TWIN CITY RAPID TRANSIT COMPANY:

Twin City Rapid Transit Company (TCRT) operated the streetcar and local bus common carrier system in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area from the 1890s until 1970. For many years the TCRT corporate umbrella included four operating subsidiaries which functioned as a unified transportation system: Minneapolis Street Railway Company, the St. Paul City Railway Company, Minneapolis & St. Paul Suburban Railroad Company, and the Twin City Motor Bus Company. Other TCRT subsidiaries included the Minnetonka and White Bear Navigation Company, Rapid Transit Real Estate Corporation, and the Transit Supply Company. The Minneapolis Street Railway Company (MSR) and the St. Paul City Railway Company (SPCR) began continuous service in the 1870s as horsecar carriers. In 1886 the two properties began to operate under a single group of owners when Minneapolis businessman Thomas Lowry and his associates gained control of both. Electrification of the horsecar lines began in Minneapolis in 1889 and in St. Paul in 1890.

The Twin City Rapid Transit Company (a New Jersey corporation) was incorporated in 1891 as a holding company, with the MSR and the SPCR as wholly-owned operating subsidiaries. The TCRT was succeeded in 1939 by a new Minnesota corporation of the same name. A management change in 1949 brought New York financier Charles Green to the presidency of the Twin City Rapid Transit Company. Green and his associates decided to abandon the streetcar lines and convert to buses as quickly as possible, apparently in order to maximize their short-term profit. The company's entire streetcar fleet was scrapped and replaced by buses in an aggressive conversion plan completed in 1954 under TCRT president Fred A. Ossanna, a former associate of Green's who managed to oust him in 1951. Ossanna and four of his associates were convicted in 1960 of defrauding the TCRT of company assets, including scrap metal and real estate, during the conversion. Twin City Rapid Transit Company changed its name in 1962 to Minnesota Enterprises Incorporated, and in 1970 this firm became MEI Corporation. MEI left the transit business in 1970 with the takeover of its Twin City Lines subsidiary by the Twin Cities Area Metropolitan Transit Commission, an agency created by the Minnesota Legislature and charged with maintaining and improving public mass transit in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

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The collection consists of records of the Twin City Rapid Transit Company and its subsidiaries and their predecessors. A small amount of material (mainly annual reports) relates to successor companies Minnesota Enterprises Incorporated and MEI Corporation. Most of the records document the affairs of three operating subsidiaries: Minneapolis Street Railway Company, the St. Paul City Railway Company, and the Minneapolis & St. Paul Suburban Railroad Company.

Most of the material is of a financial nature, including valuation records and comptroller's files. There are also stock certificate books, annual reports, employment records, right-of-way and trackage maps, some real estate records, mechanical and architectural drawings, and assorted subject files. The collection includes minute books for related and subsidiary companies, while the only minute books for the TCRT itself date from 1954 to 1959 and are in the form of shorthand notes in 6 spiral-bound stenographer's notebooks.

Valuation records consist primarily of bound valuation reports (1920s), subsequent valuation record additions (1925-1961) (also bound), and a set of paper files. Comptroller's files include information about bus purchases, PCC streetcars, municipal ordinances and resolutions affecting the operating subsidiaries, the St. Anthony Falls Water Power Company, taxes, and fare increases. Comptroller's files also include annual reports to government agencies, retirement plan-pension trust records, copies of the Minneapolis Horse Railroad Company's articles of incorporation, and documents related to TCRT's planned 1944 trust bond offering.

Employment records include Employee Appointment Cards, which give the employee's name and address, badge number, date employed, last date in service, and other information. An extensive set of mechanical and architectural drawings depict TCRT streetcars, company-owned boats that once plied the waters of Lake Minnetonka, car stations, shops, and other TCRT facilities.

There is information about TCRT operations; payrolls; the construction and maintenance of streetcar lines; bus purchases; and the company's scrapping and burning of its streetcars in the 1950s.

Some records relate to other companies that apparently had some connection to the TCRT or to its officers, including the Duluth-Superior Traction Company and the Minneapolis Anoka and Cuyuna Range Railway Company. Miscellaneous Records include a file of historical information about the TCRT, some Duluth-Superior Traction Company annual reports, and a folder of news clippings relating to the streetcar-to-bus conversion scandal.

