Trolley Lines

The Philadelphia Traction Company introduced the first electric street car system on Catharine and Bainbridge Streets in 1892 and soon dominated public transit in Philadelphia. By 1902, the many independent companies had merged to form the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company (PRT).

Trolley usage peaked in 1911 when close to 4,000 cars operated over 86 routes. It was that year when numbers were first used to designate routes when the 16th Street Line became Route 2.

Due to decreased revenues related to the Depression, PRT was forced to file for bankruptcy in 1934, leading to the reorganization of the company and the introduction of the Philadelphia Transportation Company (PTC) in 1940. SEPTA took over PTC in 1968.

The Philadelphia and West Chester Traction Company began operating trolleys in the western suburbs around the turn of the century. In 1936, the company become Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company, soon earning its nickname "Red Arrow" due to their red vehicles. SEPTA acquired Red Arrow in 1969, and the Media-Sharon Hill Lines are the only two Red Arrow trolley routes in service today.

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