Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, was once served by 140 miles of trolley lines. In the first half of the 20th century, a wide array of trolley cars rolled over Montgomery County's rails, from quaint open streetcars rumbling through borough streets to sleek 80-mile-an-hour trolleys sailing across open fields in Upper Gwynedd and Hatfield Townships. The cars had zero emissions, and some lines were powered by renewable hydroelectric power. Taking the trolley was a convenient, affordable option for those travelling and commuting in Montgomery County, nearby Philadelphia, and points beyond. Freight was also carried on board trolleys, with prompt parcel delivery service. Fortunately, many years ago, dedicated trolley fans had the foresight to aim their cameras at these unique vehicles, providing rare glimpses not just of the trolleys but also of Montgomery County's rapidly changing landscapes.
Mike Szilagyi’s interest in trolleys was sparked at a young age by the sight of big green streamliners gliding down Old York Road near his grandparents’ house in the Logan neighborhood of Philadelphia. He was intrigued to learn that the city streetcar lines he’d explore in the 1970s were the surviving remnants of a vast trolley network that once reached well beyond the city limits, across the countryside, connecting virtually every corner of Pennsylvania. Today, Szilagyi plans and designs bicycle paths in and around Montgomery County, and serves on the board of the North Wales Historic Commission. This volume's foreword was written by noted transit historian and longtime Montgomery County resident Andrew W. Maginnis.