Trenton prided itself on its five operating trolleys that
connected workers to the job and consumers to but good as well as recreational,
church and other activities.
1.
Trenton Street Railway
Company,
2.
New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Traction Company, Riverside Traction Company,
3.
the Elizabeth and Trenton Railway Company and
4.
Philadelphia,
Bristol
5.
Trenton Traction Company
The entire system totaled a 40 mile
radius that importantly connected
farming communities to urban areas.
In 1882, Trenton first trolley
featured as a City Hall exhibition in downtown Trenton.
In 1892, the Perrine family that ran the stage coach business merged it into the
electric road. Aka trolley. The original incorporators of the Trenton electric cars were first operated exclusively
as Horse Railroad Company, became interested in the business. In 1894, newly connected
general electrification caused the trolleys to operate, initially on Broad,
Centre amid Perry Streets.
The Trenton Street
Railway Company was the only traction company operating within Trenton
Frank
Thompson . writing in the November 10, 1910 Trenton Times headlined that “Trolley
Lines Have Been Important Factor In Trenton's Rise.”
In 1903 Market St extension provided better access for its
Jewish population. The trolley lines also allowed the roads
to connect to other urban areas. Trenton was linked with Morrisville, Yardley, Newtown, New Hope, PA,
Yardville, Ewing, Princeton, Lambertville,
Lawrenceville and the great farming districts of Mercer, Burlington,
Monmouth and Hunterdon Counties in New Jersey with those of Bucks County in Pennsylvania.
The Street Railway
Company and the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Traction Company operated a number
of branches.
.
The city placed speed limits on public
conveyances. Horse-drawn vehicles were limited to seven miles per hour. The
trolleys, somewhat more.
Later on the trolley line extended west
beyond Prospect Street, opening the entire western section at the turn of the
century.
The Johnson System traveled
from Ingham Ave to Princeton
The Elizabeth-Trenton Trolley Lines carried
freight and passengers to Elizabeth, within easy proximity to Newark and New
York markets.
Trenton
Times, Thursday, November 10, 1910
