Tuesday, August 31, 2004. Central Arkansas Transit ran one of their test runs of the River Rail streetcar system from the carbarn in North Little Rock across the Main Street bridge to Little Rock, testing the rails, traction, switches, etc. They did not cover all the track in Little Rock. Everything went well, with other tests of the system expected over the next two months. So far, so good. The first official certification test of the River Rail System occurred at 10 a.m. this morning along only the North Little Rock route with Streetcar No. 409 with the press and dignitaries invited. The official press releases, which contain lots of facts including the proposed operating schedule, can be found here:

http://www.trainweather.com/riverrailpress.html

The first day of paid ridership (50 cents per roundtrip) should occur around November 1, 2004, but that has yet to be officially announced.

I've also included 5 MPEG sound movies of the streetcar in North Little Rock and Little Rock here. Photos follow below:

http://www.trainweather.com/083104mainstnlr632pm-1.mpg
(Southbound on Main Street, North Little Rock)

http://www.trainweather.com/083104markhamst642pm-2.mpg
(Eastbound on Markham Street, Little Rock, 6:42 p.m.)

http://www.trainweather.com/0831042ndst-3.mpg
(Second Street, Little Rock)

http://www.trainweather.com/083104streetwire-4.mpg
(Hooking up to the overhead wires)

http://www.trainweather.com/083104street706pmcurve-5.mpg
(Curve onto Second Street from Commerce)


Turning east on Broadway in North Little Rock from Maple Street, about 6:30 p.m. August 31.


Southbound on the Main Street Bridge across the Arkansas River heading toward Little Rock.


About to come off the Main Street Bridge into Little Rock onto Markham Street. It went to the right then reversed straight westbound on Markham.


Westbound on Markham. The Peabody Hotel and Statehouse Convention Center is to the right, the Capitol Hotel to the left.


Eastbound on Second Street.


Second Street and Main, Little Rock, heading east.


Still eastbound on Second Street.


Crossing Scott on Second Street. The Historic Arkansas Museum (former Territorial Restoration) is on both sides of the street.


Second Street, about to cross Cumberland. The sun was setting and gave off a nice, warm glow.


You can see some of the 150+ year old buildings to the left of an original part of Little Rock.


Still on Second Street about to hit Commerce Street.


Tight curve at Second and Commerce. They reversed here and went back to North Little Rock.


Closeup of wheelset. No, it stayed on the track but they wanted to do more work on this part of the line.


Heading back west on Second Street into the setting, glistening sun.


The main Central Arkansas Library is the building to the right.


The streetcar can be seen on the Main Street Bridge in the background with the World War II submarine RAZORBACK in the foreground. This submarine was just moved here August 29 and will be part of an inland marine museum. I had to run to get to this location.


One more sunset shot of the streetcar on the bridge.

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