Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway
Arcadia Publishing
Leonard E. Alwine and David W. Seidel
$19.99
Dating back to 1882, the Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway has humble origins, but it quickly became a viable transportation system serving the city of Altoona. Often referred to as the Logan Valley, the railway employed 300 people, transported 11.5 million passengers a year, and traveled 7,220 scheduled route miles a day until economic conditions forced the line to discontinue service on June 2, 1954. Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway documents the history of a streetcar network that served the employees of the Pennsylvania Railroad as well as the community. Through 200 images and informed narrative, this book retraces the history of the Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway and its successor, the Logan Valley Bus Company.
Beaver County Trolleys
Benson W. Rohrbeck
$16.50
Here is a look, by word and photograph, into the days of the Beaver County, Pennsylvania trolleys.
Big Yellow Cars – A Nostalgic look at a Remarkable Interurban Streetcar system
John Champ Neely
$5.99
A picture book of trolleys from the Fairmont, West Virginia area.
Cleveland and Its Streetcars
Arcadia Publishing
James R. Spangler and James A. Toman
$19.99
Cleveland and Its Streetcars takes the reader back to when railway cars dominated the local street scene. The book focuses on the era of 1910–1954, from the time that Cleveland Railway Company took over operation of the consolidated streetcar lines to the day that the last streetcar rumbled over the city’s streets. Cleveland’s trailer trains, articulated cars, and its Peter Witt car model were widely admired by the nation, and the streetcar reigned supreme through the end of World War II. In 1942, the Cleveland Transit System (CTS) took over the streetcar lines, and eager to "modernize" its fleet, it decided to replace the streetcars with buses, trackless trolleys, and a crosstown rapid transit line. After the end of the war, in May 1945, the first post-war conversion took place. Then the pace of replacing the streetcars with rubber-tired vehicles quickened. By 1954, the task was complete. This book, with over 200 photographs, documents this changing Cleveland scene—when a wonderful era in transportation flourished and then, sadly, disappeared.
The Cleveland Railway Story
Robert Korach
$10.00
This periodical features 28 pages of black and white photographs of streetcars from the story of the waning years of the Cleveland Railway story.
Cooperation Moves the Public
Shore Line Interurban Historical Society
Bruce Moffatt
$24.95
The first publication in the Dispatch Series is Cooperation Moves the Public, the story of the integrated operations of the Chicago Aurora & Elgin and the Chicago Rapid Transit Company and later the Chicago Transit Authority over the Garfield Park Branch of Chicago's rapid transit system until September 19, 1953. Trains were operated seconds apart "on sight" as there were no signals and no radios. This was a very complex operation, best described as cars of wood operated by men of steel pursuant to a book of rules that included a rule stating that no collision with another train will be excused.
Electric Railways
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
$2.99
Pittsburgh Interurbans – Washington, Charleroi, Donora, Castle Shannon
Electric Railways of Western New York
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
$1.00
New York State Railways Map – February 1912.
Erie’s Trolleys
Benson W. Rohrbeck
$15.50
Over 60 photographs, rosters, and fold-out maps. The history of the Erie City Passenger Railway Company, the Erie Electric Motor Company, the Erie Rapid Transit Street Railway Company, the Erie Reeds Park and Lakeside Railway company the Erie and Suburban Railway Company and the Erie Railways Company, from 1864-1935.
From Small Town to Downtown – A history of the Jewett Car Company 1893 – 1919
Lawrenece A. Brough and James H. Graebner
$49.95
The Jewett Car Company , from Akron, Ohio, was known nationally for its elegant, well-built wooden cars for street railway companies. This book documents how the company’s products grew in popularity and then declined with the advent of the automobile.
Ghost Rails 3 Electrics
Wayne Cole
$40.00
This hardbound book features 290 pages of black and white vintage and modern photos of streetcar scenes. It depicts where streetcars used to run, and the present day photo of that location.
