Philadelphia Trolleys

Author: Allen Meyers
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 9780738512266
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 132

Book Description
Streetcar service arrived in Philadelphia in the 1850s, shortly after the consolidation of the city. After the Civil War, the horse-drawn omnibus gave way to a comprehensive network of streetcar lines with some routes measuring nineteen miles in length. By 1915, the electrification of the streetcar increased the number of routes in Philadelphia to a total of eighty-six. During the trolley's heyday, the city provided a vast test track for such companies as J.G. Brill, Kimball and Gorton Car Manufacturers, and the Budd Wheel Company. The Wharton Railroad Switch Company revolutionized the manufacture of switches and tracks. Of the lines that once operated in Philadelphia, five are still running today. Philadelphia Trolleys contains a variety of rare images, including a postcard of the Point Breeze Amusement Park, photographs of motormen's uniform badges and buttons, architectural drawings, early stock certificates, and a photograph of the Toonerville Trolley used in the silent movies produced by Lubin Studios in the 1920s.

Philadelphia Trolleys

Author: Roger DuPuis II
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 1439659311
Category : Photography
Languages : en
Pages : 96

Book Description
Using evocative photographs from private collections, Philadelphia Trolleys: From Survival to Revival carries readers on a nostalgic trip through nearly 50 years of transportation history, starting with the takeover of local transit service from the private sector by Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). Sporting a rainbow of paint schemes in the 1970s, Philadelphia's fleet of streamlined 1940s trolley cars brought a welcome splash of color to gritty city streets. But more than a coat of paint was needed for America's largest surviving streetcar network, and SEPTA faced tough choices about how much to keep as aging vehicles and infrastructure desperately required renewal or replacement. Long-lived Presidents' Conference Committee (PCC) streamliners were retired, and SEPTA invested in Kawasaki light-rail vehicles, which are still serving Philadelphia commuters 35 years later. Many SEPTA PCC cars found new homes, from Maine to San Francisco--and, more recently, on SEPTA's own revived Girard Avenue line. The story comes full circle as SEPTA officials once again gear up to select a new generation of Philadelphia trolleys.

Suburban Philadelphia Trolleys

Author: Kenneth C. Springirth
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 1439634823
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 220

Book Description
The Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company prospered through the hard times of the 1930s and was the last privately-owned trolley system in the United States. Aerodynamically designed Bullet cars of the Philadelphia and Western Railway dramatically reduced travel time on the Sixty-ninth Street to Norristown line. The Presidents Conference Committee trolley cars of the Philadelphia Transportation Company linked the boroughs of Darby, Colwyn, and Yeadon with Philadelphia. Photographs of Medias 1977 town fair feature vintage trolleys in the only suburban community in the United States with a trolley line ending in its main street. Suburban Philadelphia Trolleys covers the history of the trolleys that served Philadelphias western suburbs.

Montgomery County Trolleys

Author: Mike Szilagyi
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 1467128767
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 1

Book Description
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, was once served by 140 miles of trolley lines. In the first half of the 20th century, a wide array of trolley cars rolled over Montgomery County's rails, from quaint open streetcars rumbling through borough streets to sleek 80-mile-an-hour trolleys sailing across open fields in Upper Gwynedd and Hatfield Townships. The cars had zero emissions, and some lines were powered by renewable hydroelectric power. Taking the trolley was a convenient, affordable option for those travelling and commuting in Montgomery County, nearby Philadelphia, and points beyond. Freight was also carried on board trolleys, with prompt parcel delivery service. Fortunately, many years ago, dedicated trolley fans had the foresight to aim their cameras at these unique vehicles, providing rare glimpses not just of the trolleys but also of Montgomery County's rapidly changing landscapes.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Trolleys

Author: Kenneth C. Springirth
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 9780738556925
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 132

Book Description
An extensive number of trolley car lines linked the city of Philadelphia to the rich farmland and picturesque towns of southeastern Pennsylvania. These trolley lines traversed miles of narrow streets lined with row houses whose residents were proud working-class Americans. These historic photographs trace the trolley cars' routes, including Route 23, the region's longest urban trolley route, from the expanses of Northwest Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill through the crowded commercial Center City to South Philadelphia with a variety of neighborhood stops at everything in between. Southeastern Pennsylvania Trolleys follows the history of the trolley cars that have served this diverse and historic region.

