ELECTRIC RAILROADS of VERMONT

Some of the early horse and electric cars were painted cadmium yellow with red trim and silver lettering.

Rutland Horse Railway (1885 - 1894) which became Rutland Street Railway (1895-1924)after electrification in the summer of 1894.

On January 27, 1906 the Rutland Street Railway merged with Chittenden Power Company, Peoples Gas Light Company and the Vermont Internal Improvement Company. The result was Rutland Railway Light and Power Company.

This huge (by Vermont standards), trolley company had a maximum of 35 miles of track, including North and South Belt lines, and the Rutland to Fair Haven & Pultney interurban line with a seasonal a route to Lake Bomoseen trolley and amusement park.

At the peak of trolley operations in 1913, these lines carried almost three million passengers and made considerable income on express and freight shipments.

In 1914 there was a decrease in earnings and an increase in operating expenses. This continued untill the line ceased in 1924. The last run to Lake Bomoseen was in the summer of 1916. Some of the large interurban cars were converted into one man cars douring WWI. The increasing popularity of the automobile after World War I, brought the trolley and interurban lines to thier knees. The interurban line to Fair Haven & New York State contined thanks to freight operations. July 6, 1924 was the day of the last interurban run from West Rutland to Fair Haven. The trolleys operated untill December 29 1924, although The company sought a December 1st closing date Merchants conviced them to operate through the Christmas Season.

Tracks & Operations

Tracks for the original "Main Line" to West Rutland and the "City Line" in the Village of Rutland were laid in November of 1885 by American Railroad Construction Company. The two lines were 5 ¹/₂ miles in length and ran from the fairgrounds to West Rutland. For a fare of 5 cents one could ride from Rutland Village to Center Rutland (the main line) or from West Rutland to Center Rutland for 5 cents (City Line).

The Main Line's original horse cars were 5 single truck 18 ft cars. These could seat 15 people and were built by C.J.Brill in Philladelphia, PA. The cars were equiped with red marker lights after sunset. .........

The City Line cars also made by Brill consisted of 6 single truck 26 ft cars. There was seating for 16, the interior was lined with curly birch wood and had fine uphostry. Each car was fitted with a small coal stove for winter comfort. These cars were named as well as numbered ......