Transportation Collection
Call Number: MG-123
2 boxes 23 folders, 1 framed item 1 cubic ft.
Repository: LancasterHistory.org (Lancaster, Pa.)
Shelving Location: Archives South, Side 4
Description: Collection contains documents regarding turnpikes, railroads, Conestoga Traction Co., Conestoga Transportation Co., and the Red Rose Transit Authority. Items include correspondence, financial papers, business papers, stock certificates, tickets, schedules, maps of routes, and a blueprint. These are materials which have been collected from different sources and cannot be added to existing collections.
Creator: LancasterHistory.org (Lancaster, Pa.); Lancaster County Historical Society (Pa.)
Conditions for Access: Restrictions are noted at the item level.
Conditions Governing Reproductions: Collection may not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.
Language: English
Source of Acquisition: Items were collected by LancasterHistory.org and the Lancaster County Historical Society, unless otherwise specified at the item level.
Box 1
Folder 1 Turnpikes and Tolls
This folder contains only a few items regarding pre- and post-automobile traffic on toll roads.
Insert 1 Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike Company
Includes correspondence and financial statements. 1819-1831.
Insert 2 Automobile tickets for passage on the Lancaster, Elizabethtown, and Middletown Turnpike. 1918.
Application for Registration of a Motor Vehicle.
Photograph of an automobile at an unidentified toll gate. 1930.
Folder 2 Railroads, Disbursements
Payments from Bank of Pennsylvania, apparently for prominent people associated with railroad development in Lancaster County. 1835.
Folder 3 Railroads, Columbia-related Railroads and Associated Ventures
Insert 1 A statement of contract work, list of people and payments made for the Columbia and Philadelphia Railroad. 1832.
Inserts 2-5 Materials relate to Columbia, Ironville and Mount Joy Railroad and Conewaga Water & Power Co. Inserts contain minutes, correspondence, and stock certificates resulting from an undated agreement between Z. P. Boyer and O. E. McPelland of Philadelphia. 1894.
Folder 4 Railways, Documents of Lancaster-related Operations
Insert 1 J. R. Bitner’s blank receipt for an express freight line between Lancaster and Philadelphia. [188_].
Insert 2 Two reports of the Lancaster and Lititz Passenger Railway Co. to the Pennsylvania Dept. of Internal Affairs.
Insert 3 Copy of Deed D-21-73, Peter and Anna Wohlsen, Lancaster to Lancaster and Rocky Springs Railway Co. for 3/10 acre of land for right of way with attachments apparently notifying other land holders. 10 May 1912.
Folder 5 Pennsylvania Railroad
Contains a bond for siding at Columbia, a designation of a caretaker for Parkesburg, a time schedule, and a receipt for a Safety Device. 1868-1890.
Folder 6 Railroads, Philadelphia-related
Insert 1 Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Co.
Items include blank 1840 receipts for contract work, a blank 1858 bond for the Schuylkill Navigation Co. guaranteed by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Co., and employee receipts for money returned to them in 1862 when the Company’s trustees discontinued an agreement to support the war effort through employee deductions for U. S. Treasury Notes. 1840-1862.
Insert 2 Philadelphia & Lancaster Transport
Receipt for goods transported to Philadelphia by David Royer. 2 February 1849.
Folder 7 Railroads, South Mountain, Donaldson and Susquehanna
Includes a $500 mortgage bond, a blank stock certificate, and a requisition for high-tension lines. [18__]-1912.
Folder 8 Conestoga Traction Co.
Booklet of early histories, “Lancaster Co., Pa.,” which describes the company’s history, its routes, and sights along the way. 1 August 1908.
Booklet by H. W. Kriebel, “Seeing Lancaster County from a Trolley Window.” (2 copies: one with no cover and advertisements of various businesses printed by the Express Printing Co., Lititz; the other printed by Conestoga Traction Co. and sold for 10 cents) 1910.
Folder 9 Conestoga Traction Company and Conestoga Transportation Company
The Conestoga Traction Company became the Conestoga Transportation Company in 1931, according to documents in this collection.
Insert 1 Stock offer for a branch line of the Conestoga Traction Company 2 February 1909.
Conestoga Transportation Company letter regarding problems of management. 1947.
Insert 2 Conestoga Transportation Company uncashed dividend checks to Kate Kreider. 1947-1949.
