St. Charles Streetcar Line

St. Charles
St. Charles Streetcar passing through the New Orleans Central Business District
Overview
OwnerNew Orleans Regional Transit Authority
Line number12
LocaleNew Orleans, Louisiana
Termini
  • South Carrollton and South Claiborne
  • Carondelet and Canal
Stations61
Service
TypeHeritage streetcar
SystemStreetcars in New Orleans
Depot(s)Carrollton Transit Station
Rolling stock900 Series Perley Thomas streetcars
457 Series Perley Thomas replica streetcars
History
OpenedSeptember 26, 1835 (1835-09-26)
Technical
Line length6 mi (9.7 km)
Number of tracks2
CharacterPrimarily in neutral ground (central median), street running between Howard Avenue and Canal Street
Track gauge5 ft 2+12 in (1,588 mm)
ElectrificationOverhead line, 600 V DC
St. Charles Streetcar Line
LocationSt. Charles Ave. route from central business district to Carrollton, New Orleans, Louisiana
Area15 acres (6.1 ha)
Built1835
Built byPerley A. Thomas, B. Booth & Co.
NRHP reference No.73000873
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 23, 1973
Designated NHLAugust 25, 2014
Route map

Carondelet St
4748
Common St
Union St
Gravier St
Poydras St
Lafayette St
Girod St
Julia St
St. Joseph St
Howard Av
Carondelet StSt. Charles Av
Tivoli Circle
Erato St
MLK Jr. Bl/Melpomene St
Euterpe St
Felicity St
St. Andrew St
Josephine St
Jackson Av
First St
Third St
Washington Av
Sixth St
Eighth St
Louisiana Av
Foucher St
Peniston St
Constantinople St
Milan St
Napoleon Av
Jena St
Cadiz St
Bordeaux St
Robert St
Duffosat St
Valmont St
Jefferson Av
Joseph St
Nashville Av
State St
Webster St
Calhoun St
Exposition Bl (Loyola Univ.)
Tulane/Loyola (West Rd)
Tulane University
Walnut St
Broadway St
Lowerline St
Hilary St
Burdette St
Fern St
St. Charles Av
Maple St
Freret St
Oak St
Willow St
Carrollton Transit Station (shop)
Jeanette St
Birch St
Spruce St
Sycamore St
South Claiborne Av

The St. Charles Streetcar Line is a historic streetcar line in New Orleans, Louisiana. Running since 1835, it is the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world. It is operated by the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Officially the St. Charles Streetcar line is designated as Route 12, and it runs along its namesake, St. Charles Avenue. It is the busiest route in the RTA system as it is heavily used by local commuters and tourists. On most RTA maps and publications, it is denoted in green, which is also the color of the streetcars on this line.

The St. Charles Streetcar Line is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of only two street railways that are National Historic Landmarks, along with the San Francisco cable car system.