Most of the collection came to the Minnesota Historical Society in 1993 from the Minnesota Transportation Museum, one of whose members (Russell L. Olson) once worked for TCRT. Olson apparently had possession of and worked with the materials constituting the large 1993 accession (14,978) while writing a book. Other pieces of the collection as presently constituted include a small, previously-cataloged manuscript collection (formerly P652) and materials brought together from State Archives record series and from other sources.

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These documents are organized into the following sections:

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Access Restrictions:

Due to the presence of Social Security numbers, access to the Employee Appointment Cards is restricted. Files must be reviewed and redacted before they can be used in the Reading Room. Please consult library staff for more information.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Twin City Rapid Transit Company Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 985-31; 985-193; 10,883; 14,784; 14,978; 14,979; 14,980; 15,932; 16,471; 17,067

Processing Information:

Processed by: David B. Peterson, December 1994; additions by David B. Peterson, January 2003 and December 2015

There is no box 33.

Digitized by the Minnesota Historical Society for preservation purposes, September 2019.

Digitization was made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008.

Catalog ID number: 990017316900104294

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Location

Box

142.E.5.7B-1

25

Employee appointment cards, approximately 1891-1990.

Restricted.

Arranged by employee surname, this series contains 4x6 inch index cards that provide basic information on streetcar motormen and conductors. Their format and information varies across time but most give employee's name and address, badge number, appointment number, date employed, date training was completed (D.F.), last date in service, reason for leaving, and station foreman's comments. Some also give employee's date of birth, whether married or single, etc.

It was an all-male work force until 1943, when almost 500 women were hired to run streetcars. Most worked only a year or two, but a few remained for many years, the last retiring in 1980.

Employees were assigned new badge numbers when they switched from motorman to conductor, or when they moved from one station to another. For this reason, multiple badge numbers may appear on an employee’s appointment card, or there may be multiple cards for the same employee. Often these cards are filed together. It was not uncommon for employees to be hired, then leave service, only to be rehired multiple times. When this happened, each hiring generated a new card.

The employee's badge number contains useful information. Motormen were assigned odd numbers, conductors were assigned even numbers. Streetcar company employees worked at one of several streetcar stations and particular series of badge numbers were assigned to each station.

As of 1940, the following series were assigned:

1-599 (men): East Side Station, 1st Avenue NE and University Avenue, Minneapolis

600-1099 (men): Nicollet Station, 31st Street and Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis

1200-1699 (men): North Side Station, 24th Avenue N. and Washington Avenue, Minneapolis

1700-2499 (men): Lake Street, East Lake Street and 23rd Avenue S., Minneapolis

2500-3199 (men): Snelling Station, Snelling Avenue and University Avenue, St. Paul

3200-3699 (men): Duluth Avenue Station, Duluth Avenue and E. 7th Street, St. Paul

3700-3899 (women): East Side Station, 1st Avenue NE and University Avenue, Minneapolis

3900-4099 (women): Nicollet Station, 31st Street and Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis

14100-4299 (women): North Side Station, 24th Avenue N. and Washington Avenue, Minneapolis

4300-4399 (women): Lake Street, East Lake Street and 23rd Avenue S., Minneapolis

4400-4599 (women): Snelling Station, Snelling Avenue and University Avenue, St. Paul

4600-4799 (women): Duluth Avenue Station, Duluth Avenue and E. 7th Street, St. Paul

Following the war, the North Side Station began using the 1100 series in 1946. In 1947, motormen at Nicollet Station used the 5200 series and motormen at North Side Station used the 5300 series.

In 1948, conductors were assigned even numbers in these series:

East Side: 3200-3299

Nicollet: 3300-3399

North Side: 3400-3499

Lake Street: 3500-

Snelling: Uncertain

All use of streetcar conductors ended on June 18, 1954, with the final abandonment of the streetcars. All motormen and conductors remaining on the payroll were retrained as bus drivers and the conversion from streetcars to buses reduced the six streetcar stations to three bus garages. In 1952 the Duluth Avenue Station closed. In 1952-1954 the Snelling Station converted to bus. In 1953 the Lake Street Station closed and the North Side and Nicollet stations were converted to bus. In 1954 the East Side Station closed.

In 1970, the Metropolitan Transit Commission purchased Twin City Rapid Transit. The three surviving bus garages were supplemented in 1975 by the new Shingle Creek Garage on Shingle Creek Parkway in Brooklyn Center. In 1984, North Side Garage was replaced by Fred T. Heywood Garage, located at 6th Avenue N. and 7th Street.

