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Articles
The Butler Passenger Railway
by Nancy Evans
"Public Square Butler, PA" Reprint, circa 1908. Author's Personal Collection.
This history is a narrative that aims to provide a clear overview of the trolley system in Butler and its impact on the community and its residents. While it is impossible for stories to cover every detail, recounting them is essential for understanding ourselves and our community.
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The electric railways began in 1899 with the formation of the Butler Passenger Railway Company, which secured a franchise for Butler borough's main streets. By spring 1900, construction was completed on Main and Jefferson streets, and railway cars were in use by September.
In 1903, the company purchased land and later opened Alameda Park, which became a popular recreation spot for picnics, concerts, and dances. A 1911 prospectus from the Butler Short Line predicted an improved summer season for the district, thanks to train services connecting the area to nearby cities.
The cars for the lines were built by Niles Car and Manufacturing Company in St. Louis, Missouri, shipped in pieces, and assembled in large car barns. These barns also housed blacksmiths, carpenters, and supplies. The Short Line used different cars for cities and rural areas.
The trolley cars were well-appointed with green plush upholstery for passengers and smoking cars featured leather seats for men. After local lines merged into the Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler, and New Castle Railway around 1920, parlor cars began showing movies. Each car held about 58 passengers and had a top speed of 60 miles per hour. Fares varied, for example, from Gibsonia to Etna was 32 cents, with an additional 5 cents to Pittsburgh.
Butler Citizen. "Free Concert at Alameda Park." July 4, 1917. (Newspapers.com.)
The electric railways significantly contributed to Butler County's development. The Pittsburgh and Butler Railway Company began construction in 1905, completing the line from Etna to Butler by 1907. The railway promoted real estate development and created jobs by building rail lines, car barns, and power plants—including one in Renfrew.
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Additionally, the railway offered freight services with two daily deliveries and one at night. Primarily, milk and other goods like butter, fruit, vegetables, and dressed meats were transported. Larger items, such as lumber and livestock, were moved using box and flat cars.
In cities, a pole transferred electricity from overhead wires to the car's motors. In rural areas, a pantograph or kite on top of the trolley connected to the overhead lines. (Interurban Trolley, "The Pittsburgh and Butler Railway Reprint." Author's Personal Collection.)
Overall, the electric railways improved travel to Pittsburgh, facilitated freight movement, and spurred economic growth, despite some challenges.
Representation of Streetcar Accident 1908. (Webster Streetcar Collision. Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons.)
Accidents profoundly affect families, and the Butler Line experienced its fair share of tragedies. In 1911, businessman James H. Steen was killed when a frightened horse threw him under a trolley driven by motorman Blaine Summerville and conductor O. Stopp. The car, returning to the barn down a steep hill, crushed Mr. Steen. He could only be identified by his bank book. His wife, Lavina Marshall Steen, sued the Butler Passenger Railway, claiming negligence and excessive speed. Although she sought $5,000, the case settled on January 24, 1912, awarding her $2,850.
In another incident, John Warrick was struck and killed by the Pittsburgh and Butler Line while walking near the Bessemer and Ohio Railroad tracks with William Arbuckle. When the smoke from passing trains clear, it was found that Arbuckle was completely unharmed.
The Butler Passenger Railway Company faced challenges with the Butler and Ohio Railroad. The Butler and Ohio Railroad prevented the company from building a grade crossing over its tracks. After losing a case in the state supreme court, the railway managed to secure permission for a crossing over the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad. However, passengers still had to switch cars at the Butler and Ohio tracks.
This situation persisted until the Bessemer laid another track, leading to the railway having to maintain a watchman at the crossing due to inadequate signaling. Eventually, this became too costly. The only solution appeared to be constructing a viaduct over Centre Avenue. A committee found this viable, and after addressing concerns about compensating nearby residents for the damages, the community voted overwhelmingly in favor of the viaduct. A new route had been identified connecting East Wayne Avenue to Fairview Avenue and the passenger railway urged for a bond to begin construction promptly.
New Viaduct, Butler, PA. Circa 1900s. Butler County Historical Society Collections.
By 1931, the Butler trolley service had failed. Efforts were made to keep the "Butler Short Line" (then known as the Pittsburgh-Mars-Butler Railway) but unfortunately they were not enough to save the system. The history of the trolley system in Butler illustrates its development and its impact on the community. The service facilitated economic growth in Butler County by promoting real estate and creating jobs. Despite facing challenges, the trolley system underwent operational improvements, highlighting its importance in the evolution of local transportation.
References
Brown, Robert C. "History of Butler Co., PA," 1895.
Butler Citizen. "Well Known Business Man Met Tragic Death on the Southside," April 13, 1911.
Butler Citizen. "Free Concert at Alameda Park." July 4, 1917.
"Butler Short Line Issues Prospectus." February 8, 1911.
McKee, James A. 20th Century History of Butler and Butlery County and Representative Citizens. Butler, PA, 1909.
New Viaduct, Butler PA. circa 1900s. Postcard. Butler Historical Society.
"Pittsburgh and Butler Street Railway." Wikipedia, May 28, 2024.
Unknown Photographer. Pittsburgh & Butler Railway Reprint. n.d. Postcard. Author's Personal Collection.
Vasil, Jennifer. "The Harmony Line: PHB&NC Railway - Trolley Travel Times." Harmony Museum, 2004.
Waterman, Watkins & Co. "1883 History of Butler County, Pa," 1893.
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