The following description comes from the event organizer.

Portland neighborhoods owe their location, alignment, and growth to the streetcar. Portland still bears the imprint of the carlines that once wove their way out to suburbs in every direction, including Fulton, Portland Heights, Goose Hollow, Nob Hill, Slabtown, Willamette Heights, Albina, Saint Johns, Irvington, Rose City, Mount Tabor, Montavilla, Mount Scott, and Sellwood. Riders also discovered the recreational function of street railways while visiting friends, parks, and shopping areas farther from the center of town.

Richard Thompson holds a master's degree from the University of Oregon. Now a semi-retired public historian, writer, and consultant, He has worked as a historical museum director, college instructor, librarian, archivist, educational technologist, and archaeological field worker. His favorite job was serving as crew coordinator for Vintage Trolley, Inc., during their twenty-three-year operation of replica trolleys through downtown Portland.

Thompson is the author of eight books on electric railway history and has appeared in several documentaries, including Streetcar City, produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting. He has also written more than a dozen entries for the online Oregon Encyclopedia.

For 50 years, Thompson has been a volunteer for The Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society, operating trolleys at their museum, as well as editing the newsletter, writing articles, and serving on the board of directors.