By the 1960s, New Orleans had replaced nearly all of its streetcars with buses. But some continued on humming.
Lona Edwards Hankins, CEO of the New Orleans Transit Authority, tells correspondent Michelle Miller that as the city reintroduced contemporary streetcars in recent decades, it also kept a few originals alive. (Those classic Perley Thomas cars date back to the 1920s and remain one of the oldest continuously operating streetcar lines in the world.)
Anthony Maggio, a seasoned machinist, shares how he and an army of craftsmen keep them running. He’s part of the behind‑the‑scenes crew rebuilding parts by hand, restoring century‑old mechanics, and making sure the St. Charles line still sounds like New Orleans itself.
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Got thoughts on the city’s rolling icons or stories from the St. Charles line? Drop them below and let’s get into it.