Insert 3 Conestoga Transportation Company Annual Reports. 1946, 1949.
Insert 4 Conestoga Transportation Company ticket for passenger service. No date.
Conestoga Transportation Company ticket for passenger service. Pre-1912. (Belonged to Harris Boardman (d.1912), son of Mrs. Carpenter of 230 East King Street, Lancaster.) Gift of Anna N. Cirt.
Insert 5 Conestoga Transportation Company “Schedules of Bus and Car Lines in Lancaster City.” 1942. Transferred from the Information Files, January 2007.
Insert 6 Letter to A. K. Hostetter from W. W. Griest regarding a new bus line for the northwestern section of Lancaster City. Letterhead of Conestoga Traction Company. 1926. Transferred from the Information Files, January 2007.
Folder 10 Conestoga Traction Co. and Conestoga Transportation Co., Maps and Drawings
A county map shows routes for the Conestoga Traction Co. Also, Quarryville bus route and two drawings of car barns. No date to 1996.
Folder 11 Conestoga Transportation Co., Rate and Routes. No date, 1950, 1952.
Folder 12 Conestoga Transportation Co., Publicity. 1948-1951.
Insert 1 Series of WGAL television advertisements.
Insert 2 Series of WLAN radio advertisements.
Folder 13 Red Rose Transit Authority
Bus schedules with maps, routes, and rates. 1977.
Folder 14 Document regarding Rail Line
Part of a document dealing with a rail line in the Columbia area. No date.
Folder 15 Surveyor’s Field Book
Surveyor is unidentified. Mentions East Petersburg, Mechanicsville, Engelside. 1917.
Folder 16 Railroad Report
This book is in poor condition. Additionally, the first pages were used to write in and paste in crochet instructions. May be one of several volumes regarding rail operations in Pennsylvania for 1874. There is some data regarding the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Co. (p. 413) and the Reading & Columbia Railroad Co. (p. 487).
Insert 1 Railroad Report. 1874.
Insert 2 The loose pages with paste-overs.
Folder 17 Scrapbook of Trolley Companies. No date.
Do not remove photographs from pages—the descriptions are below.
Folder 17, Insert 1 Conestoga Transportation Company. History. Dates for Conestoga Traction Co. lines.
Map of Lancaster Co., Pa. Showing Lines of Conestoga Traction Company. No date.
Photograph. Trolley car #229 Birney used in the East Belt line. Penn Square. 24 June 1939.
Folder 17, Insert 2 Conestoga Transportation Company. Photographs of cars. Many stamped John J. Bowman, 314 N. Lime St., Lancaster, Railroad & Trolley Photos.
1. Car #67. Main Street, Mountville. Line abandoned 14 February 1939.
2. Car, unidentified.
3. Car #159 for Maple Grove Park. N. Queen St. and Chestnut St., Lancaster.
3 July 1932.
4. Work Car #12 and trailer completing job of removing overhead trolley wire on Lancaster—Elizabethtown line at the corner of President Ave. and Marietta Ave., Lancaster, at junction with Marietta Ave. trolley line. 1 September 1932.
5. Car from Columbia line headed west. 13 February 1938.
6. Work Car #310 at #2 car barn. Lancaster. 12 January 1935.
7. Express Car #321 from the Lancaster—Manheim and Lancaster—Lititz lines. N. Lime St. near Walnut St., Lancaster. January 1932.
8. Car #335, open center car used for maintenance.
9. [Express Car #323.]
10. Freight Motor #323 at #2 car barn, Lancaster, formerly in service on the Lancaster—Elizabethtown line. 18 January 1935.
11. Express Car #314 formerly used in service on the Lancaster—Quarryville, Lancaster—Strasburg, and Lancaster—Millersville lines. Millersville car barn. 24 September 1932.
12. Car #120 used for spraying creosote on roadbed to kill weeds. Siding at Lancaster gas works. 24 September 1932.
13. Corner of #2 car barn and end of car yard, E. Chestnut St., Lancaster. Left to right: 4-wheel passenger cars #227, 205, 212; 8-wheel cars #13, 36, 29. 30 January 1933.
14. Work Car #127 equipped for snow scraper. Lancaster. 18 January 1933. North End Photo Finishing House, 131 E. New St., Lancaster.
