TRANSIT IN ST. LOUIS - HISTORY
The Missouri Railroad Company began operating St. Louis's first street railway in 1859. The original horse car route operated on Olive St. Several other street railway companies were subsequently formed. And in 1898, all streetcar companies were consolidated into the United Railways Co. of St. Louis.
Several lines were converted to cable cars beginning in 1886. But during the 1890's, electric traction was adopted for the streetcars.
Map shows the streetcar system in 1923 at its peak, prior to the introduction of the first bus routes in St. Louis.
Map shows the streetcar and bus system in 1942. Only a few streetcar routes had been converted to bus routes by then. But during that period, National City Lines acquired control of the St. Louis Public Service Co., and the end of World War II would bring more extensive conversions to buses.