 1913 map of the Lehigh Valley Transit Company | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Locale | Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Dates of operation | 1905–1972 |
| Predecessor | Allentown and Bethlehem Rapid Transit Company (1891) |
| Successor | LANta (1972) |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Electrification | 600 V DC trolley wire |
The Lehigh Valley Transit Company (LVT) was a regional transport company that was headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The company began operations in 1901, as an urban trolley and interurban rail transport company. It operated successfully into the 1930s, but struggled financially during the Great Depression, and was saved from abandonment by a dramatic ridership increase during and following World War II.
In 1951, LVT once again financially struggled, and ended its 36-mile (58 km) interurban rail service from Allentown to Philadelphia. In 1952, it ended its Allentown-area local trolley service. It operated local bus service in the Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton areas in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania until ultimately going out of business in 1972.[1][2]
- ^ Ruddell, Ron: Riding the Bell; 226p, Central Electric Railfans' Association, Bulletin 147, 2015; Chicago, IL. ISBN 9780915348473
- ^ McKelvey: Lehigh Valley Transit Company's Liberty Bell Route- A Photographic History Photos and author commentary tracing the LVT from Norristown north to Allentown with line side landmarks. 97pp