Bucks County Trolleys

Author: Mike Szilagyi
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 1467105201
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 128

Book Description
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Bucks County Trolleys

Author: Mike Szilagyi
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 1439671494
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 128

Book Description
Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was once served by 120 miles of trolley lines. During the decades spanning the 1890s to 1950s, a variety of trolley cars glided through Bucks County's towns and countryside, beginning with Langhorne's quaint open streetcars and culminating with streamlined interurbans streaking across open fields from Sellersville to Quakertown at 80 miles per hour. The trolleys were powered by electricity, with the line stretching north from Doylestown energized by renewable hydroelectric power generated by the Delaware Canal. Before automobiles and trucks were commonplace, and before roads were paved, the rapid, convenient electric trolley was the best mode of travel for both passengers and freight shipments. Although the trolleys have almost completely disappeared today, the photographs on these pages provide rare glimpses of a long-lost mode of travel and charming scenes of Bucks County's soon-to-be-altered landscapes.

Philadelphia's Fairmount Park

Author: James D. Ristine
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 1439632413
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 136

Book Description
Philadelphias Fairmount Park focuses on the more than four thousand acres of land along the east and west banks of the Schuylkill River and into parts of the Wissahickon Valley that comprise one of the worlds largest urban parks. Historically and architecturally important structures and buildings are chronicled, such as the famous waterworks, the many bridges that span the parks waterways, the Zoological Gardens, and Boathouse Row. Numerous fountains, monuments, and artistic sculptures that dot the landscape are also documented. Rich in natural beauty, the parks meadows, gardens, lush vegetation, rugged ravines, and wooded areas will capture the eye. Philadelphias Fairmount Park is a nostalgic view of the park as it was enjoyed by visitors during the first quarter of the twentieth century.

Reading Trains and Trolleys

Author: Philip K. Smith
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 9780738535142
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 132

Book Description
Rail transportation has been part of daily life in Reading since the 1830s. Reading Trains and Trolleys portrays the good old days of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway (reorganized as the Reading Company in 1923), the Schuykill Valley Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Mount Penn Gravity Railroad, the Neversink Mountain Railroad, the Reading City Passenger Railway, and the Reading Traction Company. The Reading Railroad gained widespread recognition as a property for sale on the Monopoly board, but the history of trains and trolleys in Reading goes well beyond that iconography. Reading Trains and Trolleys documents the impact of railroad and trolley networks on Reading and adjoining communities, including photographs of the interior of the locomotive shop and the carbarn at Tenth and Exeter Streets, views of the Walnut Street yard before and after the Outer Station was constructed, and views from the Swinging Bridge, which spanned the yard by the Outer Station. The Historical Society of Berks County's collection of rail photographs includes many never-before-published images of diverse scenes in and around Reading.

Moon Philadelphia

Author: Karrie Gavin
Publisher: Moon Travel
ISBN: 1631214136
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 391

Book Description
See Philadelphia Like a Local with Moon Travel Guides! As America's first UNESCO World Heritage City, Philadelphia's well-preserved homes and historic churches mingle with modern skyscrapers, restaurants, and galleries. Explore the timeless City of Brotherly Love with Moon Philadelphia! Explore the City: Navigate by neighborhood or by activity with color-coded maps See the Sights: Visit the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall to soak up some American history, or jog up the famed Philadelphia Museum of Art steps just like Rocky. Relax in Rittenhouse Square, stroll along the Schuykill River Trail, or catch a concert on the Avenue of the Arts. Tour Edgar Allen Poe's home, hike through peaceful Wissahickon Park, or visit the beautiful Philadelphia Zoo Get a Taste of the City: Centuries-old mom-and-pop eateries share the streets with stylish bistros and Iron-Chef-run restaurants. But don't worry: we've found the top five places for you to grab an authentic Philly Cheesesteak Bars and Nightlife: Beer gardens and upscale martini bars; pubs with fierce karaoke and trivia competitions; and churches converted into music venues and dance clubs: Philly's nightlife has it all Trusted Advice: Philly native Karrie Gavin shares the ins and outs of her beloved hometown Itineraries and Day Trips: All accessible by bus, train, or public transit, including "Fun and Free Philly," "Top 10 for Kids," and the three-day best of Philadelphia, as well as day trips to Pennsylvania Dutch Country, the Brandywine Valley, or Bucks County Maps and Tools: Full-color photos and an easy-to-read foldout map to use on the go Tips for All Travelers: Including advice for LGBTQ visitors, travelers with disabilities, seniors, and families traveling with children or pets With Moon Philadelphia's practical tips, myriad activities, and an insider's view on the best things to do and see, you can plan your trip your way. Exploring more of the state? Try Moon Pittsburgh or Moon Pennsylvania.