TRANSIT SYSTEMS IN PENNSYLVANIA

PHILADELPHIA AREA


PHILADELPHIA/HISTORIC DETAIL

Transit History (City)
Transit History (Suburbs)
Route History (City)
Route History (Suburbs)
Links


Philadelphia

Horse Car
1857-1895 - several companies
1890-1897 - horse cars replaced with electric streetcars
1863-1896 - operated steam dummy
1883-1895 - operated cable cars

1895-1902 - Union Traction Co.
1902-1940 - Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co.
1923 - buses introduced
1923 - trolleybuses introduced
1940-1955 - Philadelphia Transportation Co.
1955-1966 - Philadelphia Transportation Co. (National City Lines)
1966-1968 - Philadelphia Transportation Co.
STILL OPERATES TROLLEYBUSES
STILL OPERATES STREETCARS

Upper Darby

1895-1936 - Philadelphia & West Chester Traction Co.
1895-1896 - operated steam dummy

1896 - steam dummy replaced with electric streetcars

1923 - buses introduced by affiliated company Aronimink Transportation Co.
1936-1970 - Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Co.
STILL OPERATES STREETCARS

Chester

Horse Car
1883-1893 - Chester Street Railway Co.
1892-1893 - horse cars replaced with electric streetcars operated by new company

1892-1894 - Union Railway Co.
1894-1910 - Chester Traction Co.
1910-1940 - Southern Pennsylvania Traction Co.
1923 - buses introduced by affiliated company Southern Pennsylvania Bus Co.
1940 - streetcars discontinued

1923-1960 - Southern Pennsylvania Bus Co.
1936-1970 - Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Co.

Norristown

Horse Car
1878-1895 - Citizens Passenger Railway Co.
1893 - horse cars replaced with electric streetcars

Horse Car
1884-1895 - Norristown Passenger Railway Co.
1898 - horse cars replaced with electric streetcars

Electric Streetcar
1895-1933 - Schuylkill Valley Traction Co.
1933 - streetcars replaced with buses operated by new company

1933-1976 - Schuylkill Valley Lines

Bristol

1896-1901 - Bristol Passenger Railway Co.
1896-1901 - Philadelphia & Bristol Railway Co.
1900-1901 - Philadelphia & New Jersey Street Railway Co.

1901-1909 - Philadelphia Bristol & Trenton Street Railway Co.
1909-1929 - Trenton Bristol & Philadelphia Street Railway Co.
1929-1932 - Trenton Bristol & Philadelphia Railway Co.
1932 - streetcars discontinued

1932-1935 - Delaware River Coach Co.
1935-1954 - Neibauer Bus Co.
1954-1968 - L&W Transportation Co.
1968-1977 - Colonial Coach Co.
1977-1982 - Trenton-Philadelphia Coach Co.

CURRENT TRANSIT SYSTEM (SINCE 1968)
Southeastern Pennvsylania Transportation Authority


West Chester

1891-1929 - West Chester Street Railway Co.
1927 - buses introduced by affiliated company Chester Valley Bus Lines
1929 - streetcars discontinued

1927-1933 - Chester Valley Bus Lines
After 1933 - The Short Line

CURRENT TRANSIT SYSTEM (SINCE 1942)
Krapf's Transit

HISTORIC INTERURBAN TROLLEY LINE
Kennett Square-Wilmington
1903-1923 - West Chester Kennett & Wilmington Electric Railway Co.

Pottstown

1893-1905 - Pottstown Passenger Railway Co.
1905-1912 - Pottstown & Reading Street Railway Co.
1912-1922 - Pottstown & Phoenixville Railway Co.
1922-1937 - Pottstown Transit Co.
1937 - streetcars replaced with buses operated by affiliated company

After 1937 - Pottstown Rapid Transit Co.

CURRENT TRANSIT SYSTEM
Pottstown Area Rapid Transit

Newtown

1897-1901 - Newtown Electric Railway Co.
1901-1908 - Newtown Electric Street Railway Co.
1908-1913 - Bucks County Electric Railway Co.
1913-1917 - Bucks County Interurban Railway Co.
1917-1924 - Pennsylvania-New Jersey Railway Co.
1924 - streetcars discontinued

HISTORIC INTERURBAN TYPE RAILWAYS
Operated in several directions from Newtown

Quakertown

1897-1913 - Quakertown Traction Co.
1913 - streetcars discontinued

CURRENT TRANSIT SYSTEM
Bucks County Transport


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