Miami and Miami Beach. the question was finally answered. Miami
Work began on the County Causeway in the Traction claimed that their 1917 contract
summer of 1917, and although Miami Traction with the county to operate across the
was awarded the operating rights over the new Causeway was still valid. They stated the
trolley line, they were already enmeshed in only reason they beglected to get the
the difficulties that would ultimately put franchise in Miami Beach was because the city
them out of business. By the end of 1918 the didn' t own the center of the streets until
city of Miami Beach was talking about February 1919, and by then they felt that
municipal operation of the new line, and Fisher had the lead on the franchise. Fisher
proposing a trolley line in Miami Beach had no intention of giving up his Miami Beach
itself, and Carl Fisher was also becoming franchise, and Miami Beach wasn't interested
more interested. in having a Miami street car company running
Fisher, like developers before and since, over its streets. Finally realizing the
knew the importance of adequate transport futility of going on, B.' B. Tatum decided to
1 to and from his holdings. He quickly recog- lease operating rights over the company' s
16
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early December, and preparations were made to
The entire Miami Beach Electric car fleet test the cars and equipment. Finally, the big
sits along the County Causeway in front of day arrived. Shortly before noon on 8 Decem-
the company powerhouse just after delivery. ber, car 101 rolled out of the car barn and
Historical Assoc. of Southern Florida. headed east toward the Beach - the first
street car ever to operate in Miami Beach.
For several hours the little Birney tried out
track on Rickmers Street and Avenue C in the switches and overhead, but carried no
Miami to the Miami Beach Electric Company. passengers other than company officials.
On 5 June 1919, the County Commission Later in the day most of the other cars were
formally awarded the Miami Beach Electric a taken out, and each one made several trips
30-year franchise to operate street cars around the Beach.
across the causeway, settling any lingering One week later the trolley car finally
doubts for once and for all, returned to Miami. On the afternoon of
The company began laying track in the 14 December car 103 rolled west along the new
early Fall, and spent the rest of 1919 and causeway line, then headed into downtown
most of 1920 building the system. A car barn, Miami, drawing curious crowds along the way.
or more accurately, shed, was built on a One automobile driver was so engrossed in the
company owned tract at the east end of the appearance of the trolley that he wandered
causeway, next to the new company powerhouse. through an intersection, ramming another auto
A wide loop of track completely circled Miami in the process, then hastily left the scene.
Beach from South Beach north to Dade Boule- It took several days longer than antici-
vard, joining the causeway track near 5th pated to familiarize operators with the new
Street and Alton Road. The company also built cars and route, as well as to educate
a one block loop around Collins Avenue and motorists to the danger of parking on the now
1st Street for the use of short turn cars on ,,active tracks, and the 15 December opening
South Beach. Overhead wire was hung on the date wasn't met. However at 11:50 A.M. on
Beach, across the causeway, and above the 118 December 1920, the first regularly
Miami Traction Company tracks in preparation scheduled car left South Beach for Miami.
for service into Miami. Finally, the company Ten minutes later the first eastbound car
ordered ten single truck Birney cars from the left downtown Miami and started toward the
Cincinnati Car Company. The first of the new Beach.
cars rolled into the FEC's Buena Vista yards The new route went into service without
on 16 September 1920, were unloaded at the the parades or carnival atmosphere that would
Flagler Street crossing and taken to the become familiar with later first runs in
Beach to wait completion of the line. Miami. But even without this advantage the
Service was tentatively set to begin on line proved to be a success from the start.
15 December. Construction was completed by However, it was several weeks after the line
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A Miami Beach Birney heads East towards the as the railway's first superintendent. Since
Beach on the trestle beside the West Viaduct the company had worked out the usual opening
of the County Causeway about 1921. In 1926 day bugs and was now under capable management,
the bridge was widened and the line double Carl Fisher turned his attention to the
tracked and moved to the center of the road. development of other areas of Miami Beach,
Historical Assoc. of Southern Florida, and the railway settled down to the daily
opened before the cars from Miami could make routine of operation.
