The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series is “Chattanooga’s Transportation Heritage” from local author David H. Steinberg on behalf of the Chattanooga Choo Choo. The book contains more than 200 vintage images.
Chattanooga’s 138-year public transportation heritage is a complex and colorful conglomeration of some 32 companies that were initially comprised of horse-drawn streetcar lines. They were later upgraded to electric traction operations, steam dummy lines and finally to the motor-coach buses of today.
Chattanooga’s transit story has been unique from its inception. Few cities have had any connection to the incline railways that were constructed in this mountainous city, one of which, the famous Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, is still in daily operation. Today’s CARTA transit system has innovated one of the largest fleets of battery-operated electric buses, which other transit companies use as their model for comparison.
Highlights of “Chattanooga’s Transportation Heritage” include rarely seen images, many of which are from the author’s private collection, photographs of old automobiles and buses, and pictures of the incline railway fire and the electro railway line that existed at Hales Bar Dam.
“Chattanooga’s Transportation Heritage” is available at area bookstores and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665.
Source: Arcadia Publishing