Once
Baltimore's street railway companies decided to abandon the horse in
favor of electric propulsion in the 1890's, they instantly realized
that they would need more property to supply the growing electric lines
with the needed power. Enter the substation, a reasonably small
building, which when properly situated, would offer Baltimoreans a
hiccup free ride on the sprawling electric lines.
Among the most forgotten and
unappreciated of Baltimore's Streetcar ghosts are these substations.
These workhorses were resposible for moving well over 1,000 streetcars
through the city on a daily basis. After their abandonment, those
that were not demolished were largely ignored, although most have since
been recycled into other uses, a testament to their sturdy construction.
Let us then have a look at these grand old structures of days gone by:
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The most heralded of the streetcar system's old power structures is the
United Railways and Electric Power Plant, which, after a few
recyclings, now serves as a retail and entertainment complex. The
URE lettering remains on the crest of the building.
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The Druid Hill Powerhouse
abutting Park Terminal had a heavy burden in supplying power to the largest
nucleus of the system outside of Downtown. The structure still stands
nobly.
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Falls Road Substation at
40th Street carried power to lines on Falls Road as well as Roland Avenue.
Since then, it has been converted into an art store.
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Nunnery Lane Substation,
just South of Edmondson Avenue supplied power to routes 8, 9, and 14.
It's massiveness made it a good candidate for conversion.
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Fresh from rehabilitation
is the Caroline Street Substation, just below Fayette Street, now converted
to charitable purposes.
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A virtual twin of the Caroline
Street structure is this one on Tyson Street, just off the corner of Howard
and Saratoga Streets. Though not as loved as its sibling, perhaps
its day will come one day.
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Well off the beaten path
is the Owings Mills Powerhouse, hiding behind a warehouse on Reisterstown
Road at the CSX WM Crossing. After modification, it now serves small
commerical clients.
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Built to a more upcale look
to please the Towson Neighbors is this structure on Susquehanna Avenue
in Towson, since converted to an antique lighting dealer.
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Saving the best for last!
The White Avenue Substation, serving the 15 and 19 lines was built with
the look of a house to try to mesh with the neighborhood surroudings.
Never mind the odd window arrangement. Regardless, the structure
now proudly serves a law firm.
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Is it or isn't it? This
neat little building near Shipyard Junction in Sparrows point certainly
looks to have been a substation of some type, but did it help to power
the #26 line cars?!?
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