Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Streetcars/Archive: 2009

Proposed changes to TrainsWikiProject for subprojects
I've proposed a change to TrainsWikiProject that would incorporate links to the various subprojects of WikiProject Trains. Your input on the template talk page would be appreciated. Thanks. Slambo (Speak) 18:39, 3 July 2006 (UTC)


 * The "Streetcars=yes" parameter now adds articles to Category:WikiProject Streetcars articles. Slambo (Speak)  11:20, 30 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Thanks very much for adding that parameter to the template. However, I note that articles listed in that category have talk page that proclaim the article is a part of WikiProject Trains.  Is there sufficient distinction between that project and this to justify another approach, such as a new template?  TramsWikiProject or StreetcarsWikiPoject might fill the role. 67.86.73.252 (talk) 17:44, 21 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Never mind. 67.86.73.252 (talk) 04:05, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

terminology, U.S. vs others
When working on articles for WikiProject Trains, we have been confronted with a problem in major differences in terminology used around the world. This is going to come up in this WikiProject as well.

Here are 2 examples already:


 * streetcar Should this really be redirected to tram, which is an obscure usage in US? I have never heard the term tram used here except referring to some small rubber-tired people movers used for parking shuttles at places like theme parks and major events.


 * subway should this really be redirected to metro, an inapplicable usage in US? The only time I hear metro used here is occasionally for the formal or slang name of a subway system, such as Metro in Washington, DC.

How can we incorporate the differences and educate everyone?

Comments on the above, anyone? Vaoverland 22:57, Dec 24, 2004 (UTC)


 * Well, I think if the article is talking about a system in an American city, then we should say streetcar. Tram simply isn't used in the United States. Ditto with metro. Mackensen (talk) 23:54, 24 Dec 2004 (UTC)


 * That is my thinking also. I think we should have articles under subway and streetcar which indicate to SEE metro and SEE tram respectively for the non-North American version, and vice versa, if that is the proper way to differentiate. This would help readers find what they are looking for. This approach would allow us to pull out most of the U.S. related content in each article, and make room for more photos and content. I think the next step would be to post this on the talk pages for tram and metro, and solicit comments and help from other writers to be discussed here. Vaoverland 19:32, Dec 25, 2004 (UTC)


 * Sounds like a plan. Mackensen (talk) 19:35, 25 Dec 2004 (UTC)


 * It appear we have a quorum, so I will make it so, and we'll see what we hear. Vaoverland 20:04, Dec 25, 2004 (UTC)


 * Progress Report: already, considerable work has been done to separate the subway/metro and tram/streetcar articles. We now have new articles at subway and streetcar. The need to have these was clearly demonstrated by the comment that we didn't have a famous Pulitzer prize winning play entitled "A Tram named Desire"  22:21, Dec 26, 2004 (UTC)

I'm glad to see that this was reversed, at least for tram and streetcar... believe it or not, they are the same thing and therefore should be on the same page. Separating them just as an excuse to give more attention to the USA is not a good thing.


 * I agree. Splitting the articles up is not a good approach. One page has to redirect to the other anyway, and it really does not matter which article redirects where, as long as the same information is available. Øyvind Svedman 17:23, 20 January 2007 (UTC)
 * By the way, the article Passenger rail terminology seems to list terminology differences rather well. 67.86.73.252 (talk) 04:08, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Anybody got a photograph of a California Street cable car?
I've just added a section on 'Cars' to the article San Francisco cable car system and I'd like to illustrate the difference between the single-ended cars used on the Powell lines and the double-ended cars used on the California Street line, with recent photographs of both types of car.

I can supply any number of photographs of the single-ended cars, either by moving existing images in the article or by uploading more photos I took on my last two trips there. But I cannot find a usable picture of a double-ended car. Can anybody help?. -- Chris j wood 14:53, 7 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * As I write this there are 76 photos at commons:Category:Cable cars in San Francisco and I suspect you might be able to find a relevant image there (if you have not done so already since a lot of time has passed since your query). 67.86.73.252 (talk) 04:15, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Portal and Userbox?
Would we like a portal and a userbox for this project? I can (try) and make a suitable one if nesecary. Please let me know!  Bluegoblin  7   10:24, 31 August 2007 (UTC)
 * I think they might be helpful. There is already a portal for UK Trams at Portal:UK Trams and one for Streetcars in general might be useful. Here is a crude attempt at a user template (if someone wants to use it as a starting point): 67.86.73.252 (talk) 04:20, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Is this project a child project of Transport?
Hi. Can I ask if this wikiproject is a child project of WikiProject Transport as I am trying to establish which projects are, so that the list on the main page can be sorted out. Thanks. Tbo 157  talk  21:14, 24 August 2007 (UTC)
 * How about the following hierarchy of projects? (If noone objects here I will list parents on the project page). 67.86.73.252 (talk) 04:28, 6 January 2009 (UTC)


 * WikiProject Science
 * WikiProject Technology
 * WikiProject Transport
 * WikiProject Trains
 * WikiProject Streetcars
 * WikiProject UK Trams

Featured article: Hellingly Hospital Railway
The Hellingly Hospital Railway was listed as a Featured article today. The line was an electric tram with trolley pole power pickup. 67.86.73.252 (talk) 00:19, 25 March 2009 (UTC)

Trams in France
I have attempted to add the template to this page but it does not appear to work. Maybe there is an error in the syntax. I would also appreciate help in assessing the article and in giving it an importance rating. Thanks. Ipigott (talk) 14:34, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
 * I think I've now fixed this but would still appreciate help with assessments, etc. - Ipigott (talk) 14:57, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
 * That was good work. I liked the Trams in France article and I have left a few specific suggestions at the Talk:Trams in France discussion page. 67.86.73.252 (talk) 02:00, 25 March 2009 (UTC)

Tram types without a known type designation
First off: Hello, I joined up today. This looks like a nice and interesting project, I just hope there are people here still active...

Now on to the point: Is there any kind of a concensus/guideline as to how articles on tram types (tram classes?) without a known type designation should be named? I've been working on articles on various tram classes used on Finnish tram systems which have known tyoe classifications (Karia HM V, Valmet Nr I and Valmet Nr II), but when looking up information on older tram types used I've stumbled on a problem with tram types that have no (known) type classification. For instance, I would like to make an article on the ASEA-built trams from 1908-1918 that were made for all three Finnish tram cities (Helsinki tram, Turku tram and Viipuri tram), as well as Norrköping and Gothenburg tram in Sweden. Non-wiki pages for the Finnish units can be found here: Helsinki, Turku, Viipuri. If anyone could help me out in discovering the common type classification for these trams it would be excellent, but failing that it might be prudent to establish some kind of a guideline on how to treat cases such as this in the future? -- Kjet (talk · contribs) 19:38, 31 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Would it be helpful to have one article on either older Finnish tram types or even a list type article on all Finnish tram types? When more material gets added then individual tram types (or models) could be split out into their own separate article (and the list article could still list the model that was split out, but it can be simplified to contain only a link to the separate article).  I hope that helps.  67.86.73.252 (talk) 02:03, 25 March 2009 (UTC)

Article alerts
A wikiproject may subscribe to Article alerts. I note that the article news posted to the front page of this wikiproject is actually from the WP:TRAIN project (hence not narrowed in focus). 67.86.73.252 (talk) 00:11, 4 April 2009 (UTC)