Under government ownership, employee numbers were no longer changed whenever the employee switched work location. Eventually, the tradition of using distinct number series for each work location ended.

Appointment card for Margaret Taylor, Badge Number 4041

Appointment card for Jacob Tessler, Badge Number 494

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Box

142.E.5.7B-1

25

Aaby - Carlisle.

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Box

142.E.5.7B-2

26

Carls - Fetterman.

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Box

142.E.5.8F-1

27

Feulner - Herber.

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142.E.5.8F-2

28

Herberg - Kloskin.

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Box

142.E.6.1B-1.

29

Kloster - McGurrin.

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Box

142.E.6.1B-2

30

McHattie - Pearcy.

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Box

142.E.6.2F-1

59

Peare - Selitz.

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Box

142.E.6.2F-2

60

Seils - Vyross.

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Box

142.G.4.1B-2

31

Waage - Zyzner.

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Location

Box

142.E.6.5

32

Right-of-way and track maps:

Lake Minnetonka Division:

Deephaven Line, February 20, 1912.

Deephaven Jct. to Deephaven. Volume says: "Leased from C.M. & St. P. Ry. Co."

Excelsior to Tonka Bay, January 1909.

Harriet Loop to Minneapolis city limits, April 14, 1909.

Hopkins to Excelsior, March 1906. 2 maps.

Minnetonka Line blueprints, 1918:

112-6053. Station 301+70.1 to 407+00.

112-6054. Station 407+00 to 505+50.

112-6055. Station 505+50 to 572+50.7.

112-6056. Station 572+50.7 to 678+00.

112-6057. Station 678+00 to 780+00.

112-6058. Station 780+00 to 875+00.

112-6059. Station 875+00 to 975+00.

Plat of auditor's subdivision no. 120, Hennepin County, undated.

"Excelsior Park, etc."

Plat showing government field notes within the limits of the city of Minneapolis, undated/untitled plat map of Lake Minnetonka area, undated.

These are two connected maps.

Tonka Bay Extension: Manitou Jct. to Tonka Bay and Lake Minnetonka, May 1909.

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Box

142.J.5.1

34

Minneapolis, Anoka and Cuyuna Range Railway Company:

Location map of Minneapolis & Northern Railway: Minneapolis to Anoka, 1912.

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Box

142.E.6.5

32

Right-of-way and track maps, Minneapolis to Anoka, 1929. 4 maps.

Property, lines, and connections in the city of Anoka, 1929.

[2 unidentified and undated tracings]

Motor Line:

Motor Line at Hopkins, undated.

Sheet no. 668.

Washburn Park, Minneapolis, 1886.

"Comprising Parts of S15-T28N-R24W"; North side of Minnehaha Creek from Lyndale Avenue to Third Ave. So.; modern photocopy.

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Folder

106.I.2.12

2

Stillwater Division:

Mahtomedi branch blueprints, 1917.

105-6019. Station 487+52.9 to 569+53.9.

Digital version

Plan of Minneapolis and St. Paul Suburban Railway from East 7th St. Station to Wildwood, January 19, 1900.

Digital version

Stillwater line blueprints, 1917. 8 maps.

8 maps

White Bear line blueprints, 1918. 2 maps.

2 maps

Location

Folder

106.I.2.12

3

Wildwood blueline drawings:

Map showing the Minneapolis and St. Paul Suburban Railway in Ramsey and Washington counties, 1912.

Digital version

Topographical map of Wildwood showing the physical properties of the Minneapolis and St. Paul Suburban Railway Company, 1918.

Digital version

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Folder

106.I.2.12

2

Wildwood blueprints:

Buildings at Wildwood Park, approximately October 1926.

Plat map.

Digital version

Wildwood Manor, undated.

Plat map showing path to Wildwood Station; American Cities Company, St. Paul.

Digital version

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Folder

106.I.2.12

1

Miscellaneous blueprint maps:

Chicago Great Western Railway Co. Klondike Spur, South St. Paul, undated.

Vicinity of Concord Street/Grand and Marie avenues/Stockyards Exchange Building.

Digital version

Fort Snelling right-of-way:

Military Reservation, Fort Snelling, Minn., 1906, approximately 1915.

Digital version

Map of Fort Snelling Extension: Minneapolis Street Railway, 1905.

