Delaware County has a rich history in transportation especially with trolleys. Trolleys at one time ran on Chester Pike, MacDade Blvd., Baltimore Pike etc. The majority of the trolley companies died out during the Great Depression or if they survived merged into Red Arrow now Septa.

   Stan Bowman of Chesco was born and raised in Delaware County and began taking pictures of trolleys in his teens. In the past 50 odd years he has amassed the largest collection of trolley pictures and information around. Stan has been kind enough to share some of his pictures and information with my site and over the next month or so, maps, pictures and information will be added about all the trolley routes and companies that once ran in Delaware County. Trolley pictures on some routes are exceedingly rare, one from my own collection which will be on the site is from 1918 when MacDade Blvd. in Folsom was still Third St. If you have anything to add, pictures, schedules etc. it will be greatly appreciated.

 

Transportation Booklets

History of Chester Pike c.1926

Philadelphia to West Chester Railroad Guidebook 1867

 

Delaware County Trolley Map January 1930

Track Map of the Darby Terminal 1919

Track Map - Media

Track Map - Folsom Depot 1930

PRT Delco May 1936

Angora to Media Line History

Angora trolley on Baltimore Pike at Cobbs Creek 1925

Baltimore Pike 02 Clifton Heights carbarn 1930

Baltimore Pike 03 101 westbound at N. Glenwood Ave. in Clifton Heights

Baltimore Pike 04 view west showing Memorial Bridge over Crum Creek

Baltimore Pike 05 Trolley westbound at Wallingford now Turner Rd. circa 1916

Media 01 Trolley on Washington Street at Orange Street

Chester Trolley History Part 1

Chester Trolley History Part 2

No. 15 car of the Chester and Media Electric Railway Co. c. 1895

No. 13 of the Union Railway Co. in Chester c. 1890

Chester Darby and Philadelphia Railway Car 34

PTC to Darby

Route 62

Route 13 and 62 Timetables

Routes 11, 12 and 13

PTC #4 at Darby Loop Route 78 circa 1946

PTC Darby Trolley Terminal March 19, 1955

PTC Rt 62 #8118 9th and Cedar Sts. in Darby

R01 PTC #2078 at the Darby trolley loop Rt.11

R02 PTC #2565 at the Darby trolley loop Rt.12

R03 PTC #2070 inbound on Main St. near 2nd St. in Darby

R05 PTC #2590 in the Yeadon Loop, Route 13 Feb. 20, 1965

R06 PTC #8111 on 10th at Summit St. in Darby August, 1956

History of Route 71

PRT 7100 from the 1927 PRT Traveler

PRT 7101 5th and Olive Sts. in Media November 14, 1935

PRT 7102 s.b. on Olive near 2nd St. Campbell AME Church 1932

PRT 7103 State and Olive Sts. in Media circa 1936

PRT 7104 Moylan Switch April 4, 1937

PRT 7105 crossing Brookhaven Rd. 1935

PRT 7106 leaving Providence Rd. at Rose Valley Road 1938

PRT 7107 Palmers Corner February 1934

PRT 7108 on Crum Creek Trestle 1937

PRT 7109 Quarry Switch Febuary 27, 1937

PRT 7110 Yale and Morton Avenues 1907

PRT 7112 on Sutton Ave. at MacDade 1936

PRT 7111 on Sutton Ave. at MacDade in Folsom

History of Route 72

PRT-7200 from the 1927 PRT Traveler

PRT-7201 on MacDade at Sutton Avenue

PRT-7203 southbound on Lincoln Ave. Prospect Park just above Darby Creek

PRT-7204 View north at Darby Creek Switch April 4, 1937

PRT-7205 Essington - trolley on Wanamaker at Powhattan Avenue

PRT-7206 Essington - Last Day of trolley service August 13, 1938

History of Route 76

Rt7600 from the 1927 PRT Traveler

Rt7601 Darby Terminal 9th and Main Sts. December 6, 1921

Rt7602 Darby Terminal 9th and Main Sts. July 17, 1932

Rt7603 view west on Parker Ave. from Jackson Ave. c. 1912

Rt7604 Looking west on 3rd St. now Mac Dade Blvd. Folsom from Ridley Ave. c.1918

Rt7605 Trolley on 6th St. at Welsh St. in Chester Pa.

