Ardmore and Llanerch Street Railway - 1900-30's dated Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Railroad Stock Certificate

Railroad Stock. Nice vignette of street car with passengers. 

The Ardmore-West Chester Lines, two former trolley routes now operated as bus lines by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), connect Upper Darby’s 69th Street Terminal to either Ardmore or West Chester. The two routes on this line are the Route 103: Ardmore and the Route 104: West Chester. At Llanerch, the proposed light rail routes would intersect with the former Pennsylvania Railroad Newtown Square Branch. Past Manoa Road, the Route 103: Ardmore would diverge, rejoining its former alignment to Ardmore. The Route 104: West Chester would rejoin its 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, enhancing service west of Llanerch and connecting 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 commenced in 1896, and the service was extended to West Chester in 1898. In 1902, the Ardmore & Llanerch Street Railway opened a trolley line to Ardmore. 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, commonly known locally as the Red Arrow. In 1954, the Route 104: West Chester was converted to a bus route due to the widening of the West Chester Pike, while Route 103: Ardmore followed suit in 1966. In 1970, the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company was acquired by SEPTA.

The Newtown Square Branch, initially built as the Philadelphia & Delaware County Railroad in 1888 and subsequently taken over by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1894, operated passenger service until 1908 due to competition from the West Chester Traction Company. Freight service continued on the branch until 1981, after which the rails were dismantled in 1985.
The Ardmore-West Chester Lines would undergo a complete reconstruction, transforming their former right-of-ways into a light rail service. The light rail route would traverse a newly designated right-of-way from Llanerch to Newtown Square, utilizing the former Pennsylvania Railroad Newtown Square Branch. Route 103Y: Ardmore and 104Y: West Chester services would utilize the Newtown Square Branch east of Llanerch to the Yeadon station on the Elwyn Line and the proposed Route 34: Baltimore Avenue extension. The fleet would consist of double-ended articulated trolley cars, enhancing capacity and eliminating the need for reverse loops at Ardmore and Yeadon.

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