Puget Sound Electric Railway
A train between Seattle and Tacoma c.1914
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| Reporting mark | PSE |
|---|---|
| Locale | Seattle–Tacoma, Washington |
| Dates of operation | 1902–1928 |
| Length | 199.4 mi (320.9 km) |
| Headquarters | Kent, Washington |
The Puget Sound Electric Railway was an interurban railway that ran for 38 miles between Tacoma and Seattle, Washington in the first quarter of the 20th century. Portions of the right-of-way still exist as multi-use trail through Milton, Washington, as well as from Pacific to Tukwila, Washington.
The PSE began operations on September 25, 1902 with a line that started in downtown Tacoma, ran along Pacific and Puyallup Avenues, followed the course of present day Pacific Highway through Fife and to Milton, turned southeast towards Puyallup and paralleled the path of today's SR 167 through Pacific, Algona, Auburn, Kent, Orillia and Renton, then into Seattle on its own dedicated right-of-way, via South Park, from there running on surface streets to the area near Pioneer Square, where it interchanged with other interurbans in the area.
Power was supplied via overhead wire in urban areas, and third rail in rural areas. The third rail was the cause of several accidents throughout the PSE's operations which involved livestock or people being electrocuted, and in some cases dead cows caused accidents involving the trolleys themselves.
The railroad ran for 26 years, until competition from trucks, buses, and automobiles on an ever-expanding road network, as well as the steam railroads led to reduced ridership in the early 1920s and in 1928, a decision to shut down operations. Residents all along the line protested the decision, however, and the rails were not pulled up until 1930.
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