Rockford
Rockford, Beloit & Janesville
#1 in a Niles Car Co. builders
photo
That company was the name
of the original interurban line that was constructed north out of Rockford
into Wisconsin. On September 16, 1902 the Elgin and Belvidere interurban
line (to the east of Rockford) was consolidated with the Rockford Railway
& Power Company to form the Rockford & Interurban Railway (R&I).
The Freeport interurban line (to the west of Rockford) was acquired by
the R&I on August 31, 1904, and on April 1, 1906 the Rockford Beloit
& Janesville was purchased by the R&I. The R&I system
operated until the Depression (which resulted in decreased ridership),
automobiles/paved highways, and light construction resulted in abandonment
of the entire system during 1930 and 1931. Under the name Rockford
Public Service Company, the remaining city streetcar operations continued
until July 4, 1936, when the remaining lines were replaced with buses.
Historical data from Stephen
Scalzo
Bill Volkmer collection
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