Sun Tran is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Back in 1975, Tucson's bus service had rebranded itself as Sun Tran.

From mules, to trolleys, to buses, Tucson's transit history dates back nearly 145 years.

In the spring of 1880, Tucson was coming of age. In March of that year, the railroad was completed, and the first train steamed into downtown.

"All of a sudden, the people in Tucson thought they had to be like any up-and-coming city," said Old Pueblo Trolley CEP Gene Caywood. "They ought to have a transit system."

By 1882, a horse-drawn bus called a herdic was being used. Tucson transit was born.

The herdic line connected downtown with the brand new University of Arizona, which opened in October of 1891.

By 1897, Tucson Street Railway was organized, launching service the next year wi

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