15. Express Car #316 at N. Lime St., Lancaster express office, trolley freight. 14 April 1932.
16. Car #35 at #2 car barn, Lancaster, formerly in regular service on the Manheim line. 18 January 1933.
17. Car #45 at #2 car barn, Lancaster, formerly in regular service on the Lancaster—Elizabethtown line. 18 January 1933.
18. Car #41 at #2 car barn, Lancaster. 25 March 1933.
Folder 17, Insert 3 Conestoga Transportation Company. Photographs of cars. Many stamped John J. Bowman, 314 N. Lime St., Lancaster, Railroad & Trolley Photos.
1. Car #3 at #2 car barn, Lancaster. Note maximum traction tracks. 18 August 1934.
2. Car #314 in front, trolley freight; Car #17 behind #314, passenger and freight; Car #319 beside #17, trolley freight; and Car #184 at right, open passenger. Millersville car barn. 24 September 1932.
3. Portable sub-station at Vintage. 16 July 1933.
4. Car #138, city car built by Brill and ready to be scrapped. No date.
5. Car #164, 14-bench open car. Millersville car barn paint shop. “These cars were burned.”
6. Car #13, combination car. Lancaster. 14 February 1934.
7. Car #51, Blue Ball car going into Lancaster at 2:30pm. 30 July 1932.
8. Trailer of work car #129, 4-wheel flat car, at Mechanicsville, Lancaster County, used to tear up track on the Lancaster—Manheim line. Line torn up in front of and behind when it arrived at Mechanicsville. 1 September 1932.
9. Car #67 at Ephrata terminus of Lancaster—Ephrata line, chartered by Lancaster Chapter, National Railway Historical Society for the purpose of photographing and inspecting cars and rights of way on various rural lines. Car #53 was used for this purpose on the Lititz and Columbia lines and #67 on the Rocky Springs and Ephrata lines. 20 June 1937.
10. Car #54 in cut in snowdrift near Center Square Road on the Lancaster—Ephrata line. 16 February 1936.
11. Car #62, eastbound near Vintage on the Lancaster—Coatesville line, built by J. G. Brill Co. 24 June 1932.
12. Car #42 on Lancaster—Ephrata line approaching Center Square Road Station north of Mechanicsburg Junction, Lancaster County. Line formerly went to Adamstown, but the Ephrata—Adamstown line was abandoned after 23 April 1932. 1 January 1933.
Folder 17, Insert 4 Conestoga Transportation Company. Ephemera. Photographs, many stamped John J. Bowman, 314 N. Lime St., Lancaster, Railroad & Trolley Photos.
1. Weekly pass, Lancaster City. 27 September 1936 to 3 October 1936.
2. Sunday pass, city and suburban. 1937.
3. Transfer pass. December 15.
4. City ticket, Lancaster. No date.
5. Scholar’s ticket, Lancaster City. No date.
6. Weekly pass, Lancaster City. 6 February 1938 to 12 February 1938.
7. Weekly pass, Lancaster & Columbia Division. 16 January 1938 to 22 January 1938.
8. Transfer pass. No date.
9. Transfer pass. No date.
10. Christmas and New Year card depicting car from the Eden-West line, from Walter Knapp, Jr. No date.
11. Photograph of trolley car at night. Line and car unknown. No date.
12. Car #309, 4-wheel sweeper. No date.
13. Car #53. Lancaster. 23 July 1932.
14. Portable sub-station at Neffsville, rebuilt from freight car #321. 8 July 1933.
15. Work Car #129 at Mechanicsville on the Manheim line. Line was abandoned and tracks were torn up from both ends of line leaving this car stranded. 1 September 1932.
16. Car #59 at East Christiana turnout on the Lancaster—Coatesville line. 3 July 1932.
17. Car #63 near Kinport Road on the Lancaster—Ephrata line. This line formerly went to Adamstown and connected with the Reading Transit Co. for Reading. 31 December 1933.
18. Cars #41 (left) and #139 (right) passing at Engleside turnout south of Lancaster on the S. Queen St. line, on the last day of operation on this line. #139 made the last trip that night. 12 August 1933.
19. Car #213 near Williamson Park Station on the Lancaster—Rocky Springs line, built by J. G. Brill Co. Double track line and siding.
