Category:Allentown and Reading Traction Company

The Allentown and Reading Traction Company was a Interurban trolley line that ran for 40 miles between Allentown and Reading.

The company was first chartered in March 1895 as the Allentown and Reading Electric Traction Company. The line was originally proposed to run from Center Square in Allentown to Reading with many local stops, essentially along Route 222. However, the company ran into financial difficulties and the company was re-organized in April 1898 as the Allentown and Kutztown Traction Company. The trolley line to Kutztown was put into service in March 1902. The line ran 20 miles between Allentown and Kutztown, starting on Seventh Street just south of Center Square, then proceeding along Walnut Street and parallel to Route 222 to Kutztown. The line had stops at Dorney Park, Wescoesville, Trexlertown, Laureldale, Blandon, Fleetwood before arriving in Kutztown.

In October 1902, the name was changed from the Allentown and Kutztown Traction Company to the Allentown and Reading Traction Company when it leased a trolley line from Kutztown to Reading. However, due to a difference in the gauge of the line, passengers needed to change cars in Kutztown. The running time was 2 hours and 40 minutes between Allentown and Reading.

The line ran successfully for many years during the first several decades of the 20th Century. It was very popular to use to go to the Duck Farm in Griesemerville, now Union Terrace and also for Allentonians go get to Dorney Park, just to the west of Dorneyville. It operated uninterrupted until the road network between Allentown and Reading (Route 222) finally became paved and automobiles became commonplace and much more efficient for intercity travel by the late 1920s.

In 1929, the interurban trolley service was ended to Allentown, with a new terminus in East Texas. In 1930, the line only began running between Kutztown and Reading, ending service to points north and east into Allentown.

In 1934 owing to the Great Depression, it was discontinued altogether.