Talk - "The Royal Blue Line: Uptown to Metairie"

Ed Branley, a former high school history teacher and self-described history fanatic, will discuss the Royal Blue Line, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 19, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

.Each session is free of charge and is open to the public.

The Royal Blue Line was a streetcar that traveled up and down part of Metairie Road in Old Metairie from 1915 to 1934. Its name comes from the destination signs that were made of bright royal blue glass with white letters. The line was an extension of the Napoleon Avenue Street Line, which had been in operation since 1903. 

Buses replaced the Metairie streetcars in 1934. The Napoleon Avenue line was shortened and finally was replaced by buses in 1953.

There is discussion now about creating a new line for the Blue Line as a 14-mile, 19-station, route and completely grade separated (aka elevated above street level) light metro line. When going from the CBD to MSY, the route would start by heading downriver from Union Passenger Terminal along the neutral ground of Loyola Avenue. 

New Orleans native Edward J. Branley has written five books for Arcadia Publishing, including Legendary Locals of New Orleans and Images of America books New Orleans: The Canal Streetcar Line, Maison Blanche Department Store and New Orleans Jazz. He is a graduate of Brother Martin High School in New Orleans and the University of New Orleans.

For more information regarding this presentation, contact Chris Smith, Manager of Adult Programming for the library, at 504-889-8143 or wcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us.