Trenton's Trolleys

Trenton's Trolleys

Arthur L. Finkle

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.

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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