20. Work car #12 and trailer completing job of removing overhead trolley wire on Elizabethtown—Lancaster line, at the corner President Ave. and Marietta Ave. at the junction with the Marietta Ave. city line. 1 September 1932.
21. Car #125, old-type city car, at #2 car barn, Lancaster. 21 October 1933.
Folder 17, Insert 5 Conestoga Transportation Company. Photographs, many stamped John J. Bowman, 314 N. Lime St., Lancaster, Railroad & Trolley Photos; Lancaster & York Furnace Street Railway. Ephemera, History, Photograph.
1. Car #61, at Duke St. and Chestnut St., inbound from Ephrata, formerly in regular service on the Lancaster—Ephrata—Adamstown line. Conestoga Traction Co. 11 March 1933.
2. Car #140, city car at Lancaster, located on the rip track and designated to be scrapped at the time of the photograph. Built by Brill. Conestoga Traction Co. 25 February 1940.
3. Car #68 at Mulberry St. and Chestnut St., Lancaster. Conestoga Traction Co. 14 April 1932.
4. Postcard. “Entrance. York Furnace Park.” No date.
5. Holiday card signed by C. M. Kemrer depicting trolley car.
6. History of the Lancaster & York Furnace Street Railway Company. No date.
7. Photograph of trolley car from the Lancaster & York Furnace Street Railway Company. No date.
Folder 17, Insert 6 Photographs of trolley tracks.
1. Tracks, unknown location. No date.
2. Trestle with car from the Pequea—Tucquan Lake line. No date.
3. Tracks, unknown location. No date.
4. Tracks, unknown location. No date.
5. Tracks with trolley car in the background, unknown location. No date.
6. Blank shipping receipt for the Lancaster & York Furnace Street Railway Co. [192_ ]. No date.
7. Tracks, unknown location. No date.
8. Tracks, unknown location. No date.
Folder 17, Insert 7 Hershey Transit Company. History, Photographs of trolley cars.
1. History of the Hershey Transit Company. No date.
2. Car #15, snow sweeper. Built by Brill, 1915. Hershey. 1 March 1939.
3. Car #1, NRHS special at passing track near the Lebanon sub-station waiting for the regular car. No date.
4. Car #23 at Elizabethtown, in regular service on the Hershey—Elizabethtown line which was abandoned 1940. August 1939.
5. Car #1 on the Lebanon line near Campbellstown, NRHS special. 20 July 1941.
6. Car #1, construction car at car barn in Hershey. August 1939.
7. Car #7, end of the Palmyra line. 20 July 1941.
8. Car #2 at bridge over PRR on the line from Elizabethtown to Hershey, used as a special by NRHS (Lancaster Chapter) [covering] the system. August 1939.
9. Car #2 at Hershey. August 1939.
10. Sunday Scholl cars at Hershey. Cars #17, 22, 23 are identified of the seven. 20 July 1941.
11. Car #2 at Lebanon sub-station. August 1939.
12. Car #5, 4-wheel work car at car barn in Hershey. No date.
13. Car #26 passing a regular car on the Palmyra line at Palmyra. Car #1, NRHS special, is behind #26. 20 July 1941.
14. Car #4 at car barn at Hershey, cars in regular service on the Palmyra line. August 1939.
Folder 17, Insert 8 Hershey Transit Company. Photographs of trolley cars; York Railways Company. Ephemera. Photographs of trolley cars.
1. Photograph of freight car. [Hershey Transit Company.] No date.
2. Car #24, freight and express car, at car barn at Hershey. Hershey Transit Company. 18 April 1933.
3. Car #28, trolley flat car, at Hershey. Hershey Transit Company. 17 May 1933.
4. Special Trip pass for York Railways Company. 18 September 1938.
5. York Railways Company trolley car. No date.
6. Car #314 on the Dallastown line. York Railways Company. No date.
7. Car #402, open car used on all of the lines in the summer and on fair days, used by the Lancaster Railway Association. York Railways Company. 18 September 1938.
8. Car #316, formerly used in service on the Wrightsville line. York Railways Company. No date.
9. City car. York Railways Company. No date.
10. Transfer pass, suburban line. York Railways Company. No date.
11. Christmas and New Year card from James P. Shuman depicting trolley car #402.
12. Transfer pass, Prospect St. line. York Railways Company. No date.
13. Transfer pass, Market St. line. York Railways Company. No date.
Folder 17, Insert 9 York Railways Company. History, Ephemera, Photographs of trolley cars.
