Denver Tramway

Denver cable car,1895

The Denver Tramway, operating in Denver, Colorado was incorporated in 1886. The tramway was unusual for a number of reasons: the term "tramway" is generally not used in the United States, and it is not known why the company was named as such. The track was 3'6" gauge, an unusual gauge in the United States (although streetcars in Los Angeles also used this gauge), but in general use by railways in Japan, southern Africa (hence being known as "Cape gauge"), New Zealand, and Queensland, Australia.

The tramway made use of a variety of types of streetcars, including conduit cars (until 1888), cable cars(until 1900), and trolley cars(until 1950). At the height of its trolley operations, the tramway owned 160+ miles of track and operated over 250 streetcars. By the end of trolley service, only 64 streetcars were still in use.

After streetcar operation ceased in 1950 the tramway operated trolley-coaches and conventional buses, but continued to use the Tramway name. In May, 1971, the Denver Tramway Corporation ceased operation of Denver's transit system, selling its assets and operations to the City and County of Denver. The city continued those operations under the name Denver Metro Transit until 1974, when they were assumed by the voter-approved Regional Transportation District (RTD).

Light rail returned to Denver in the 1990s.