Trolleys
Chemung County’s first trolley began running in 1871 between Elmira and Horseheads. Horse-drawn, it was no faster than the average wagon, but was much more convenient. Citizens soon demanded additional routes throughout Elmira as the trolley’s popularity grew. In 1890, the Maple Avenue Railroad Company ran the area’s first electrified trolley. Other companies soon followed suit and, by 1907, the county’s trolley system was fully electrified. New neighborhoods sprang up around the trolley lines in Southport, Elmira Heights, and West Elmira. Homes in these areas drew their electricity from the trolley lines. By the 1920s, trolleys struggled to compete with cars and, in 1939, the county’s trolleys were replaced by buses.
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Horse-drawn trolley on the West Water Street Railroad,
c. 1880s
Although early trolleys were no faster than the average horse-drawn vehicle, passengers found them convenient as it freed them from the need to own, feed, and house their own horses in order to get around town.
Map of trolley lines in the City of Elmira, 1902
The Elmira Water, Light & Railroad Company maintained almost 30 miles of track within the city of Elmira in 1902. By the time trolley service ended in 1939, it was up to 31.85 miles.
Postcard of Rorick’s Glen showing trolley stop, c. 1910s
In 1902, the Elmira Water, Light & Railroad Company opened Rorick’s Glen Park at the end of the Water Street line in order to attract riders. The park boasted a theater, restaurant, and dance hall, as well as rides and hiking trails.
Trolley #124 on Main Street in Elmira, 1937
Elmira Water, Light & Railroad Company trolleys were traditionally painted red with silver-white accents except for a brief period in the late 1920s when the company experimented with new colors and patterns including plaid and polka dots.
NYSEG Family Tree
In 1901, five local trolley companies and several utilities merged to form the Elmira Water, Light & Railroad Company, now known as New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG).