Abstract:
The Philadelphia and Western Railway Company (P&W) commenced passenger service in 1907 linking the Pennsylvania communities of Upper Darby and Strafford. Electric traction power was and still is drawn from a third rail. In 1912, a branch line was built from Villanova to Norristown, which in time became the “main line,” Route 100. The Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company, better known as the Red Arrow Lines, acquired P&W in 1954. Since 1970, the operation under Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) continues to move people quickly and efficiently through Delaware and Montgomery Counties. This paper discusses the transformation of the railroad over the years, the gradual growth in ridership, planning and development in recent years, and the future focus, including short-range and long-range plans.
