Long before anyone thought of “light rail” in downtown Phoenix, there was the Phoenix street “railway system,” which operated from 1887 to 1948. It was owned and operated by Moses H. Sherman until 1925, then the city of Phoenix took over operations.

Mr. Sherman was a developer and co-founder of the Valley National Bank. He developed the streetcar lines to promote his subdivisions, which were expanding the boundaries of the city. For a nickel you could ride streetcars anywhere there were tracks.

It was called variously: Phoenix Railway Company, Valley Street Railroad Company, Arizona Improvement Company, Phoenix City Railway Company and finally Phoenix Railway Company of Arizona.

The first streetcar line, consisting of one car, operated along Washington Street between Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street in 1887. The car was pulled by a mule. Electric cars came later.

The system was no match for the personal auto. Eventually the streetcars were replaced with transit buses. In 1941, the city operated 17 streetcars and 23 buses. The last four streetcar lines were replaced with diesel buses in 1947 and 1948.