What can you tell me about a street car named Desire?
Blake Pontchartrain
Hey Blake,
I have heard New Orleans guidebooks from the 1980s make reference to a Streetcar Named Desire on display on the grounds of the old U. S. Mint. To quote Blanche, "Is that streetcar named Desire still grinding along the tracks?"
"Loopwhole" Larry
Dear Larry,
The Desire Line was replaced with buses in 1948, but the streetcar that used to be on display — Desire Streetcar No. 453 — retired in 1935. The Brill semi-convertible was put into service in 1906. Upon retirement, it was moved to the Napoleon Avenue Training School for motormen.
The streetcar retired from service again, and in 1967 New Orleans Public Service Inc. presented it to the Louisiana Tourist Development Commission. The reconditioned streetcar was placed in the 1000 block of Decatur Street, where the Flea market is now.
After about 10 years, the streetcar was moved to the grounds of the Old U.S. Mint where it stayed until 1992. Then old Desire No. 453 went back to the Carrollton Transit Station — the streetcar barn — on Willow Street and has never left.
Tennessee Williams lived in the French Quarter when the Desire Line ran on the streets of the French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny and Bywater. It inspired him to write, "They told me to take a streetcar named Desire and transfer to one called Cemeteries, and ride six blocks and get off at Elysian Fields." His play made Desire the best-known streetcar in the world.
Comments (1)
Showing 1-1 of 1