a full circuit of the Beach. The city was One event which took place not long after
still paving 1st Street on South Beach, and the line opened would not have been routine
the car tracks were buried under the debris. on most street railways, but wasn't consid-
When the street was finally opened the cars ered too far out of the ordinary on Miami
began running on a regular 15-minute headway, Beach. Fisher had bought a large elephant
with alternate cars circling the island in which he used for promotion purposes and for
opposite directions around the loop. some light hauling around the Beach, and he
The fare between the two cities was 10 let the beast roam around at times. For some
cents throughout the line's history. Of this, reason the animal got close to the tracks one
a cent and a half went to Dade County as the day just as a car was passing, and managed to
rental fee for the use of the causeway get her trunk through an open window. The
tracks,while the balance went to the Railway. commotion woke a dozing passenger, who
Originally, the local fare on the Beach was suddenly found himself staring an elephant in
five cents, but eventually this was raised the eye. The man went through an open window
to ten cents. In Miami, a local passenger who on the other side of the car, injured himself
boarded the Beach cars was always required to and promptly sued Fisher for fifty thousand
pay a dime. dollars. Eventually the suit was settled, and
Soon after beginning service the company the elephant went on to become a noted
hired E. A. Turpin, an experienced adminis- attraction on the Beach for years.
trator who had learned his trade in Indiana,
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inherited the car barn on the causeway,
Miami Beach Electric car 101 swings north a single track trolley line between Miami and
into Alton Road for a run around the Miami the Beach, and ten Birney cars. In addition,
Beach loop in 1921. The Causeway, and the Railway took over the lease of the Miami
company power house are in the background. municipal lines.
Historical Assoc. of Southern Florida. The new company had no sooner come into
existence than it was bit by the expansion
The first indication that the line was bug. Developers had started moving into the
destined for greater things came late in area north of Dade Boulevard, and there was
1921, when city officials in Miami approached nothing like a new trolley line to stimulate
the company about operating Miami's new real estate sales. In 1923 the company began
municipal trolley system. Fisher was quite building two new lines into the area. On the
willing and the first of several agreements west side of the island, a line was built
between the Electric Company and the city of north along Alton Road from Dade Boulevard
Miami was promptly signed. Soon Miami's eight toward the Nautilus Hotel and the polo fields
Birneys joined the railway's ten cars in the near 45th Street. Later in the year the
causeway car yard, and the company began an company took the first tentative steps toward
involvement with the city of Miami that would building a parallel line on the east side of
last until the end of street car service. the island. This route also ran north from
Miami Beach, spurred on by plenty of pub- Dade Boulevard, along Sheridan Avenue and
1 licity, began to boom in the early 1920s. The Pine Tree Drive to the Indian Creek Bridge .
rail line mide it possible to live or vaca- near 51st Street.
tion near the ocean and still have the Although track work on both lines was
advantage of quick, inexpensive, and frequent substantially complete by the middle of 1924,
transportation into downtown Miami, and the company wisely decided to wait until .
people began moving to the island city. By there was sufficient population in the newly
1923, the Electric Company began to seriously developing areas to give the car lines at
consider separating the railway from the least some chance of success. Eventually the
power and light operations. Traffic on the Alton Road line did prove to be somewhat
trolley line was increasing as the population successful, but the line on Pine Tree Drive
on both sides of the bay increased, and the was a complete flop.
Miami Beach electric business was expanding Meanwhile, the rapid development of the
as well. Faced with the added responsibility area on both sides of Biscayne Bay was
of operating the Miami system as well as the beginning to draw a good deal of attention
Miami Beach line, Fisher decided to establish elsewhere. During 1923 several of the
a separate company to handle the street car, country's largest utility holding companies
operations. On 19 April 1923, the Miami Beach sent representatives to Miami to investigate
Railway Company was incorporated, taking over and to see if the area offered any potential
the equipment and assets of Miami Beach Eleca for their services. The American Power and
tric Company's railway division. The Railway Light Company of New York liked what they saw
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"Railway Agreement" was the basic document
Flagler Street at N.E. 1st Avenue looking linking the Miami Beach Railway and the city
west in April 1921. Miami Beach car 105 of Miami systems from then on. The agreement
has wyed and is preparing to head up 1st spelled out in some detail the rights and
Avenue for its return run to the Beach. responsibilities of both parties, and as far
• Historical Assoc. of Southern Florida. as the street car operations were concerned,
it worked out pretty well. Several years
and made Carl Fisher an offer for his power later a long, drawn out dispute concerning
plant and street railway. This wasn' t the bus operations would begin, which wasn' t
first offer Fisher had received, but it was resolved until 1940, but it didn't directly
attractive enough to interest him. Since it concern the day to day physical operations
left him free to concentrate on his other of the rail systems. .
holdings on the Beach without having to worry The following year, in December 1925,
about furnishing electric power and street AP&L incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary,
car service as well, and since it also gave the Florida Power & Light Corporation, to
him a good return on what had started out as handle all the utility operations in the
a relatively minor investment only a, few Miami area. The Miami Beach Railway became a
years earlier, he took it. In March 1924, wholly owned subsidiary of FP&L until it
the deal was closed, and American Power and was finally sold to private parties in 1941,
Light took over .the Miami Beach Electric some months after street car operations had
Company and the Miami Beach Railway. been abandoned.