History of Route 77

PRT 7700 taken from the 1927 PRT Traveler

PRT 7701 5th and Olive Sts. in Media November 14, 1935

PRT7702 1021 turning from Park Ave. onto Lincoln St. in Media November 14, 1935

PRT 7703 Park Avenue from P.R.R. Overpass photo by Bob Lewis

PRT7704 trolley n.b. at PRR bridge over Park Ave. photo by Steve Maguire

PRT 7705 bridge over Ridley Creek April 4, 1936

PRT7706 1009 s.b. at the Wellsbrook Farm October 26, 1935

PRT 7707 s.b. at Brookhaven Road on the last day April 4, 1936

PRT7708 Last Day - 26th St. and Edgmont Ave. April 4, 1936

History of Route 78

PRT-7800 from the 1927 PRT Traveler

PRT-7801 1026 at the Darby Terminal 1939

PRT-7802 #4 on MacDade Blvd. at Summit St. Mid 1940's

PRT-7803 turning from Wycombe Ave. onto MacDade Blvd.

PRT-7804 turning from MacDade Blvd. onto Wycombe Ave.

PRT-7805 northbound on Wycombe Ave. at Golf Rd.

PRT-7806 on Wycombe Ave. at Fairview Ave. 1947

Chester Short Line

Route 37 Timetable

PTC3701 5101 outbound at 30th St. Station Philadelphia

PTC3706 5108 northbound on Island Rd. below Buist Ave. August 31, 1946

PTC3713 5057 eastbound running through the Tinicum Swamp wetlands

PTC3714 outbound crossing the Industrial Hwy. past Bow Creek

PTC3715 5066 at 3rd and Powhattan Sts.at the Lester Public School 1946

PTC3716 5086 past Essington about to cross the Industrial Highway

PTC3719 5092 westbound. at Eddystone Ave. Station

PTC3720 5099 bound for Chester crossing over Eddystone Ave.

PTC3723 5103 on 4th Street at Caldwell Street in Chester

PTC3728 Nos. 5082 and 5092 at 3rd and Crosby Streets in Chester

PTC3730 5100 at 3rd and Market Sts. in Chester

Ardmore Trolley

Ardmore Trolley cont.

A01 Car 22 on the 69th St. Terminal loop May 17, 1964

A02 Car 16 leaves 69th St. Terminal May 14, 1965

A03 Car 17 and 83 at Terminal Square April 22, 1965

A04 2 westbound at Walton's Beach Bar September 23, 1963

A05 14 westbound at Pennock Avenue March 19 1965

A06 22 wetbound past Lynn Blvd. March 13, 1965

A07 20 westbound approaching Kirklyn March 19th, 1965

A08 Nos. 68 and 75- the school train - eastbound at Township Line May 29, 1964

A09 No. 16 westbound approaching Llanerch Junction August 12, 1964

A10 Nos. 3 and 9 at Llanerch Junction March 30, 1965

A11 No. 15 at Llanerch Junction April 1, 1965

A12 No. 21 inbound at Park Ave June 14, 1964

A13 Llanerch School at Llandillo Rd. March 12, 1965

A14 No. 83 at Llandillo Road March 20, 1965

A15 Car 19 inbound at West Mercer Ave. March 31, 1965

A16 Car 9 inbound past Manoa Road June 25, 1964

A17 Car 11 inbound at Brookline June 14, 1964

A18 Car 15 inbound at Mill Road November 2, 1963

A19 Car 79 inbound at Haverford Highschool December 7, 1963

A20 Car 19 inbound at So. Ardmore now Benedict Ave. May 15, 1965

A21 Cars 22 and 24 at Oakmont June 7, 1964

A22 Car 19 along Hathaway Lane near Clover Lane August 13, 1963

A23 Car 12 inbound along Hathaway Lane June 30, 1966

A24 Car 14 inbound at Merwood La. April 3, 1965

A25 Car 14 outbound approaching Ardmore Junction March 12, 1965

A26 inbound Car 21 leaving Ardmore Jct. August 19, 1966

A27 PST Car 18 and P & W Car 202 at Ardmore Jct. July 1, 1966

A28 Car 12 inbound at Haverford Road May 16, 1964

A29 Car 22 crossing Haverford Road March 13, 1965

A30 Car 81 outbound past Belmont Rd. December 14, 1963

A31 Car 12 enters double track at County Line Road June 14, 1964

A32 outbound trolley at County Line Road August 17, 1966

A33 Car 22 inbound at Athens Ave. March 13, 1965

A34 Car 22 at Ardmore March 13, 1965

 

Media Sharon Hill Line History

Media Sharon Hill Line History cont.

