TOPEKA RAPID TRANSIT RAILWAY - Trolley Conductor (1887 - 92) - Extremely Rare
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:4551994 | Modified Item: No |
| Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
Rare and Beautiful CONDUCTOR badge from the Topeka Rapid Transit Railway Co. This is original and stamped metal, made in St. Louis. Very good condition.
The Topeka Rapid Transit Railway Co. started in 1887 and was a head-to-head competitor with the Topeka City Railway Co. Eventually, they merged to form the Topeka Railway Co. in 1892. So, it only lasted 5 years!
CITY TRANSIT HISTORY
1881-1892 - Topeka City Railway
1887-1892 - Topeka Rapid Tr...ansit Railway Co.1892-1926 - Topeka Railways
In 1887, the Topeka Rapid Transit Railway Co. built electric poles for trolleys. To generate electricity, small steam locomotives were designed to look like miniature passenger cars and traveled the lines. By 1889, more than 42 miles of street railway crisscrossed the city. Competition between transit companies in the city was fierce. At one point, both the City Railway Co. and Rapid Transit Railway Co. both laid tracks to the new Rock Island train depot, although the city had granted exclusive rights to the City Railway Co. to do so. Workers from one company would tear out the competitor's tracks. This went back and forth until a court injunction forces the parties to cease. By 1892, the Topeka Railway Co. purchased most of the small transit companies, including the Rapid Transit Railway Co.
The Topeka Rapid Transit Railway Co. started in 1887 and was a head-to-head competitor with the Topeka City Railway Co. Eventually, they merged to form the Topeka Railway Co. in 1892. So, it only lasted 5 years!
CITY TRANSIT HISTORY
1881-1892 - Topeka City Railway
1887-1892 - Topeka Rapid Tr...ansit Railway Co.1892-1926 - Topeka Railways
In 1887, the Topeka Rapid Transit Railway Co. built electric poles for trolleys. To generate electricity, small steam locomotives were designed to look like miniature passenger cars and traveled the lines. By 1889, more than 42 miles of street railway crisscrossed the city. Competition between transit companies in the city was fierce. At one point, both the City Railway Co. and Rapid Transit Railway Co. both laid tracks to the new Rock Island train depot, although the city had granted exclusive rights to the City Railway Co. to do so. Workers from one company would tear out the competitor's tracks. This went back and forth until a court injunction forces the parties to cease. By 1892, the Topeka Railway Co. purchased most of the small transit companies, including the Rapid Transit Railway Co.
