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Liberty Bell Routes 800 Series Interurbans History Roster SC
The Liberty Bell Routes 800 Series Interurbans History and Roster Soft Cover Pailr 1958 NRHS 48 pages
Electric interurban railway systems of the United States appeared, flourished, and declined within two generations of mankind. During the years spanning 1910 and 1930, wooden or steel electrically propelled cars, resembling standard steam railroad coaches, drowing power for their motors from overhead wire or o third-rail and operating mostly on private right of way, either as single units or in trains, successfully challenged steam railroads for inter-community passenger traffic-these were the interurban's "golden years".
Whirring through form lands, villages, and towns nestled in the eastern fringe of Pennsylvania-German countryside between Allentown and Philadelphia, from 1902 until 1951, were high speed limited con assigned to the frequent service scheduled by the Lehigh Volley Transit Company's Philadelphia Division, popularly termed the "Liberty Bell Route". Various car types operated during the half century, but the 800 series cars, serving LVT's "golden years", from 1912 until 1932, were o symbol and proud servants for the Lehigh Volley residents. Accenting electricity's brood ability to extend man's activities, they did so with comparative luxury and much dignity. They mark a highpoint in interurban car development when plush, mahogany, stoined gloss, and pleasing curves, combined with advanced electrical and mechanical design, provided a transportation medium greatly superior to any other kind then available.
Capable of a mile-a-minute speed, the 800 series cons, by 1914, lowered the traveling time between Allentown and Philadelphia business districts from four and one-half hours, established in 1903, to two hours and fifteen minutes, including the subway-elevated trip from the 69th Street Terminal. A one day shopping trip, theatre attendance, a visit to the zoological garden or on amusement pork, or o historical sight-seeing tour of Philadelphia became commonplace for the small community and rural folk, mostly Pennsylvania-Germans, residing within view of the tracks. Lehigh Valley business firm representatives Personally completed transactions in the Philadelphia mart within a few hours; likewise Philadelphia salesmen found the Lehigh Volley area a lucrative territory.
Courteous crew members, often speaking the "Pennsylvania Dutch" dialect to each other and to many passengers; clean, comfortable, and modern cars; operational efficiency; beautiful pastoral views; and flourishing towns enroute become the "Liberty Bell Route" trademark.
The historical information herein recorded is a blend of events personally experienced by numerous Lehigh Volley Transit Company employees, personal observations of Lehigh Volley Chapter members, foots recorded in the Allentown Morning Call and the Chronicle and News, electric railway trade Journals, and various LVT brochures, timetables, and maps.
Two Lehigh Volley Chapter members, one os o young mon and the other as a schoolboy, photographed the 800 series tors on their first day in Allentown. Orville S. Kulp photographed No. 801 of the first group in August, 1912, and Howard P. Sell, No. 809 of the second group in July, 1913. In addition, Mr. Sell recorded No. 800 on film near Twelfth and Gordon streets in the summer of 1913.
To all persons listed on the title page as contributors and to others who assisted in producing this publication, the chapter membership extends its sincerest gratitude. Comments from readers will be graciously received.
As its third publication, the Lehigh Valley Chapter, Notional Railway Historical Society, Inc. odds this, the complete history and roster of the 800 series interurbans of the Lehigh Valley Transit Company in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to recorded railway history. We who were conveyed within the palatial interurbans' sturdy structure as they sped from the Lehigh Volley's Queen City to the City of Brotherly Love, fifty-five miles away, cannot properly express in words the prevailing atmosphere of confidence, relaxation, and grandeur. Streamlining, stainless steel, aluminum, and successively smaller bodies, although packed with power, will not quite equal the glamour of these magnificent interurbans. May their life-story bring you the pleasure that we, who knew them well, carry with us.
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