The Chronology

1859

The Columbus Street Railroad Company,  incorporated in 1859, was authorized by Columbus city ordnance to  build a street railway on High Street, Broad Street, Harrisburg Pike  to past Green Lawn Cemetery, Town Street from High Street to East  Public Lane, thence to Friend Street, thence on the National Road, and  "Elsewhere in Columbus as deemed expedient".  Nothing came of these  plans

1862-1863

An ordinance was passed authorizing building a street railway  on High Street, State Street, Town Street, and Fourth Street. The Columbus  Railroad Company built a double-track street railway  on High Street from Union Depot to Mound Street (The Court House), a  distance of 1.2 miles.  The first horsecar ran on June 10, 1863.  The  fare was limited to seven cents or five tickets for twenty-five cents.[1]  Columbus had a population of 18,000. 

1864

Two open cars were placed in service.

1865-1869

With the end of the war, traffic dropped off.  That and a $5,700  assessment for improvements to High Street, nearly sunk the little  line.  To keep the company in business, the heavy double track was  taken up and along with the two-horsecars sold.  Light rail single  track was laid and one horse horsecars were purchased.  Conductors were  replaced with a fare box, allowing the line to survive the hard times.   Within three years of these changes, the line was again making a  profit.     

1865

The North Columbus Railroad Company was  incorporated on November 25, 1865.  This company had the authority to  construct from the northern terminus of the High Street line to North  Columbus (the area around Fifth Avenue).  It is not clear if this  company actually constructed any track.

1868-1869

The Friend Street Railroad Company was  incorporated with the authority to build from High Street to the County  Fairgrounds (Franklin Park).  First built to East Public Lane (Parsons  Avenue), eventually it did reach the Fairgrounds.

1870-1876

The East Park Place Street Railroad Company was  incorporated with the authority to build on Long Street from High Street  to the County Fair Grounds.  While there were variations in the route  in various authorizations, eventually the route would start at Broad  and High Streets, thence north to Long Street, east to Mulberry Street  (now Parkwood Avenue), south to Broad Street, ending at the County Fair  Grounds (now Franklin Park).[3]

In 1876, the East Park Place Street Railroad Company built an  additional route on Cleveland Avenue north from Long Street to Mt.  Vernon Avenue, thence east on Mt. Vernon to Twelfth Street.  There was  also a short branch on Washington Avenue from Mt. Vernon Avenue to  Buckingham Street to serve the U.S. Barracks (later named Fort Hayes).

1872

The Glenwood & Greenlawn Railroad Company was incorporated  April 23, 1872.  It ran on West Broad Street from High Street to the  western city boundary where the "asylums" were located.  There was  also a line on Glenwood Avenue from West Broad Street to Mound Street  thence East to the Greenlawn Cemetery. This line was three-and-a-half  foot gauge.  (Most other horsecar lines in Columbus were five feet,  two-inch gauge at this time.  The North Columbus Railroad Company was  four feet, eight and a half inch gauge.) 

1874

At the same time, the CSR Co. was authorized to build a line on Goodale Street from  North High Street to Neil Avenue and thence on Neil Avenue  to the south end of the college.

1875

The tunnels were always unpleasant, dank, and smelly from the horse  droppings.    

1876

The North High Street Railroad Co.  was authorized to extend its tracks on  High Street from the old corporation line at Fifth Avenue north to the  new corporation line at Arcadia Avenue. It also was allowed to share  the tunnel tracks with the Columbus Street Railway Company.

1879

The Friend Street and East Park Place Companies were consolidated with  an improvement in service.

1880

Double track from South of the High Street Tunnel to Mound Street was  also authorized, on condition that the company should keep in repair  all that portion of the street or streets lying between lines drawn  one foot outside of and beyond the extreme outer rails, the company  charges but one fare of five cents in one car over its lines, a  transfer from the North High Street and the State and Oak Street  companies to be granted for a single fare of five cents.

1880-1889[5]

 The Columbus Consolidated Street Railway Company purchased the  North Columbus Street Railway and Chariot Line.  The North  Columbus Street Railway and Chariot Line ran horsecars from Arcada  Avenue to Union Depot, where the customer could change to a chariot or  to a CSR Co. horsecar.  The two lines had been sharing the High  Street subway.  The CSR Co.  immediately eliminated the chariot route  from Union Depot to downtown Columbus and was able to extend their  route north from University Street to Arcadia Avenue.

1883

The Columbus Consolidated Street Railway Company purchased land at the  State Fair Grounds (Franklin Park) to build a stable and car house.   This eventually became the Rose Avenue shops (later renamed the Kelton  Avenue shops)

1885

After October 1885, cars would only stop at the crossings of streets  and alleys.

1887

June 27, 1887, permission was given to build the Chittenden Avenue line  from High Street to the State Fair Grounds. This was the first  electric line using an experimental electrical system.

1888

The company obtained permission to extend its south High Street Line from Stewart  Avenue to the south corporation line.

1889

Authority was given to construct double-track on High Street from  Chittenden Avenue north to Hudson Street.

1889-1891

Note: The mileage figures are for the length of single track,  counting one mile of double track as two of single and counting  switches as additional length.

1891

The Chittenden Avenue stables and car house were destroyed by fire.  Lost in the fire were 25 horsecars.  All the horses were saved.

1892

The Oak Street line was electrified, ending the horsecar era.