Greater Erie Trolleys
Arcadia Publishing
Authors: Kenneth C. Springirth
$19.99
When the first electric trolley car entered service in Erie in 1889, it revolutionized public transportation in the region. Within a few years, Erie became a major trolley hub linking the eastern and central United States. With the exception of a 15-mile gap at Little Falls, one could travel from New York City to Chicago via Erie. Greater Erie Trolleys covers the network of trolley lines that operated between Erie, Conneaut, Buffalo, and Meadville. Greater Erie Trolleys illustrates the vital role trolley cars played in the expansion of the urban population. It documents the beginning of pleasure travel with photographs of the special trolley car excursions from Erie to Elk Park for picnics, dances, and sporting events. Ridership began to decline just as the automobile came on the scene and dirt roads became paved highways. Eventually the lines were abandoned, but the trolleys left an important mark in transportation history.
The Green Line
Terry W. Lehmann and Earl W. Clark, Jr.
$40.00
An illustrated history of public transit in Northern Kentucky. This book features 240 pages of black and white photos plus maps and timetables. A history of the Cincinnati, Newport and Covington Railway.
Hazleton’s Trolleys
Benson W. Rohrbeck
$22.00
Over 80 photos, rosters, carbarn plans, and fold-out maps. Featuring the Lehigh Traction Company (1892-1932) and the Wilkes-Barre & Hazelton Railway Company (1899-1933.)
History of the J.G. Brill Company
Debra Brill
$49.95
The fascinating story of Philadelphia’s J. G. Brill Company, from its establishment in 1868 as a small horsecar and railroad car manufacturing firm, through its emergence as a world leader in trolley car and truck construction, to its demise in the middle of the 20th century.
Horsecars, Cable Cars and Omnibuses
John H. White, Jr
$15.99
Open cars, gondolas, battery-powered cars, more. One of the best sourcebooks ever assembled. 125 photographs.
Johnstown Trolleys and Incline
Arcadia Publishing
Kenneth Springirth
$19.99
The Johnstown Flood on May 31, 1889 virtually demolished the horse car lines of the Johnstown Passenger Railway Company, resulting in the system being rebuilt with electric trolley cars. Johnstown Trolleys and Incline covers the history of the trolley car system, trackless trolleys and the Johnstown inclined Plane. Johnstown was the last small city in the United States to operate a variety of vintage and modern trolleys cars along with trackless trolleys. The Johnstown incline played a key role in transporting residents to higher ground in the devastating floods of 1936 and 1977. Ridership declined with the coming automobile and the changing industrial scene in the region. Rail enthusiasts from all parts of the country came to Johnstown on its last day of trolley service in 1960, and the last runs are fully illustrated in these vintage photographs.
Lehigh Valley Transit Co. 1934 – 1953
Benson W, Rohrbeck
$25.00
Over 170 photographs, schedules , mileage charts, transfers/timetables, and four fold-out maps. Ann illustrated history of the last two decades of streetcar operation in the Lehigh Valley and between it and Upper Darby.
McKeesport Trolleys
Ronald L. Beal
$40.00
Beal traces the lineage of the West Penn lines in and around McKeesport, where the author grew up.
North American Street Railways at Mid Century
$30.00
A pictorial review of the street railway scene in Canada, the United States, and Mexico at Mid-Century. Included are as many railway systems as possible, grouped be region. A brief look back at a bygone era… in color.
Northwestern Pennsylvania Railway
C.L. Siebert
$19.99
A history of the Northwestern and its predecessor companies.
Now a Reality – The P.C.C. Car, St. Louis Car Company
Reprinted by PTM
The Presidents’ Conference Committee Car – from a vision to reality.
$2.99
Ohio Valley Trolleys in Color
Edward A. Ridolph
Morning Sun Books
$59.95
We follow the Ohio River from Pittsburgh west and stop at a number of long-gone trolley companies to enjoy their operations once again in full color. Featured are: Pittsburgh Railways. Cooperative Transit, Mon-WP Railway., Cincinnati Street Railway., City Railway., C&LE Railroad, CN&C Railway., Louisville Railway., Home Transit and Ind. Railroad
The Penn-Ohio Rail System Story
Harold Cox, Publisher
Robert Korach
$16.50
The Penn-Ohio Rail System Story traces the story of the Electric Railway of the Mahoning and Shenango River Valleys of Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania from its beginnings in 1895 to 1941.
