Downtown Street Railway

The Downtown Street Railway was a transit company that operated in Sheldon, North Carolina.

History
The line began operations in 1907 with horsedrawn carriages. It ran from Market Square, across the bridge, and wrapped around Hartford Park. In 1913, the line converted to using electric streetcars. In 1922, after the death of the line's founder, Thomas Jefferson Jones, the line along with the assets of the Sheldon Union Railroad, the Sheldon & Watchout Mountain Railroad, the Mount Watchout Railroad, and the Watchout Mountain & Lola Hill Incline Railway were taken over by the Raccoon County National Bank, however, the Sheldon & Watchout Mountain Railroad continued operations. In 1926, T.J. Jones Jr. met up with the bank to incorporate all assets of the S&WM, the Mt.WRR, both incline railways, the Sheldon Union, and Downtown Street Railways into one system, thus creating the Sheldon Municipal Railway & Transit Company. All lines were electrified to run trolleys and streetcars.

For the next couple of decades, the company saw financial success. But when the 1950s came around, passenger numbers began to decrease. By the time the Sheldon Cab & Taxi Company was established in 1958, ridership was at an all-time low. In 1963, the last streetcar ran.