THAT TROLLEY: Today, the definitive story of those trolleys
we’ve been writing about. In 1999, Era writer Waldo Pettenati
penned a story, “”Years before Route 17, trolleys were the way to
go in Twin Tiers.””[neWLine]

It will take us two days to share all the information so let’s
begin:[neWLine]

“”Trolleys started traveling across the Twin Tiers more than 100
years ago and were a part of the landscape for nearly 50
years.[neWLine]

“”The first trolley line began as the Olean Street Railroad Co.
April 5, 1880. The first line began as a horse-drawn trolley, about
7,750 feet from the Erie Depot in Olean, N.Y., to Lincoln
Park.[neWLine]

“”The track was laid in the summer of 1880, and in 1891, tracks
were extended to West State Street as far as 14th Street. Both
lines were equipped with horse-drawn cars until summer 1893, when
electric cars were first installed.[neWLine]

“”Over the years, the streetcar company became a widespread
operation, dependable and economical. The company built extensions
of the trolley line to Allegany, N.Y., in 1894, Bolivar, N.Y., in
1902, and Shinglehouse in 1903.[neWLine]

“”The railway was built from Bradford to Lewis Run in 1901.
Finally, the Olean and Bradford lines were united in 1906 into the
Western New York and Pennsylvania Traction Co. The Salamanca line
was organized to Little Valley and Seneca Junction in
1908.[neWLine]

“”The first Streetcar Co. power plant, car barn and offices were
located at the foot of Union Street.[neWLine]

“”As time went on, the company became larger, and a new power
plant was needed. The new plant was built about a mile from
Ceres.[neWLine]

“”The company had an interchange in North Olean with the Erie
Railroad Co. Carloads of material were distributed to various
places along the line. A branch line ran from Union Street down
Henley Street to St. Mary of the Angels Church.[neWLine]

“”The trolley system expanded passenger service and began
carrying freight. The garage of the trolley tracks were the same as
the railroad garage. Railroad cars could be hauled by the freight
motors of a trolley. The Streetcar Co. had switches with the
Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh, the Shawmut, the Pennsylvania
and Erie railroads.””[neWLine]

Tomorrow, we conclude this comprehensive history of the trolley
lines.