Philadelphia City Passenger Railway Company stock certificate 1874

Fantastic older streetcar piece. Top vignette features a stylized Philadelphia City seal, two founders at the sides, and Independence Hall at the bottom.  Issued and cancelled. Pen cancelled on the face, glue stain to the left but no stub. Dated 1874.

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.