A big Thank You! to everyone who came out to the East Bank Regional Library tonight to hear my talk.  If you'd like more information on NOSRA, you're in the right place.

To contact me (Ed), please e-mail me at edward@nosra.org.

Thanks to Jim Davis from the Jefferson Parish Library, the folks from Friends of the Jefferson Parish Library, and Octavia Books for your help tonight.

Some shots of our logo streetcar, the single-truck Ford, Bacon, & Davis: Two Ford, Bacon & Davis streetcars pass each other on S. Carrollton Avenue at Willow Street in 1901. This car is still configured as it was delivered: open vestibule, Lord Baltimore truck. Car #197 is one of the 70 FB&D cars built by the American Car Company. The New Orleans & Carrollton Railroad Company (NO&CRR) built two new facilities upon electrification in 1893. One was a power station at Napoleon and Tchoupitoulas (later to be come the NOPSI Training Facility), and the barn and shops of Carrollton station, at Dublin and Willow Streets. Carrollton Station was one block into the neighborhood from the location of this photo. (photos courtesy New Orleans Public Library)

We've been offered a bus! Specifically, it's a GMC TDH-5105 "Old Looks" bus. NOPSI acquired these buses from 1954-1957. They sported a maroon and cream livery, and were used all over the city. The "Old Looks" buses were phased out in the 1970s, the last of them serving on low-traffic lines up until 1972. Here's what they look like: You can see more photos of these buses and read more history of their use at www.streetcarmike.com, Mike Strauch's fantastic transit website. I remember these buses well, since they ran on the Cartier line when I was a high school student. They weren't air conditioned, so it was a relief to get to Wisner and Robt. E. Lee, where we would transfer to the green-liveried "New Looks" buses that ran on the Canal (Lake Vista) line. So, now we're looking into insurance and storage and you name it, but this will be a big boost for NOSRA!

Detail of the NOSRA Logo on the pocket:

Lots of photos on www.canalstreetcar.com from yesterday's ceremonial run on the St. Charles line, and also from the first revenue run this morning. Enjoy!

Is available here. PDF file, name media_kit.pdf.

clicky for larger version

This mission statement has been shamelessly copied from Market Street Railway in San Francisco. We believe that MSR is the best business model upon which to base NOSRA, because their relationship with the SF Muni is very similar to the relationship we need to build with NORTA to make this work. So, here's the initial draft:

The mission of the New Orleans Street Railway Association is preserving historic transit in New Orleans. This mission has three primary areas of focus: Supporting the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority in its daily operation of vintage transit vehicles as rolling museums. Identifying, acquiring, and restoring additional historic transit vehicles suitable for operation on or by the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority. Educating the public on the historic contribution of mass transit to New Orleans' unique style of urban life and the importance of vintage transit in maintaining that lifestyle for the future.

Comments and thoughts on this? Please bring them to the "Mission Statement" topic in the forums section.

LinkedIn Privateers

University of New Orleans Alumni Group

Welcome to the home of the LinkedIn Privateers, a LinkedIn group for UNO alums.

If you are a UNO alum and a member of LinkedIn, click this link to be invited to join the group:

http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/38530/76F4F4423440

Some useful links:

LinkedIn Home
Members of LinkedIn Privateers

University of New Orleans
UNO Athletics
UNO Alumni Association

www.nosra.org is now hosted by The Creative Internet. Our server is "co-located" at TCI's facility. We're very appreciative of their support and sponsorship.