Digital version

Inter-Campus right-of-way, 1914.

"University of Minnesota Location and Right of Way Map of University Trolley Line from University Farm to Belt Line Railway & Como Harriet Electric Line."

Digital version

Plan of TCRT property showing location of the proposed power house and proposed spur track to house, 10th Ave. S.E. near river, Minneapolis, 1902.

Digital version

Proposed addition to Nicollet bus garage, 1947.

Mechanical Department map/drawing #17D6474.

Digital version

Proposed loop at Washington, Lyndale, and 42nd avenues north, Minneapolis, 1914.

Digital version

Tracks and property at West Como Avenue Sand Pit, St. Paul, 1914.

Digital version

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Folder

106.I.2.12

3

Miscellaneous oversize materials:

Conduit and manhole map of Minneapolis, 1920.

Digital version

Overhead D.C. distribution, Minneapolis, 1922.

Digital version

Snelling Avenue Garage (1907-2001), 2001.

A mass-produced artist's rendering of the Snelling Avenue Garage (1907-2001) and its replacement, the East Metro Transit Facility (bus garage). This poster was made available to the public at the time of the inauguration of the new facility in 2001.

Digital version

Transmission cables, Minneapolis, 1917.

Digital version

Twin City Lines mileage map, 1915.

Digital version

Twin City lines mileage map, 1921.

Digital version

Minneapolis City Engineer's maps:

Sheet 1. Proposed municipal passenger station: Diagram of Minneapolis railways near milling district and station site, June 8, 1914.

Digital version

Sheet 2. Proposed municipal passenger station and suggestion for rearrangement of freight tracks, December 11, 1914.

Digital version

Sheet 3. Proposed municipal passenger station: Chart showing relation between present passenger train service and freight and switching service to mills, undated.

Digital version

Train load diagram for Consolidation locomotive, undated.

"Belongs to sheet No. 4"; sheet No. 4 is itself not present.

Digital version

Sheet 5. Twin city terminals proposed interchange facilities for car lot baggage mail and express, November 1914.

Digital version

Sheet 6. Comparison of daily service hours required of Great Northern station and proposed twin station by present train schedules, August 1912.

Digital version

Sheet 7. City of Minneapolis: Union passenger railway station general plan of buildings and sheds block plan, December 11, 1914.

Digital version

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Location

Folder

106.I.2.12

1

Twin City Lines insignia, undated. 1 oversize photograph : color.

Digital version

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Additional information about the Twin City Rapid Transit Company can be found in other Minnesota Historical Society collections. A nearly complete set of annual reports is found in the Minnesota Historical Society serials collection. Some collective labor agreements, rule books, time tables, promotional literature, and other printed items are also located in the book collection, as is a 1951 article from Collier's magazine that describes mob infiltration and control of the TCRT "How Mobsters Grabbed a City's Transit Line". There is also information in the Library's Vertical File under the headings Transportation: Street Railways, Transportation: Transit Lines, Blumenfeld, and Ossanna.

Some original TCRT documents are found in the Russell L. Olson Papers in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscript collections, and in several series of Metropolitan Transit Commission records in the Minnesota State Archives.

Several hundred photographic negatives were received from the Minnesota Transportation Museum and were subsequently transferred to the Minnesota Historical Society sound and visual collections. A 1953 audio recording of what is said to be the Twin Cities' last TCRT-operated trolley streetcar is also in the Minnesota Historical Society sound and visual collections.

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Bus lines -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

Electric railroads -- Minnesota.

Horse railroads -- Minnesota.

Local transit -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area -- Finance.

Pensions -- Minnesota.

Street-railroads -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

Trolley cars -- Minnesota.

Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (Minn.) -- Local transit.

Organizations:

Duluth-Superior Traction Company, author.

MEI Corporation, author.

Minneapolis Anoka and Cuyuna Range Railway Company, author.

Minneapolis & St. Paul Suburban Railroad Company, author.

Minnesota Enterprises Incorporated, author.

Minnetonka and White Bear Navigation Company, author.

Rapid Transit Real Estate Corporation, author.

St. Paul Railway Company (Minn.), author.

Transit Supply Company, author.

Twin City Motor Bus Company, author.

Twin City Lines (Minn.), author.

Genre:

Architectural drawings (visual works).

Maps.

Mechanical drawings.

Payrolls.

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