Ardmore and Llanerch Street Railway - Railroad Stock Certificate

Railroad Stock. Nice vignette of street car with passengers.

The Ardmore-West Chester Lines are two former trolley routes currently operated as bus lines by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) from 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby to either Ardmore or West Chester. The two routes on the Ardmore-West Chester Lines are the Route 103:Ardmore and the Route 104:West Chester. At Llanerch, the two proposed light rail routes would turn onto the former Pennsylvania Railroad Newtown Square Branch. Past Manoa Road, the Route 103:Ardmore would split off where it would rejoin its former alignment to Ardmore. The Route 104:West Chester would rejoin it's original alignment on the West Chester Pike at Newtown Square. The Old Newtown Square Branch to Yeadon would carry the proposed Route 103Y:Ardmore and Route 104Y:West Chester to increase service west of Llanerch and connect the trolley system with the Yeadon station on the Elwyn Line and the proposed Route 34:Baltimore Avenue extension.

The Philadelphia & West Chester Traction Company opened a trolley line from 63rd Street to Newtown Square in 1895 using steam dummies. Electric trolley service began in 1896 and service was extended to West Chester in 1898. The Ardmore & Llanerch Street Railway opened the trolley line to Ardmore in 1902. Trolleys began using the 69th Street Terminal in 1907. The West Chester Traction Company and Ardmore & Llanerch Street Railway eventually merged with the Philadelphia & Garrettford Street Railway to form the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company, and became known locally as the Red Arrow. The Route 104:West Chester was converted to a bus route in 1954 due to the widening of the West Chester Pike and Route 103:Ardmore followed suit in 1966. The Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company was aquired by SEPTA in 1970.

The Newtown Square Branch, built as the Philadelphia & Delaware County Railroad in 1888 and was taken over by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1894. Passenger service ran on the line until 1908 due to competition from the West Chester Traction Company. Freight service continued on the branch until 1981 and the rails were torn up in 1985.

The Ardmore-West Chester Lines would be completely rebuilt along their former right-of-ways to light rail service. The light rail route would follow a new dedicated right-of-way from Llanerch to Newtown Square using the former Pennsylvania Railroad Newtown Square Branch. Route 103Y:Ardmore and 104Y:West Chester services would use the Newtown Square Branch east of Llanerch to the Yeadon station on the Elwyn Line and the proposed Route 34:Baltimore Avenue extension. Equipment would consist of double-ended articulated trolley cars for increased capacity and to avoid the need for reverse loops at Ardmore and Yeadon. (From "Get There by Train" Google Sites)

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