The first step the new owners took was to From early 1924, when American Power and
renew the lease agreement for the operation Light took over, until the end of 1925, when
of the Miami municipal lines. The original Florida Power and Light was established, the
1 agreement had expired in June 1923, and Railway experienced severe growing pains.
wasn' t renewed unti; January 1924. Since the The growth of the city was so rapid, and the
renewal only ran until June 1925, not nearly demands made on the system by the Beach lines
long enough for the grandiose ideas AP&L had and the Miami municipal lines were so extreme
1 to be put into effect, the company requested that the company had a difficult time main-
and received a 30-year lease on the municipal taming control. Labor turnover was quitellI
w lines. Signed on 17 July 1924, the so-called high, due in part to the more attractive and
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the new track on Alton Road and Pine Tree
A track crew lays the tracks along Alton Drive hadn't even gone into service yet, the
Road at about 35th Street in 1923. Miami company said that material to extend these
Beach Tourist Development Bureau. lines even further into the wilds of northern i;
Miami Beach toward LaGorce and Allison '!
islands had already been ordered. It was I
better paying jobs in the overheated real probably to the company's benefit that these
estate and construction industries. Schedules schemes died rather quickly, because it would
were haphazard, maintenance of the cars be years later before there was enough
deteriorated, and fiscal control began to people in that area to support even an
slide. It wasn't until late in 1925, with the occasional bus.
hiring of more supervisory staff and the At the same time the Railway also announced
organization-of FP&L, that some semblance plans to build a few blocks of track closer
i of order was brought to the Railway. to the South Beach tourist attractions, and
With the incorporation of Florida Power early the following year a new loop around
and Light in December 1925,the Beach trolleys Biscayne Street and Ocean Drive did go into
became a classic example of that 1920s service. Meanwhile, pressure was building
phenomenon, the holding company. The cars from several sources to undertake what would
were owned and operated by the Miami Beach be a major change in the rail line between
Railway, which was owned by Florida Power and Miami and Miami Beach.
Light, which was in turn a subsidiary of By 1924 the growth of the Beach had begun
American Power and Light, a company that was to tax the capacity of the causeway rail line.
controlled by the Electric Bond and Share The single track line and the little Birneys
Company. But as long as service was good, and had been adequate for the city's population
fares stayed low, the passengers couldn' t : when the line opened, but by the mid-1920s,
have been less concerned about who owned the it was obvious that improvements were needed.
cars. In April 1924, the Metropolis, one of Miami's
The Miami Beach city council approved a principal dailies, ran a front page editorial
franchise for the new owners in April 1924, E calling for double track across the causeway
and to sweeten the pot the company announced as soon as possible. It was a far cry from
plans for all sorts of extensions. Although the paper's position only a few years later,
21
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Steam power does the digging and muscle The Nautilus line,which took its name from
moves_the ties as the Miami Beach Railway the hotel located near its northern end,
double tracks the Causeway line in 1926. operated along Alton Road from South Beach to
Romer Coll., Miami-Dade Public Library. the city limits near 45th Street. Although
some minor rerouting was done over the years,
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with cutbacks being established at various
when it was calling for abandonment of all points from time to time, the basic route
rail service. Various civic groups also got remained unchanged during the line's history.
behind the idea, with almost the same vigor One unusual feature of the line was the
they later displayed when they too were location of its track. Only a few blocks of
pushing for total abandonment of Miami's rail was laid in the center of Alton Road.
trolleys. Since the county had already Most of the track was located along either
decided to widen the causeway and add two side of the road, which was quite unusual in
more automobile lanes, the Railway decided to Miami. This line turned out to be the most
go ahead and begin double tracking the line successful of the Beach's local routes.