M01 Car 12 leaving 69th St. Terminal August 27,1964

M03 Car 85 leaving 69th St. Terminal May 14, 1965

M08 Cars 17 and 19 passing at Terminal Square Febuary 2, 1964

M14 Car77 inbound breaking tangent with Garrett Rd. May 14, 1965

M15 Car 23 westbound at Walnut Street November 11, 1964

M17 Car 80 eastbound at Bywood Station June 4, 1964

M20 Car 11 westbound at Beverly Hills November 1, 1964

M23 The trolley trestle over Naylor's Run November 11, 1964

M24 Car17 coming off Garrett Road Trestle August 27, 1964

M25 Car 6 eastbound at Lansdowne Ave. May 12, 1965

M31 Car 86 westbound at Drexel Park May 12, 1965

M34 Line car 7 eastbound at Drexel Hill July 29, 1963

M35 Drexel Hill Junction at Shadeland Avenue May 13, 1964

M38 Car 17 westbound at Drexel Hill Junction May 2, 1964

M44 Cars 07 and 24 at Drexel Hll, July 18, 1967

M46 View east from Turner Avenue with Nos. 77 and 20 trolleys May 12,1965

M51 Cars 16 and 11 inbound from Springfield at Edmonds Ave. May 4, 1964

M53 Car 4 inbound past School Lane August 1, 1963

M55 Car 19 westbound approaching Aronimink June 3, 1967

M56 Springfield Local westbound at the Aronimink substation June 25, 1964

M60 Car 11 eastbound at Aronimink April 19, 1963

M66 Trolley 19 westbound past Aronimink August 15, 1964

M67 Trolleys 19 and 6 at Anderson Ave. August 15, 1964

M70 Trolley 83 westbound at Drexelbrook August 8, 1967

M72 Trolley 9 eastbound at Drexelbrook July 2, 1965

M76 Trolley17 inbound approaching Drexelbrook July 2, 1965

M79 Trolley 80 westbound crossing Darby Creek August 8, 1967

M80 Trolley 84 eastbound crossing Darby Creek August 8, 1967

M84 Trolley 77 westbound entering Springfield siding at Scenic Hills Febuary 19, 1964

