Since they were first used in 1885, streetcars were the one of the fastest modes of public transportation for the citizens of South Bend. All good things must end, they say, and in 1940, the streetcars were all retired. They had a good run for 55 years. June 15th, was the last day for the streetcars. The next day, all the routes were taken over by busses. Here's a photo of all the retired cars, gathered into the rail yard on Notre Dame avenue. A few got sold to out of state rail companies, but the majority got scrapped. Unfortunately, not one Northern Indiana Railway streetcar survived.