West Philadelphia Passenger Railway

The West Philadelphia Passenger Railway was an early commuter rail that opened on July 2, 1858.[1] Initially tracks ran from 3rd Street to 41st street along Market Street.[1] Tracks ran over the Permanent Bridge that was completed in 1887.[1][2] Passengers were transported by "horse-drawn omnibuses".[1] The railway was the second street railway to be chartered in Philadelphia when it was chartered on April 28, 1857.[3] Portions of the railway leading to Darby followed a route similar to that of SEPTA's Route 11 today.[3] People of color were not allowed to use the railways until an Act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1867; however, they were permitted to stand on the platform with the driver.[3]

References
  1. Mark Lloyd; Erica Denhoff & Kim Franklin. "WEST PHILADELPHIA: THE BASIC HISTORY Chapter 2: A Streetcar Suburb in the City: West Philadelphia, 1854-1907". West Philadelphia Community History Center. University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  2. Mark Lloyd; Erica Denhoff & Kim Franklin. "WEST PHILADELPHIA: THE BASIC HISTORY Chapter 1: Pre-History to 1854". West Philadelphia Community History. University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  3. "William Still, Darby, and the Desegregation of Philadelphia Streetcars". Darbyhistory.com. Retrieved 12 October 2012.


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