Streetcar Guide to Uptown New Orleans

Rating:
Summary: The best book on the New Orleans streetcar.
Review: I am amazed that this little book is no longer in print. I would give one to every tourist who boards the St. Charles streetcar downtown. It gives a capsule of New Orleans history and fascinating detail of the machine itself, with special focus on the origon of the service... the St. Charles line was one of the very first street railways, and is THE oldest surviving one.

It's not easy to read the book straight through: only a third or so of the buildings described are illustrated. But then, you're expected to be viewing them from the streetcar, and the paper-bound booklet is about 5x7", small enough to be carried easily.

The pictures are line drawings rather than photographs. Side excursions through the neighborhoods are also described, and most would be still useful today, though shopping, eateries, and the Audubon Zoo have substantially changed. The descriptions of buildings is excellent, and fairly accurate.

I congratulate the authors for this reference work, which today is of benefit mostly to tour guides. I wish it could be updated and reprinted!