Pennsylvania Street Railway Atlas
Benson Rohrbeck
$20.00
This book features 86 pages of black and white photos and maps depicting each of the trolley lines in every county in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Trolley Photo Album, Volume I: The Philadelphia Transportation Company
Ben Rohrbeck
$10.00
Black and white photos and descriptions.
Pennsylvania Trolley Photo Album, Volume II: The Pittsburgh Railways Company
Ben Rohrbeck
$10.00
Black and white photos and descriptions.
Pennsylvania Trolley Photo Album, Volume III: The Red Arrow Lines
Ben Rohrbeck
$10.00
Black and white photos and descriptions.
Pennsylvania Trolley Photo Album, Volume IV: The West Penn Railways Company
Ben Rohrbeck
$10.00
Black and white photos and descriptions.
Pennsylvania Trolleys In Color, Volume 1: The Anthracite and Pennsylvania Dutch Regions
Once Pennsylvania was honey-combed with trolley lines and the streetcar was a common sight. Go back in time and visit the cities of Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Allentown, Reading, Altoona, Hershey and Lancaster when these towns where served by their own trolley companies. First in a series of four that cover the state.
Our traction journey across the Keystone State continues with a color look back at PTC, Red Arrow, P&W and Fairmount Park.
Our four book series on the traction systems of the Keystone State concludes with full color coverage of West Penn Railways Company, Johnstown Traction Company and Pittsburgh Railways.
During the decade of World War II, some pioneering color photographers were out shooting film on the last of Pennsylvania's traction: Philadelphia Transportation, Market St. Elevated, Fairmont Park, Red Arrow, P&W, LVT, Scranton Tran, L&WV, W-B Railway, Conestoga, Hershey, A&LV, Johnstown Traction, West Penn and Pittsburgh Railways.
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum Guidebook
PTM
$9.99 (member price $6.99)
This 100 page book includes numerous color photos and other illustrations. It outlines the growth of the Trolley Era and features detailed discussions of each car preserved at PTM. An equipment roster is included, as is a museum map.
Pennsylvania’s Oil Region Trolleys
Benson W. Rohrbeck
$17.00
Over 80 photos, rosters, and five fold-out maps. The history of the Oil City Street Railway, the Franklin Electric Street Railway, the Citizens Traction and the Titusville Traction of Venango and Crawford counties.
Pennsylvania’s Street Railways
Benson W. Rohrbeck
$35.00
History of the transit industry in the Keystone Sate, histories of the industry and 120 operating systems, route information, operating statistics of 265 companies, 80 area/system maps, over 260 photos.
Philadelphia Trolleys
Arcadia Publishing
Alley Meyers, Joel Spivak
$19.99
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.
Pittsburgh Double Deck Cars
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
$2.99
The six Pittsburgh double-deckers were the largest “fleet” of such vehicles in the country. They also embodied many advanced concepts in carbuilding for their time and were widely written up in technical journals.
Pittsburgh’s Experimental 6000’s
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
$2.99
Take a look at the experimental models from the 6000 to the 6002. There are photos and plans also within this book
Pittsburgh Railways Company Map
Reprinted by Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
$4.00
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and vicinity. Street and interurban railway trackage 1859-1959.
Pittsburgh Railways Company Time Table
Reprinted by Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
$2.99
Time Table of interurban lines of the Pittsburgh Railways Company and electric lines of the Pittsburgh district, 1925
Pittsburgh Streamlined Trolleys
Arcadia Publishing
Kenneth Springirth
$19.99
Pittsburgh Streamlined Trolleys covers the history of the trolley car system
that once had the third largest fleet of Presidents’ Conference Committee
trolley cars in North American. Pittsburgh Railways Company was very innovative
and constantly made design improvements in its trolley cars. This led to
increased ridership, as these streamlined trolleys were quiet, fast and had
comfortable seating. With the increased of automobiles, ridership declined.
