North High Carhouse
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The North High Carbarn in the 1940s. The camera is looking northeast from North Street. Arcada Avenue is behind the streetcar.
Circa 1940 photo from the B. J. Kern Collection.
The North High Carbarn, built in 1891-92, was located at North High Street & Arcadia Avenue, the north end of the High Street line. It was situated across the street from the entrance to Olentangy Park. The south end of the Worthington & Columbus Street Railway also terminated at Arcadia Ave.
The Worthington & Columbus Street Railway was incorporated in 1891. 1901, it became part of the Columbus, Delaware & Marion interurban line. The CD&M traveled from central Columbus south on Summit Street, turned west on Arcadia Avenue, and passed the North High carbarn as it turned north on High St.
The streetcar line south of Arcadia was wide gauge (5’ 2”), while the CD&M was standard gauge (4’ 8½”). Until 1922, the standard gauge tracks north to Worthington carried both interurban cars and, as far as Worthington, standard gauge streetcars. 1922, the CD&M built the Worthington bypass, taking the interurbans off High Street. The track on High Street between Arcadia and north to Kenworth Avenue was replaced with dual gauge track extending the High Street line into Clintonville. At some point, the dual gauge track was extended to Weisheimer Road. The standard gauge streetcar service to Worthington was discontinued November 1934.
Circa 1920, a standard gauge ten car yard was constructed behind the carbarn. It served to overnight standard gauge streetcars from the Summit/Steelton and Worthington lines.
Olentangy Park
1896, the CR&L Co purchased Olentangy Park, extended a single track to the park entrance, and built a loop with a small station. 1899, the CR&L Co. sold the park to the Dusenbury brothers. The brothers developed Olentangy Park into an amusement park, expanding the streetcar patronage. 1907, two tracks were extended to the park entrance with a larger loop and a new station.
1937, Olentangy Park was closed. The loop and park station were replaced with a wide gauge yard. The added storage space allowed the South High Carbarn to be closed.
By 1948, all the streetcar lines were abandoned, and the North High Carbarn was sold. It was used unsuccessfully for a car dealership and then torn down.
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1909 Ohio Inspection Bureau Map showing the North High Carbarn. The name Mock Street was changed to Arcadia Avenue. Columbus carbarns typically contained pits for inspecting and working on the underside of the streetcars, a washroom for cleaning the cars, and one or two snow sweepers.
Drawing from the Edward Miller Collection.
North High Carbarn Photos
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The front and southwest corner of the carbarn. The portals into the building were enlarged probably when the company purchased double-truck streetcars starting in 1895.
Circa 1930 photo from the David Bunge Collection.
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The north side of the carbarn along Arcadia Avenue. The tracks in the street are standard gauge track used by the Columbus, Delaware, and Marion interurban and the Worthington streetcar.
There was an electric substation in the carbarn used to provide electricity for Olentangy Park. Three transformers for the substation are mounted in an open window.
Circa 1930 photo from the David Bunge Collection.
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The east side of the carbarn, part of which is still standing in 2023. Tracks and overhead trolley wire for the standard gauge yard can be seen.
Circa 1930 photo from the David Bunge Collection.
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The south side of the carbarn, the brickwork was designed to suggest a castle. The castle theme is carried out in the entrance to Olentangy Park.
Circa 1930 photo from the David Bunge Collection.
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The standard gauge yard located behind the North High Carbarn. The yard was used to store streetcars for the Summit/Steelton and Worthignton lines.
Circa 1930 photo from the Dave Bunge Collection.
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The streetcar company's 1891 name, Columbus Consolidated Street Railway Company, was inbedded in the brick on the front of the building. The company changed its name shortly after the carbarn was built.
Circa 1944 photo from the Shirley Hyatt Collection.
Inside the North High Carbarn
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The 1925 track configuration of the North High Carbarn.
B. J. Kern drawing from the Tom Boland Collection.
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Inside the carbarn with the camera looking toward the north. The brick structure to the right of the window is the Olentangy Park electrical substation. To the right of the substation, behind the streetcars are the open doors leading to the streetcar washroom.
Circa 1940 photo from the Dave Bunge Collection.
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The camera is looking toward the east. Two snow sweepers are stored in the carbarn waiting for the next snowfall.
Circa 1940 photo from the Dave Bunge Collection.
Entrance to Olentangy Park
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The orginial streetcar and pedestrian entrance to the CRP&L's Olentangy Park station. Glen Echo Ravine runs on the north side of Arcadia Avenue crosses High Street, and continues between the CRP&L station and Olentangy Park to the Olentangy River. The bridge is crossing a one-block-long lateral ravine that branches off Glen Echo Ravine
Circa 1900 photo from the Russ Thompson Collection.
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The camera is looking east, back at the North High Carbarn. In the time of smaller streetcars, the streetcar portials are also smaller with wooden doors. The pedestrian entrance is to the left of the streetcar entrance.
Circa 1900 photo from the Russ Thompson Collection.
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In 1907 the entrance was widened to accommodate double tracks. The lateral ravine was filled in eliminating the bridge. The loop was enlarged providing space to stage more streetcars needed to handle the increase in passengers.
1907 photo from the Alex Campbell Collection.
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A postcard that shows the size of the enlarged loop and CRP&L's replacement Olentangy Park station.
1907 Postcard from the Alex Campbell Collection.
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Closeup of the second Olentangy Park Station. The park is behind the station.
Circa 1920 photo from the Ohio Memory Collection.
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The wide gauge yard across High Street from the North High Carbarn on the land previously used as the entrance to Olentangy Park. The yard was built in 1938 after Olentangy Park closed. This additional streetcar storage space was needed with the closing of the South High Carbarn.
Circa 1940 photo from the Donald A. Kaiser Collection.