at the same time, and in December 1924, the On the east side of the island, service on
construction contract was signed. On 7 March the new line along Washington Avenue, Pine
1925, the county gave the Railway a new 30 Tree Drive, and Sheridan Avenue proved to be
year franchise to run cars over the new much more sporadic. The area north of Dade
I line, with the stipulation that it would Boulevard and 23rd Street, although it was
eventually be deeded over to the county. With located near the ocean, didn' t develop as
the legalities out of the way, construction rapidly as the promoters expected. The
finally began. population necessary to support a street car
There were also changes being made on line simply wasn' t there, and the erratic
Miami Beach. During the 1924-25 winter season service along Pine Tree and Sheridan reflec-
the Railway ended street car operation around ted this_ At various times, usually depending
the Miami Beach loop, and replaced it by on the season and the number of tourists in
finally starting service on the Alton Road- town, the company ran Birneys through from
Nautilus line, and the Washington Avenue-Pine South Beach to the end of the line at the
Tree-Sheridan line. At the same time the line Indian Creek Bridge, and on rare occasions
from Miami was cut back to a new loop on experimented with through cars from Miami all
South Beach. the way to Indian Creek. Nothing proved
22
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Everyone posed for this picture of car 109
and the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce The cars, which negan arriving late in the
office at 5th Street and Alton Road. The year, gradually began to go into service
new green paint scheme and Miami Beach Ry. early in 1926. Rather than waiting for all
lettering on the car date the photo as the double track to be finished, the company I'
sometime after 1923. Hist. Ascn. of began operation over each section as it was
Southern Florida. completed, using the new cars in place of the
successful and usually cars from South Beach Birneys. As the Birneys were withdrawn from
cut back at 23rd Street. service they were sent across the bay to the
Below 23rd Street, it was a different new car barn in Miami. During 1926 five of
story, Washington Avenue was becoming a well them were completely rebuilt and later I
developed commercial street with numerous returned to Miami Beach for service on the I'
hotels and shops, and it drew enough people local lines there.
to make street car service both feasible and The track on the causeway islands and along
necessary. In addition, the Roney Plaza ! Alton Road to South•Beach was completed
Hotel, located on the ocean near 23rd Street, ! first, but trackwork on the bridges dragged I
was one of the city's major tourist attract- on into the summer and early fall . An ,
I1 ions. The hotel, like the rest of the street, engineering miscalculation on the east
generated enough traffic to insure regular ) viaduct resulted in Miami Beach-bound cars
street car service would continue to operate swinging into the traffic lanes as they
on Washington Avenue into the depression. neared the drawbridge, creating a dangerous
In July 1925, the Miami Beach Railway ; situation for both trolleys and motorists. i`
ordered 12 new double-truck cars from the New specifications had to be drawn up, and it li
Perley Thomas Car Company of High Point, ) wasn't until the end of the year that the
N. C. These were to replace the Birneys when 1 problem was corrected.
the new double track across the causeway was The double track across the bridges, which j
placed in service. was laid in the pavement, had another 11
Also during 1925 the company closed down advantage. The old single track line had
the inadequate car barn on the causeway and crossed the water on a long trestle built I
moved everything to the Miami car barn. The along the south side of each bridge, just a
Miami Beach Electric then used the old few feet above the surface of Biscayne
property to expand the power house. Bay, and this gave passengers an illusion not
23
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the line across the Count �It I;;��• e i',�� ----_
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of 18 September 1926. Much -- �""" ? ,; f= a
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unlike riding a seagoing trolley. The new Before daylight on 18 September 1926,
track helped eliminate any uneasy feelings while construction was still in progress on
that more timid riders may have had about the causeway bridges, a hurricane roared out
going to sea on a street car. of the Atlantic and smashed across Miami
For regular riders, as well as tourists and Beach.Although the street car system suffered
occasional patrons, the new track and cars more damage in Miami, because the car barn
were a great improvement. The double track was there and Miami's rail system was more
allowed faster schedules between the two extensive, the damage on low lying Miami
cities, and double truck cars gave a better Beach was almost total. Overhead wire and
ride than the bouncing little Birneys. Also, poles were down almost everywhere, and sand
larger cars allowed the company to better and debris had drifted across the tracks all
handle the increased boomtime traffic. over the island. The causeway line, because
24
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A view of the County Causeway and car barn the year before trolley service all the way
in 1924. A Birney is about to enter the across the causeway was resumed, and some of '
trestle on the East Viaduct and others can this was single track operation.
