TPH2

Sorry. Yes westbound track. Now if I tell you where the stairways are what fun will you have? You whippersnappers! Go to the avenue and explore and post pictures. I would, but sadly don't live in Cleveland. I never knew they still existed which is why I never went looking for them in my previous explorations of Tower City. Edit: Another question (sorry, but just have a lot today), before RTA was created and the rail lines were all consolidated to the Red, Blue, and Green, how were the Shaker lines and the CTS line referred to in the common vernacular? Obviously today, saying the "Rapid" refers to all three lines in the system, but I imagine that probably wasn't always the case. Were there separate ways of referring to them to make the distinction?

^ Do you mean westbound track wall? Where about in TC are the stairways to the station located?

Does the old Shaker station still exist? (I believe it was the CTS station that was renovated to become the current TC station, right?). I remember my dad would take us across the tracks and went behind the north wall to some RTA administrative offices, but it was so long ago I can't remember what it looked like. Are there remnants of the station still there and does anyone have any recent pictures of it?

That's your parents fault! Damn kids! :P I've been riding the Rapid for as long as I can remember. My dad was a Cleveland Cop, and when I was little, he used to work security at W. 25th and Triskett, and he would take me to work sometimes and I would ride the Rapid to Tower City and back just for fun. Not much has changed since the early 90s though. My only "memories" are of the old Red Line stations and when they used to have ticket agents and actually enforce fare collection...those were the days

This is great stuff, thanks guys. I knew I could count on you for the info! I really wish I could have seen all this history in person

Another thing I've always wondered is when did the tunnels at Kingsbury Run go out of use? Was it after the 1980s renovation? Also, what was the purpose of them, considering that now the lines operate without using the tunnels?

I haven't seen these yet! Very cool. I noticed these yesterday, and I thought they looked pretty neat. Though, my second thought was, what about people who are color blind? The DC Metro recently revamped all their signage so that lines would be indicated by RD, BL, OR, etc in addition to the actual colors being shown for that exact reason. I also got off at the E. 55th Station to switch lines. It was the first time I had seen it since the new station was completed. I was impressed, and particularly liked the music that was playing at the station. Such a simple thing like playing music can have such a positive effect on an environment. And I was also reminded of my long list of complaints about the system, but nothing that we don't all discuss here regularly (lack of POP on the Shaker lines, no easy transfer between Green/Blue and Red at Tower City, lack of signage on how to actually use the system, substandard fare card machines, people eating on the train and leaving their trash behind, etc). Overall though, I was happy to be back on the Rapid and I was reminded how fortunate we are to have such a rail system, despite its flaws (especially after witnessing the whole Cincy streetcar debacle this month).

^ I don't think anyone in this forum disagrees with your assessment. You're not exactly making ground braking claims here

This is awesome, but I seriously have no idea where they're going to put all of these people! And I'm unfortunately not far enough out of Case to be able to fund a dorm yet :). This doesn't necessarily mean that they're going to have more students. With more apps Case can now be more selective in who it admits, thus lowering the acceptance rate. Then their ranking goes up. All good things for Case and Cleveland.

That's pretty astounding. Congrats to Case. They're definitely a university on the rise. As someone who works in college admissions, I wish I knew their secret

If you're even remotely a fan of music (Motown in particular) then you should check out the Hittsville USA Motown Museum. It's located in the actual house that served as the Motown recording studio. I went there last time I was in the Motor City and thought it was really cool. http://www.motownmuseum.org/ As for food, it's fun going to both Lafayette and Amercan Coney Island. From what ive gatherded, it's Detroit's version of Pat's vs. Geno's or Matt's Bar vs 5-8 Club. They're nothing spectacular, but both are right next to each other and they're right downtown. My friend and I got a coney from both places (I preferred American).

Yeah, unfortunately none of the money from the sale to JG Brill made it down the family tree. Also, I wrote a paper in high school on the Vans and remember seeing a map or diagram with future plans for the Shaker Rapid line that never came to fruition because of the Depression. If I remember correctly, the 'Green Line' was supposed to terminate around Gates Mills Blvd and SOM. Do you have any info on this, KJP? I searched the forum but couldn't find anything.

Great thread, KJP. Let's also not forget the rolling stock that first operated on the Shaker Rapid route. Streetcars built by Cleveland's own (and my great great grandfather) G.C. Kuhlman. http://www.trainweb.org/norm/roster/CRC_1200s.htm

Thanks for the DC snow storm history, KJP. Unfortunately I've only been able to witness two of those. The other winters we've had less than five inches (for the whole season!)

One of the things I miss most about living in Cleveland: Edit: (Not being sarcastic)

I don't know I feel about RTA's downtown trolleys being used as an argument against the streetcar...

Great pictures, as always. I've only been in Williamsport very briefly, I pass through it when driving from Rochester to DC. I was very impressed with the architecture of the place the first time I saw it. It's quite an attractive city. I was also surprised to see all the hotels, grocery store, Kohl's, etc. right downtown. It was kind of refreshing to see those things downtown instead of surrounded by a sea of parking on the fringes of the city.

A very happy 100th birthday to the Blue and Green Lines today! http://www.riderta.com//dec-17-1913-first-light-rail-service-operates-shaker-heights

Quite simply really. And to be honest, I probably would be much more likely to use Captial Bikeshare to get down H St from Union Station than to use the streetcar. But 1) if it's raining, snowing, etc. I would be glad to have the option of the streetcar. 2) I'm glad the streetcar is there for people that don't want to or aren't capable of biking. The difference between a couple miles and a couple dollars in fare is significantly different from 300 miles and a couple hundred dollars in fare. We're on the same team though, Ken. I wish I could take Amtrak all the time. I suppose my comment was misleading in that it insuitsted that I was arguing from a premise that I don't hold true.

Well, I live in Washington, and I haven't since used Amtrak to get back to Cleveland. Believe me, I wish service to the Mid-West was as frequent, fast, and reliable as it his going up the Northeast Corridor, but I can't justify spending that much money to get to my destination in double the time it takes to drive. But anyways, I'm very happy to see our streetcar so close to being operational.

I once took Amtrak from DC to Cleveland. It only took 11 1/2 hours (it takes 6 to drive) and cost almost as much as a plane ride.

Our DC streetcar finally makes it onto the tracks for testing! Story and video from the Washingtonian here: http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/local-news/dcs-first-streetcar-in-50-years-is-finally-on-the-tracks-video.php# Hopefully we'll be seeing this in Cincinnati in the near future...

"Crocker Park in Westlake ready to add apartments, retail space" http://www.cleveland.com/westlake/index.ssf/2013/12/crocker_park_in_westlake_ready.html#incart_river#incart_m-rpt-2 This is the first time that I agree with the sentiment of most of the comment posters. Although at the same time, if we're going to be building more housing in the suburbs, building them at Crocker Park isn't the worst location. At least there's a walkable "downtown" with some transit connectivity, albeit limited.

At least Baltimore finished their subway and light rail line.... Sorry...too soon?

I am really disappointed they didn't do this. Most of the times the operator announcements are unintelligible. Exactly. Except for those three stops on the east side of the Red Line that have automated messages. Not sure why they can't extend that along the whole line.