The Yakima Valley Transportation Company of Washington
The Yakima Valley Transportation Company (YVT) began operations in 1907 as a streetcar line downtown. Although some freight operation took place almost from the beginning, streetcar service was the company's primary activity for its first several years, and interurban service extended to several areas. Its greatest length was just over 44 miles. Presently, approximately five miles of track remain that connect the cities of Yakima and Selah, Washington. Electric trains have operated on the YVT trackage every year since 1907.
From 1909 onward, the company was a wholly owned subsidiary of the Union Pacific Railroad. Freight service expanded in the 1910s, and by 1920 it had become a major function of the YVT. Interurban service was discontinued on May 15, 1935.
The Yakima Valley Transportation Company operated the local streetcar system from 1907 until 1947. The first streetcars purchased new came from the Danville Car Company of Illinois, while later purchases were from the John G. Stephenson Company and the J. G. Brill Company.
Due to declining revenue, the Union Pacific filed for abandonment of the YVT and operation ceased on November 18, 1985. However, at the request of Yakima city officials, the Union Pacific donated the entire YVT railroad to the City of Yakima. This enabled the city to allow continued operation of a heritage streetcar service by the Yakima Valley Trolleys which currently operates. The donation included two of the railway's three locomotives, 1909 "Line car" A (for overhead line maintenance) and 1922 GE "steeple-cab" locomotive No. 298.[6] The third YVT electric locomotive, 1923 boxcab-type No. 297, was donated by UP to the Orange Empire Railway Museum.
