The Tramways of La Paz

Tranvías de La Paz

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	(00) The first of eight electric trams that J. G. Brill built in 1909 for Tranvías de La Paz. This was Brill's second fleet for the Bolivian capital (see Ferrocarril Guaqui a La Paz). [col. AM]
	(01) Interior of the TLP car shown in picture (01). [Both views: Brill's Magazine (Philadelphia), May 1909, p. 115]
	(02) Brill tram no. 2 in La Paz. An excellent view of the famous Brill model 21E truck, the most widely used in the world. [col. L.V.C.]
	(03) Looking northwest up Av. Montes from Calle Ingavi, on the right [see map]. The tram is pulling a little trailer. In the 1920s the route was changed and the rails turned here onto Calle Ingavi. The arrow marks the tram depot. [pc, col. AM]
	(04) TLP car number 5 headed east on Calle Comercio in the city's business district. The line was later moved a block north to Calle Ingavi [see map]. [pc, col. AM]
	(05) Looking north on Calle Loaiza from the corner of Av. 16 de Julio [see map]. The tram in the distance will turn left in order to begin its zigzag climb up the hill. [pc, col. AM]
	(06) Av. Arce in the San Jorge residential district [see map]. The tram line was later removed from this street and relaid on Av. 6 de Agosto [pc, AM]
	(07) Construction of the Obrajes line in 1913. Location is Av. Libertador at the bridge over Río Choqueyapu [see map]. Note that the overhead wire has been strung only as far as the tram! Is it powered? [pc, col. AM]
	(08) Looking south toward Obrajes, which lies just beyond the curve [see map]. A tram starts its climb to La Paz. [pc, col. AM]
	(09) TLP tram 7 at the terminus of the Sopocachi line [see map]. [pc, col. AM]
	(10) Another postal view, precise location unknown. A postcard like this is coveted by many collectors because of the Coca-Cola advertisement. [col. AM]
	(11) A TLP car at the station of the Ferro Carril Guaqui a la Paz [see map]. This large building is the intercity bus terminal today. [pc, col. AM]
	(12) TLP tram 18 at the Hospital de Clínicas in the Miraflores district [see map]. This seven-window Brill car was originally FCG car 103: see Introduction. [Alarcón, Bolivia, p. 32: see BIBLIOGRAPHY]
	(13) Purchased – and signed – for the new Miraflores line, which opened in June 1920.
	(14) A center-door car on Av. 6 de Agosto, at its junction with Av. Arce [see map]. [pc, col. AM]
	(15) A center-door car on Av. Arce with Mount Illimani, Bolivia's highest peak (6,462 m/21,201 ft), overhead. [pc, col. Marcelo Cáceres Miranda]
	(16) Looking south down Av. 16 de Julio, also known as Paseo El Prado [see map]. Trams ran in both directions along the west side of the boulevard – one of the reasons for the system's early demise. [pc, col. Marcelo Cáceres Miranda]
	(17) A view north along Av. 16 de Julio; El Alto and the airport are atop the hills in the distance. The tram will go clockwise around the circle, against automobile traffic. [pc, col. AM]
	(18) Av. 16 de Julio [see map]. [pc, col. AM]
	(19) Av. 16 de Julio. [pc, col. AM]
	(20) One of two arch roof cars that Brill built for Tranvías de La Paz in 1925. No pictures have been found that show this model in service. [Brill Magazine (Philadelphia), August 1925, p. 310]
	(21) Diagram and dimensions of the car that Brill built for La Paz in 1925. [Brill Magazine (Philadelphia), August 1925, p. 312]
	(22) The Tranvías de La Paz system closed in 1950. This photograph taken in 1963 shows rails and poles still intact on Av. 16 de Julio [see map] – but the brackets held advertising rather than trolley wire. [Earl Clark]
	(23) In 1994 the Bolivian Post Office issued stamps honoring its "postal transport vehicles". Did the tramways of La Paz also carry mail? [col. AM]

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