After the port authority of Allegheny County took over Pittsburgh Railways, most
of the trolley routes were abandoned. However a number of trolleys were
refurbished with paint schemes that included psychedelic commercial advertising
and community messages. The last runs of these trolleys occurred in 1999, and
new light rail vehicles are now in service.
Pittsburgh Trolley Pictorial
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
$2.99
Photos, with captions, of Pittsburgh trolleys.
Pittsburgh Railways: Volume One
Ronald L. Beal
Soft back $65.00
A pictorial journey through the history of the Pittsburgh Railways Company.
Reading Street Railway Company
Benson W. Rohrbeck
$17.50
Over 140 photographs, rosters, plans and fold-out maps. The history of Reading, Pennsylvania’s street railway from horsecars to the conversion to buses.
Reading Trains and Trolleys
Arcadia Publishing
Philip Smith
$19.99
Rail transportation has been part of daily life in Reading since the 1830s. 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 Reading.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.
Schuylkill Valley Traction Company
Benson W. Rohrbeck
$20.00
This is the last of three volumes, the first covering Reading and Berk County; the second covering Lebanon and the Lebanon Valley. This book covers the eastern end of the READING TRANSIT & LIGHT COMPANY centered in Norristown. Herewith, then, is a backward look – by word and picture – into the time of the trolley.
Scranton’s Trolleys
Benson W. Rohrbeck
$17.50
Over 140 photographs, rosters, and fold-out maps. An overview of the electric railways of the Scranton, Pennsylvania area; featuring the Scranton Railway, the Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley, and the Northern Electric.
Shamokin & Edgewood Electric Street Railway
Gene D. Gordan
$20.00
Over 40 photos, carbarn plans, rosters, and fold-out maps. The Shamokin Street Railway operated in Shamokin, and the S&EERC to Weigh Scales and Treverton.
Shamokin & Mount Carmel Transit Company
Gene D. Gordan
$17.50
Over 85 photos, rosters, and seven fold-out maps. Organized in 1892 as the Shamokin & Mt. Carmel Electric Railway company, it operated between Shamokin, Mt. Carmel, Centralia, Ashland and Locust Gap.
Follow traction photographer Ed Miller as he crisscrosses the country in the 1950s to record the passing of the trolley in more than 240 color scenes that not only show traction but a way of life in the streets of America that has long vanished. Ed was methodical and his coverage in this book is truly national in scope
Streetcars of New Orleans
Louis Hennick and E. Harper Charlton
Jackson Square Press
$30.00
This extensively illustrated, 240-page volume documents the long and colorful history of streetcar transportation in the city of New Orleans. A series of maps pinpoints, for traction enthusiasts, the locations of tracks no longer extant and provides information on companies that once operated the network of rails. Also included is a special section on the types of cars that were used throughout the traction era.
Street Smart
Gloria Ohland and Shelley Poticha
$25.00
Streetcar systems were ubiquitous at the turn of the last century and are uniquely suited now to serve all the high-density development underway in downtowns across the United States. They’re much cheaper than light rail, are hugely successful in promoting development and street life, and fit easily into built environments with little disruption to existing businesses, residents and traffic. And they can provide high-quality transit service to support compact, walk able, higher-density development in small and mid-size cities that can’t afford bigger systems-offering the potential to significantly increase the constituency for transit in the U.S. It’s time for a streetcar renaissance.
Suburban Philadelphia Trolleys
Arcadia Publishing
Kenneth Springirth
$19.99
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 the travel time on the Sixty-Ninth Street to Norristown line. The Presidents Transportation Company linked the boroughs of Darby, Colwyn and Yeadon with Philadelphia. Photographs of Media’ 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 Philadelphia’s western suburbs.
Reading Street Railway Company
Benson W. Rohrbeck
$14.00
Over 140 photographs, rosters, plans and fold-out maps. The history of Reading Pennsylvania’s street railways from horsecars to the conversion to buses.
