Market Square, Williamsport Pa, 1909
Trolleys In Williamsport PA
The Williamsport Passenger Railway Company was chartered on April 15th 1863.
The original line of the Williamsport railway extended roughly 1. 1 miles from Market Street west on Third Street to Pine and north on Pine to Fourth, then west on Fourth to the newly constructed Herdic House, now the Park Home. The first streetcars were placed in service on this line in 1865 in time for the State Fair held in Williamsport that September. These cars were noisy, swaying vehicles drawn by horses and equipped with small stoves to keep passengers warm In the winter. In 1870 enclosed sleighs were brought into service for operation when deep snows made the passage of other vehicles impossible.
At first, Herdic used large, 26-passenger cars requiring two horses and provided 94 trips per day. However, this quickly proved to be too much service, and smaller, 16-passenger cars requiring only one horse were soon introduced.
In 1887, a charter was granted to the People's Passenger Railway Company to build 7 miles of lines, mainly in South Williamsport. A legal battle ensued, and the Act of 1878 under which the charter was granted was ruled unconstitutional.
The Williamsport Passenger Railway was purchased by a Philadelphia syndicate in 1890. The syndicate was headed by local resident Hiram Rhoads, who was also the head of the Williamsport and North Branch telephone company and also secretary of the Lycoming Electric Company. Under his direction, the line began to be electrified.
Laying trolley tracks on third street
Photo is looking west of Walnut Street
On August 5th, and again on August 6th, 1891, the first successful trial runs were run on the newly electrified 3rd street line. Philadelphia would not get electric street cars until the following years.
Intersection of West 3rd & Pine Streets. L.L. Sterns is on the left, and the lawn and trees of the courthouse are on the right. Note the three modes of transportation shown: Horse and Buggy, Street Car, and a very early automobile.
“Williamsport has rapid transit at last, and the people are as proud of the new electric cars as a boy is of a new toy. They are a novelty, and are being enjoyed as such by everybody . . .” The Grit August 9, 1891
James V. Brown Library, East 4th Street
On November 14th 1891, service began on the newly electrified 4th street line. These lines operated 20 hours a day, from 5:05 a.m. to 1:40 a.m. the following day.
The Newberry Line
In 1892, a new extension was built through Cemetery street and Erie Avenue, into Newberry.
Bridge over the Susquehanna
The Newberry Bridge Company was formed, and constructed a bridge across Lycoming Creek at Claine Street. The bridge was exclusively for streetcars. A one cent toll on each passenger who crossed the bridge helped to offset the costs of construction.
In 1892, six additional Railway Companies were issued charters in Williamsport.
Vallamont Passenger Railway
Citizens Passenger Railway
South Side Passenger Railway
The Junction Passenger Railway Company
The Centre and West Sent Passenger Railway Company
The East End Passenger Railway Company
With so many companies vying for the right away, a "Streetcar War" soon began in Williamsport.
A trolley in front of the Masonic Hall, Market Street In Williamsport
When the Williamsport Passenger company laid tracks along the length of market street, the Junction Company immediately began tearing the tracks back up, as the two battled over who had the rights to that area. The legal battle went all the way to the State Supreme Court, which on May 16th 1893 ruled against the Williamsport Railway Company. This decision marked the end of the Williamsport Railways monopoly.
The East End Company opened service up Franklin Street Hill, and back down Lincoln, Almond, and Washington Boulevard, on Mary 30 1893.
Trolley Stop at Vallamont Park
The Vallamont loop, offering service to the Vallamont section of Williamsport, opened August 1 1893. The Vallamont loop traveled to a nine-hole golf course located west of Woodmont Avenue, as well as to Vallamont Park. For ten cents residents could take a round-trip ride to the park, and receive free admission to a matinee performance in the pavilion. The same loop also stopped at the Athletic Park, home of the Williamsport Millionaires of the Tri-State Baseball League.
In 1894, The Vallamont, the Citizens’ Passenger, the Centre and West End, and the Junction companies all merged into one company named the Vallamont Traction Company.
Vallamont Traction
Later that year, Cochran, who controlled the new Vallamont company, also acquired the East End Company, giving him a complete monopoly. It was once again known as The Williamsport Passenger Railway Company.
On August 14 1894, with all of the railways now under one management, a single fair was instituted. Passengers could now ride anywhere within the system for 5 cents.
The trolley tracks in South Williamsport, 1914, being torn up before the street was paved in brick.
The Maynard Street bridge is visible in the background.
The South Side Railway was formed on March 9 1895, extending service outside of the city limits. The tracks crossed the Susquehanna on a cantilever attached to the east side of the Market Street bridge, ran south on Market to Southern Avenue, then west to Maynard Street and back.
1916 - Trolley taking Salvation Army guest to Indian Park for a picnic, July 1916.
Inspecting the new Williamsport Trolley Cars at the Brill plant, 1926
1933, Trolley in Williamsport
While the trolley companies in most towns were bankrupt by 1930, the trolleys continued to run in Williamsport into the 1940s.
Trolley barn on the corner of West 3rd St. and Park St. T
This building would later become part of the Williamsport Technical Institute. It was demolished about 1984.
You can still take a trolley ride in Williamsport. They are on wheels, not tracks, now, but the trolleys run for events such as Christmas light tours, historical tours, and one can always been seen in every parade .
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1906
Market Square Looking East
Trolley beside the Masonic Building in Williamsport
The Vallamont Trolley, in Williamsport
Possibly a steam engine car meant to haul passengers from Hughesville to Halls? The top of the trolley reads "Williamsport".
Need to proofread. Up above you say a charger was granted but at the end of the sentence refer to it as charter.
ReplyDeleteGreat article! I had no idea about the Trolley Wars! Love seeing and recognizing many of the buildings in the photographs that are still standing today.
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