M87 Trolley 8 westbound past Scenic Road April 26, 1964

M92 Trolley 24 westbound approaching Springfield Rd. April 26, 1964

M94 Trolley 83 eeastbound approaching Springfield Road May 4, 1965

M95 Trolley 17 westbound at Saxer Avenue December 23, 1963

M103 Trolley 78 westbound at Woodland Avenue April 18, 1964

M107 TRolley 84 westbound at signals past Woodland Avenue May 13, 1965

M113 Trolley 14 eastbound at Thompson Road May 12, 1965

M116 Trolley 11 eastbound at Sproul Road September 28, 1963

M123 Trolley 17 eastbound west of Sproul Road March 7, 1969

M130 Trolley 12 eastbound east of Paper Mill Rd. April 29, 1967

M136 Trolley 17 westbound leaving Paper Mill Rd. station November 1964

M143 TRolley 63 westbound over Crum Creek March 28, 1964

M148 Trolley 12 eastbound past Pine Ridge siding December 24, 1963

M155 Trolley 63 westbound in Pine Ridge siding March 28, 1964

M160 Trolley 12 passes Line car 07 in Pine Ridge siding July 13, 1966

M171 Trolley 85 crossing Beatty Rd. August 8, 1967

M183 Trolley 22 eastbound past Bowling Green September 9, 1963

M185 Trolley 14 leaving State Street at Providence Rd. September 28, 1963

M189 Trolley 23 eastbound on State St. at Manchester Ave. March 24, 1970

M194 Trolley 24 westbound at the Media Theatre December 24, 1963

M196 Trolley 85 eastbound on State Street at Monroe Street August 8, 1967

M199 Trolley 21 eastbound at State and Jackson Sts. April 9, 1967

M207 Trolley 20 end of Media line on State St. west of Orange St. June 21, 1965

SH01Trolleys 75 and 68 on the 69th St. terminal loop July 12, 1964

SH05 Trolley19 outbound at Terminal Square in May of 1965

SH07 Trolley 20 westbound at Bywood station January 11, 1964

SH11 Trolley 14 westbound at Lansdowne Avenue August 27, 1964

SH17 Car 23 westbound at Fairfax Road January 11, 1964

SH23 Sweeper 4 westbound at Drexel Hill Febuary 19, 1964

SH25 Car 79 westbound crossing Shadeland Ave. August 8, 1967

SH28 Car 14 outbound at Drexel Hill Jct. July, 1963

SH31 Car 82 southbound crossing Garrett Rd. May 13, 1964

SH32 Car 82 southhbound at Garrettford Station September 19, 1963

SH34.5 Car 19 northbound at Marshall Rd. June 24, 1967

SH38 Car 14 crossing Darby Creek on Oakview trestle April 25, 1970

SH39 Car 19 southbound on Oakview trestle May 16, 1964

SH44 Car 77 southbound just before Clifton Heights May 11, 1964

SH46 Cars 4 and 77 at the Clifton Heights cross over switch September 23, 1963

SH52 Cars 63 and 68 northbound at Broadway Ave. March 6, 1964

SH57 Car 377 northbound at the Clifton Aldan PRR overpass January 14, 1964

SH59 Car 86 southbound on Woodlawn Ave. at Shisler Ave. August 8, 1964

SH62 Car 12 southbound on Woodlawn Ave. at North St. September 28, 1963

SH67 View north at North St. with Catholic school kids May 21, 1964

SH70 Car 77 southbound past North St. January 14, 1964

SH72 Cars 68 and 75 southbound. at Collingdale May 22, 1964

SH74 Car 16 at the end of the Sharon Hill line August 15, 1964

 

West Chester Line History part 1

West Chester Line History part 2

W01 69th St. terminal circa 1947 Dave Cope

W02 Trolley 57 westbound at Township Line Road Circa 1928

W03 Trolley 42 eastbound at the Llanerch PRR crossing Ed Miller

W04 Trolleys 41 and 71 at Eagle Road December 6 1941 Dave Cope

W05 Trolley 42 eastbound at Westgate Hills-Winter 1940-41 Dave Cope

W06 Trolley 80 eastbound at Sproul Rd. March 1954 Cope

W07 Trolley 44 westbound at Newtown Square Summer 1939

W08 Trolley 80 eastbound at Edgmont June 3, 1954 Dave Cope

W09 Trolley 44 eastbound at Chester Rd. March 1, 1941 Dave Cope

W10 Trolley 41 westbound at Five Points Rd. passing siding March 1, 1941 Dave Cope

W11 Trolley 41 westbound on Gay Street at Matlack St. March 1, 1941 Dave Cope

W12 Trolley 34 on Gay St. at High St. in West Chester August 8, 1925

WC02 View east on West Chester Pike from State Roadc.1952

WC03 Trolley 17westbound at Llanerch Junction June, 1954 John Gabriel

WC04 Trolley 16 eastbound at Westgate HillsSeptember 9, 1953 Stan Bowman

WC05 View west at Smith's Sawmill May, 1954 John Gabriel

WC06 Trolley 21 westbound climbing Bergdoll Hill in late May of 1954 Stan Bowman

WC07 Trolley 23 eastbound at Broomall May, 1954

WC08 trolley eastbound at Bryn Mawr Ave. June 1954 John Gabriel

WC09 View west at St. Albans passing siding June 1954 John Gabriel

WC10 Trolley westbound at bottom of Castle Rock Hill John Gabriel

WC11 Trolley 20 westbound past Edgemont Dairy Cottage January 1, 1953

WC12 Trolley 80 approaching Chester Road in the summer of 1953

WC13 Trolley 63 westbound. in Chester Rd. passing siding November 5, 1953

WC14 Trolley enters West Chester at Paoli Pike and West Chester Pike, 1947

WC15 Gay St. from the Green Tree Building May 3, 1954

WC16 Trolley 13 on Gay St.at High St. in West Chester John Gabriel