1. History of York Railways Company. No date.
2. Transfer pass, Princess St. line. No date.
3. Transfer pass, suburban line. York Railways and York Bus Company. No date.
4. Flat cars. York. No date.
5. Car #328, light-weight interurban car, at Windsor. 7 October 1933.
6. Train receipt, Dallastown line. No date.
7. Souvenir ticket. Farewell Special, sponsored by the Lancaster Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. 29 January 1939.
8. Car #102, single-track city car at car barn. 5 February 1939.
9. Car #326, regular Hanover car on the Dallastown line. 5 February 1939.
10. Brochure. “York County via Trolley: Bustling Boroughs, Fruitful Fields and Verdant Valleys.” Map and descriptions of the different lines.
Insert 17, Insert 10 York Railways Company. Photographs of trolley cars. Many stamped John J. Bowman, 314 N. Lime St., Lancaster, Railroad & Trolley Photos.
1. Car #162, regular double-track city car, at the square. 6 February 1939.
2. Unidentified cars. No date.
3. Work car #016. No date.
4. Car #01, single-track sweeper. No date.
5. Car #011, dump car. No date.
6. Freight car #09, formerly saw service on the Hanover line as a regular passenger car and used panagraphs instead of poles—had poles for use in the city. The Hanover line was the interurban line with 70 lbs. rail telephone dispatch. No date.
7. Bonding car #020, equipped to attach bonding wires to rails at rail joints. York. 4 February 1934.
8. Sand car #112, formerly a passenger car, at York. Open car #407 at left. 19 May 1933.
9. Freight car #010, formerly a passenger car. Built by Niles. 25 March 1939.
10. Crane car #05.
11. Car #327, regular car formerly used on the Bittersville line, at the end of the Bittersville line. No date.
12. Car #015, weed sprayer, at York. 25 March 1939.
13. Hopper trailer #0010 at Continental Square, York. 19 May 1933.
14. City car #164, advertising the York Fair, at York. 7 October 1933.
15. Open car #401 at car barn in York. 4 August 1935.
Folder 18 Map of Bus and Rail Lines, Lancaster City, 1940. Conestoga Transportation Company. Gift of James Baron, 7 November 2005.
Folder 19 Coupon book. Conestoga Transportation Company. [1940]. Gift of James Baron, 7 November 2005.
Folder 20 Conestoga Traction Company accounts and Manheim-Lancaster
Turnpike and Willow Street Turnpike accounts. 1900-1920. Transferred from MG-266 Daybook and Ledger Collection, Series 3 on 5 March 2009.
Oversized Folder 1
Blueprint for canopy roof at gas pumps of Conestoga Transportation Co.
Drawing #F1, Contract #28707. A. B. Rote & Co. 22 July 1941.
Bus Trips Withdrawn placard, Conestoga Transportation Co. 8 August 1949.
Fares in Effect placard, Conestoga Transportation Co. (2 copies) 18 June 1950.
Oversized Folder 2 Items in this folder gift of James Baron, 7 November 2005.
Map, City of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Published by the Lancaster Intelligencer and News Journal. 1927.
Oversized Folder 3 Items in this folder gift of James Baron, 7 November 2005.
Map of region showing intra-state chartered rights points of origin and exclusions for Conestoga Transportation Co. July 1952.
Chart showing history of the Conestoga Traction Company, 1890-1937.
Map of region showing operating bus and rail routes in Lancaster city and county. 1934.
Map. Lines of the Conestoga Traction Co., Lancaster County, Chester County. Shows mileage of lines and distance in miles from Centre Square. No date.
Framed Document
Location: Archives North, Side 11, Section 3, top shelf
Chart, “Five Cent Limits, Conestoga Traction Co.” Shows routes: Lancaster and Adamstown, Lancaster and Millersville, Lancaster and Terre Hill, Lancaster and Lititz, Lancaster and Coatesville, Lancaster and Elizabethtown, Lancaster and Quarryville, Lancaster and Manheim, Lancaster and Marietta, Lancaster and Strasburg. No date.