Shaker Rapid Album
By James A. Toman and James R. Spangler
Cleveland Landmarks Press
$16.50
Cleveland Landmarks Press’ newest book is a pictorial history of the rapid transit cars that have carried passengers between downtown Cleveland and suburban Shaker Heights. Drawing on their extensive collections of Shaker Rapid photos, co-authors Jim Toman and Jim Spangler trace the different kinds of cars used on the line since 1920, from the 1200-series center-entrance fleet, through the colorful PCC car era, to the current fleet of Breda LRVs which have operated the line since 1982. Each photo section is preceded by a short essay giving the basic history of the various fleets. The photo selection covers the two branches of the Shaker line from its outer terminals at Green and Warrensville-Center roads, through Shaker Square, to the Cleveland Union Terminal station, on to the 1996 Waterfront extension, and many stops in between. The album shows the cars in all kinds of weather and in many different paint schemes. A Shaker Rapid Album contains 173 photos in all, with a 16-page center spread in full color. The “rapid” made the development of Shaker Heights possible, and it continues to be one of the most distinctive features identifying that classic Greater Cleveland suburb.
Streetcar Era in Westmorland County, 1889-1952
Edward H. Lybarger, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
$2.99
Streetcars in the Golden Triangle, 1859-1985
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
$3.99
Streetcars in downtown Pittsburgh.
Trolleys of Armstrong County Pennsylvania
Dennis F. Cramer
$5.99
A history of Kittaning and Leechburg Railways Company and Pittsburgh and Allegheny Valley Street Railway Company.
Trolleys of Johnstown, Cambria & Somerset Counties
Benson W. Rohrbeck
$19.00
Over 130 photos, carbarn plans, rosters, and fold-out maps. Features the Johnstown Traction, the Southern Cambria Railway, the Northern Cambria Railway, The Penn Central Railway, the Pennsylvania & Maryland SRC and the Johnstown & Somerset Railway.
Trolleys of the Lebanon Valley, Pennsylvania
Benson W. Rohrbeck
$17.50
Over 100 photographs, rosters, plans, and maps. The history of the Lebanon Valley Street Railway, The Hershey Transit and overviews of other electric railways that entered the Lebanon Valley.
Trolleys of Southcentral Pennsylvania
Benson W. Rohrbeck
$20.50
Over 120 photographs, rosters, and ten fold-out maps. The history of the electric railways proposed for and operating in and between Altoona, Bedford, Chambersburg, Gettysburg, Huntingdon, Lewistown, McConnellsburg, Mount Union, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro.
The Uphill Climb
Kevin Morrissey
$19.99
This book describes a history of the Wellsburg, Bethany and Washington Railway. The book features 126 pages of historical photographs, maps and artifacts.
Valley Railways
C.L. Siebert, Jr. and Richard H. Steinmetz
$19.99
Trolleys on Harisburg’s West Shore.
Veteran and Vintage Transit
Compiled by Andrew Young
$17.95
A guide to North America’s operating trolley and transit museums, heritage and tourist trolleys compiled by Andrew D. Young. An introductory essay tells the preservation movement’s story while a selection of photographs demonstrates the remarkable diversity of these national treasures in the 140 plus collections profiled.
Western New York & Pennsylvania Traction
Benson W. Rohrbeck
$16.50
Over 65 photos, rosters, timetables, and fold-out maps. Features the three lines from Olean to Bradford and Lewis Run, PA; to Salamanca and Little Valley, NY; and to Bolivar, NY and Shinglehouse, PA.
West Chester Street Railway Company
Benson W. Rohrbeck
$13.00
Over 40 photos, rosters, carbarn plans, and fold-out maps. Organized in 1890 it operated lines in the county seat and rural lines to Kennett Square and Downingtown-Coatesville. Rail service ended in 1929.
West Penn Railways
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
$6.99
In the early 1920’s West Penn Railways Company controlled and operated 339.47 miles of track. Read on and see about the expansion or railways and the mergers that happened with West Penn. Photos and maps are shown throughout the book.
York County Trolleys
Benson Rohrbeck
$16.00
This book is an illustrated history of the street railway in York County, Pennsylvania. It features 93 pages of vintage trolleys photos and maps of the York County system.
Last modified on July 16, 2008