Alexandria's Innovative Electric Transportation

Driving through Alexandria, you’ll notice an array of public and private transportation options from buses to trains, cars, bicycles and scooters. But what might surprise some is that at one point, city residents enjoyed a thriving electric streetcar system — one of the first of its kind in the country.

Originally called the Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Electric Railway, it first opened for service Sept. 18, 1892, ferrying tourists to Mount Vernon and, later, workers into D.C.

It instantly became a local thrill. The Washington Post covered its debut, reporting that Fairfax Street was so crowded with spectators that it was almost impossible for the streetcars to run on time.

There were multiple stations along the railway’s route. Beginning at the Mount Vernon estate, the streetcars made stops along South Royal Street, South Fairfax, King Street, Commonwealth Avenue, Four Mile Run and Arlington. In 1896, the trolley line was eventually extended and connected to tracks owned by the Belt Line Street Railway Company, allowing the cars to easily reach 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.

While the trolleys were popular, just like today’s electric buses recently introduced in Alexandria, they didn’t run without hitches. The first streetcars tended to have poor heating and would sometimes stall along the way. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that engineers significantly improved the vehicles.

The Mount Vernon station might be the most intriguing of all the stations. Rather than being a small, shack-like structure with benches, it was a welcoming stop and featured a cozy tea room where riders could disembark and grab a bite to eat before continuing their journey or exploring the nearby historic grounds.

To keep up with demand, the streetcars ran regularly Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to almost midnight. As the region became further developed, the system was used for more commercial purposes, such as to reach shops and the amusement park known as Luna Park near Four Mile Run. Without obstacles, the trolleys could reach the District of Columbia from Alexandria within 30 minutes.

These vehicles not only served as transportation, but also helped grow the city. Thanks to its route, it encouraged neighborhoods like Del Ray and St. Elmo to expand because they became more accessible. By including a line along these suburban areas, more people were able to own homes while still having access to the city. At its peak, 92 cars were rushing up and down the region. Thanks to its efficiency, the electric railway quickly became one of the most successful trolley systems in the United States.

The electric streetcars enjoyed their celebrity status until major competition struck — cars. The growing automobile industry in the early 20th-century proved to be fatal to the streetcars as people became enraptured by this new technology. In a final blow to the system, the Federal Triangle’s development in the 1920s removed the streetcar system’s Washington, D.C. station, making it harder for riders to reach the nation’s capital.

Over the years, the streetcar’s line was slowly removed or covered to make new roads. Some parts of the George Washington Memorial Parkway lie over portions of the streetcar’s route, such as near Great Hunting Creek. The southern traffic circle of the George Washington Parkway also displays the former trolley’s turnaround road design at Mount Vernon.

With all of these obstacles, it was virtually impossible for the service to continue and in April 1932, it officially closed after four decades of service.

While most traces of this fascinating piece of Alexandria’s history have pretty much vanished, a few remain. The only artifacts left are the car in front of the Del Ray library and the streetcar sign for the Town of Potomac, according to Office of Historic Alexandria’s Daniel Lee. However, there was a major buzz in the city last year when a section of streetcar tracks was found beneath King Street during repairs.

The old streetcars may no longer run, but their legacy lives on. While slightly different, the King Street Trolley serves a similar purpose helping both residents and visitors maneuver Old Town Alexandria. To further honor the streetcar’s mark on the city, the Office of Historic Alexandria commemorated the trolley line when it unveiled its holiday ornament during the 2021 holiday season, depicting the system’s Car 303.

As you wander through the city, you’ll more than likely be distracted by the nearby Potomac, honking of horns and the occasional train whistle, but if you listen carefully, you might just hear the soft tinkling of the streetcar’s ghostly bells reverberating through the busy streets.

To read more about Alexandria’s electric streetcar, read “Old Dominion Trolley Too, A History of the Mount Vernon Line” by the late John E. Merriken.

Alexandria’s Innovative Electric Transportation