Helena Trolleys and Street Cars

The horse-drawn Helena Street Railway, initiated on September 25, 1886, was Helena's first reliable service. Thereafter various kinds of railway trolleys carried passengers until January 1, 1928, when bus service replaced city railways.  

Sources at Lewis & Clark Library

1. Liffring, Bob. Tour Train Companion. Helena, Montana: Manx Publishing Co. 93. [Shelfmark M 978.66 L]
2. Walter, Dave. "Helena's Trolleys: 1886-1928." More From the Quarries of Last Chance Gulch. Helena, Montana: Helena Independent Record, 1995. 110-120. [Shelfmark M 978.6615 M]
3. Meyers, Rex. "Trolleys of the Treasure State." Montana The Magazine of Western History, 22.2 (1972): 35-47. [Shelfmark HELENA REF SPRING 1972 V22 N2].
4. Myers, Rex. Montana's Trolleys. South Gate, California: Interubans Magazine, 1969. [Shelfmark M 388.4 M]
5. Baumler, Ellen. "Rapid, Reliable Riding on Montana's Street Railways." Montana The Magazine of Western History, 51.1 (2001): 68-69. 
6. Schroeder, John W. Historic Helena, 1864-1964: an early-day photographic history of Montana's scenic capital city. Helena: Home Building and Loan Assocication, 1970.
7. Walters, Dave. "Crowds Line the Streets to See Helena's First Trolleys." Helena Independent Record 8 September 1994: 1C-2C.
8. Walters, Dave. "Trolley Lines." Helena Independent Record 29 December 1994: Pages 6A-7A.

Sources at the Montana Historical Society Research Center

1. Liffring, Bob. Tour Train Companion. Helena, Montana: Manx Publishing Co. 93. 
2. Walter, Dave. "Helena's Trolleys: 1886-1928." More From the Quarries of Last Chance Gulch. Helena, Montana: Helena Independent Record, 1995. 110-120. 
3. Meyers, Rex. "Trolleys of the Treasure State." Montana The Magazine of Western History, 22.2 (1972): 35-47. 
4. Myers, Rex. Montana's Trolleys. South Gate, California: Interubans Magazine, 1969. 
5. Baumler, Ellen. "Rapid, Reliable Riding on Montana's Street Railways." Montana The Magazine of Western History, 51.1 (2001): 68-69. 
6. Research Center Vertical File, Helena: Street Railways.  
7. Walters, Dave. "Crowds Line the Streets to See Helena's First Trolleys." Helena Independent Record 8 September 1994: 1C-2C.
8. Walters, Dave. "Trolley Lines." Helena Independent Record 29 December 1994: Pages 6A-7A.

State Historic Preservation Office

1. Source 1
2. Source 2
3. Source 3

On-line resources

1. Trolley Car No. 3 Restoration
2. Walters, Dave. "Crowds Line the Streets to See Helena's First Trolleys." Helena Independent Record 8 September 1994: 1C-2C.
3. Walters, Dave. "Trolley Lines." Helena Independent Record 29 December 1994: Pages 6A-7A.