WASHINGTON DC TRANSIT

ELECTRIC RAILWAY COMPANIES IN MARYLAND

Those electric railways in Maryland which were not abandoned early, all eventually became part of Capital Transit.

Baltimore & Washington Transit Co. - incorporated 1894, opened 1897. Operated between Takoma Park and Wildwood. Closed 1907 and electrification removed. Reopened 1910 using gasoline cars, replaced 1911 with battery cars, closed again 1913. Re-electrified and reopened 1914 by Washington & Maryland Railway Co. Leased 1918 by Capital Traction, abandoned 1937.

East Washington Heights Traction Co - incorporated 1898, opened 1895 on Pennsylvania Av., crossing Anacostia River. Converted to buses in 1923.

Kensington Railway - incorporated 1894 as Chevy Chase Lake & Kensington Railway, opened 1895, acquired in 1902 by Kensington Railway. Leased 1923 to 1933 by Capital Traction, abandoned 1935.

Maryland & Washington Railway - incorporated 1892, opened 1899. Extension within Maryland of Columbia & Maryland Railway, operated to Laurel. Acquired 1899 by City & Suburban Railway Co.

Tenallytown & Rockville Railroad - incorporated 1890, opened 1890. Extension within Maryland of Georgetown & Tenallytown Railway Co. line, operated to Rockville. Acquired 1897 by Washington & Rockville Railroad, acquired 1902 by Washington Railway & Electric Co. Converted to buses in 1935.

Glen Echo Railroad - incorporated 1889, opened 1891. Connected with Tenallytown & Rockville Railroad, operated west to Glen Echo and Cabin John. Renamed in 1896 to Washington & Glen Echo Railroad, abandoned 1900.

Washington & Great Falls Electric Railway Co. - incorporated 1892, opened 1895. Operated west to Cabin John. Acquired 1902 by Washington Railway & Electric Co.

Washington & Great Falls Railway & Power Co. - incorporated 1912, opened 1913. Connected with Tenallytown & Rockville Railroad, operated between Bethesda and Great Falls. Abandoned 1921.

Washington Spa Spring & Gretna Railroad Co. - incorporated 1905, opened 1910 within Bladensburg. Extended 1912 to Berwyn using battery cars. Renamed 1912 to Washington Interurban Railroad Co., owned by Washington Railway & Electric Co. Converted to buses in 1923.

Washington Woodside & Forest Glen Railway & Power Co. - incorporated 1895. Extension within Maryland of Brightwood Railway Co., operated to Forest Glen. Acquired 1902 by Washington Railway & Electric Co. Converted to buses in 1924.

SUBURBAN BUS COMPANIES

Three separate suburban bus companies existed in the Washington DC area, until the 1973 unification of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Two companies operated in Virginia. In Maryland, Capital Transit, later DC Transit, operated most routes. But some routes were operated by Washington Marlboro & Annapolis Motor Lines, Inc., serving areas which never had electric railways.

Washington Marlboro & Annapolis Motor Lines, Inc. - service began in 1922 southeast of Washington DC via Pennsylvania Avenue by Bradbury Heights Bus Line, acquired in 1926 by Washington Marlboro & Annapolis Motor Lines. Acquired by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in 1973. Routes had been identified by letter, most routes redesignated by WMATA by adding number 12 to letter.

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