Richmond Union Passenger Railway

According to the IEEE, there were at least 74 earlier attempts to provide electric trolley service in over 60 communities in North America, the United Kingdom, and continental Europe.

However, these earlier attempts were not reliable enough to replace the existing animal-hauled street railways.

Electric power was supplied through overhead trolley wires (450 volts) for two 7.5 horsepower (5.6 kW) motors on each car.

By June 1888 the system contained 40 cars running on some 12 miles (19 km) of track, including steep grades, and with 30 degree or 193.18-foot (58.88 m) minimum radius curves.

The Boston City Council, after inspecting Richmond's system on September 7, 1888, approved construction the second such project by the West End Street Railway.