Philadelphia City Passenger Railway Company stock certificate 1919 (Pennsylvania) - Chestnut & Walnut St

Uncommon older Philly streetcar piece. Top vignette features Independence Hall at center, Lady Liberty warrior figure to the right, and two classical females flanking a rendition of the Philadelphia city seal. Issued and cancelled. Pen and hole cancelled on the face, glue stain to the left but no stub. Dated 1919. Measure approximately 11 x 7.5 inches.

Originally incorporated as the Chestnut and Walnut Street Railway in 1859, the company changed names in the early 1880's when leased to the West Philadelphia Railway.  The company lines eventually became part of the Philadelphia Traction Company.

The West Philadelphia Passenger Railway was an early commuter rail that opened on July 2, 1858. Initially tracks ran from 3rd Street to 41st street along Market Street. Tracks ran over the Permanent Bridge that was completed in 1887. Passengers were transported by "horse-drawn omnibuses".

The railway was the second street railway to be chartered in Philadelphia when it was chartered on April 28, 1857. Portions of the railway leading to Darby followed a route similar to that of SEPTA's Route 11 today. People of color were not allowed to use the railways until an Act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1867; however, they were permitted to stand on the platform with the driver.

Independent operators were eventually absorbed by larger conglomerates like the Philadelphia Traction Company and Union Traction Company before ultimately evolving into the public transit infrastructure managed today by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)

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