be seen in the car yard. Historical Ascn. It was early in 1927 before repairs were
of Southern Florida. completed and both tracks across the causeway
were placed back in service. At the same time
of its exposed position, was practically the company finished double tracking the line
wiped out. The new double track was turned by laying a second track along 13th Street in
into twisted rails blown out into the bay. Miami, from the causeway to a point just west
The roadbed was washed away, and poles and , of Biscayne Boulevard. ;,
overhead simply vanished. Surveying the The hurricane signalled the beginning
widespread destruction, company officials of the end for the Florida boom. During 1927
realized they had no choice but to pick up real estate speculation on the Beach came to
and start all over again. Although recon- a halt, the population started to stabilize,
struction began almost immediately, it wasn't and the hectic pace and feverish activity .
until 22 October, more than a month after,the that accompanied the boom also began to
storm, when local service was resumed on vanish. The purchase of 12 new cars and the
Alton Road and Washington Avenue. Even then, modernization of the rail line across the ;J
two Birneys had to be loaded on flatbed causeway represented a major capital expen- y'
trailers and hauled over to the Beach before diture for the Railway, and the decline of
service could be restored, because the tracks the boom made further expansion of the street
across the causeway were still unrepaired. car system unnecessary. The last major change '
It wasn't until 14 November when the first during the 1920s came in the summer of 1927.
cars started across the causeway, and these Faced with declining patronage on the
ran only as far as the east viaduct. Beach and political pressure from the city,
Passengers for the Beach had to walk across the Railway decided to replace the local ?.
the bridge to 5th and Alton, where they could Miami Beach lines with buses. The company had
board another car. Because of the combination gained experience with buses when they began
of hurricane damage and the still uncompleted operating the city of Miami's municipal bus
track on the east viaduct, it was the end of fleet the year before, and the Railway felt i
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After 1927 the Miami Beach rail system
Miami Beach Railway car 301, heading for remained relatively intact until the depress-
Miami, stops for a passenger on Alton Rd. ion. The Al ton Road buses were not as
at 5th Street on 8 July 1932. James K. successful as the company and the city had
Gibson Photo.
expected, and in 1928 street car service was
restored on the Nautilus line. The tourist
that while traffic on Washington Avenue was traffic was so heavy during the 1929 season
heavy enough to justify rail operation, the that the company found it necessary to rent
loads on Alton Road and along Pine Tree and three double-truck Birneys from the Tampa
Sheridan Avenues could easily be handled by Electric Company. The cars ran on the
buses. inter-city line during the peak of the
On 25 July 1927, buses replaced trolleys tourist season, from February to March, then
on Alton Road, in what eventually proved to returned to Tampa.
be only a temporary substitution. The same The Miami Beach Railway bought five single
day the line from Miami was extended north truck Birneys from the Coral Gables Rapid
over Washington Avenue to 23rd Street, Transit in February 1929, after that
replacing the local line. Alternate cars from system' s rail operations began to decline.
Miami cut back at South Beach, with every They joined two other cars from Coral Gables
other car running through to 23rd Street. that the Railway had picked up the previous
Service north of 23rd Street was provided August, pushing the Railway' s fleet to a
by bus. total of 24 cars, its all time high.
Late in 1927 the Railway tried out an idea Even with additional cars the company found
that was novel enough to rate newspaper itself short of what it needed to handle the
coverage as far away as Los Angeles, but influx of tourists in 1930, so early in
wasn' t successful enough to be continued. A January the Railway went back to Tampa for
letter box was mounted on the front of car help. This time six of Tampa' s big double
305 for the use .of anyone who wanted to mail truck Birneys were brought over, and they
a letter badly enough to risk traffic and stayed until April. After 1930 though the
step in front of a street car trying to keep depression began to cut into the tourist
a schedule. Periodically, as the car passed trade, and the Railway no longer had to rent
the Miami Post Office, someone would come out cars to handle the traffic.
and empty the box. Within a few weeks nearly By the end of the decade, the Miami Beach
a thousand letters a day were going into the Company had grown from a single trolley line
box, but despite the growing popularity of to a bus and trolley net reaching from one
the service, the Railway decided to concen- end of Miami Beach to the other. Meanwhile,
trate on passengers and let the Post Office on the west side of Biscayne Bay, Miami' s
handle the mail. municipal system had be'en undergoing some
rather spectacular changes of its own.
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