INTERURBAN RAILWAYS IN OHIO

Interurban Railway Map

CAMBRIDGE POWER LIGHT & TRACTION CO.
Sold 1910 to Midland Power & Traction Co.
Sold 1914 to New Midland Power & Traction Co.
Sold 1915 to Ohio Service Co.
Controlled 1923-1927 by American Gas & Electric Co.

Interurban line:
Cambridge-Pleasant City (completed 1912)
Abandoned 1927

CINCINNATI & COLUMBUS TRACTION CO.

Interurban line:
Cincinnati-Hillsboro (completed 1906)
Abandoned 1920

CINCINNATI, GEORGETOWN & PORTSMOUTH RAILROAD
Reorganized 1928 as Cincinnati Georgetown Railroad Co.

Interurban lines:
Cincinnati-Georgetown (electrified 1902, discontinued 1936)
Georgetown-Russellville (constructed 1904, discontinued 1933)
Lake Allyn-Batavia (constructed 1902, discontinued 1936)

CINCINNATI & HAMILTON TRACTION CO.
Incorporated 1902, consolidating two predecessor companies.
Acquired 1905 by Ohio Traction Co.
Consolidated 1926 into Cincinnati Street Railway Co.

Interurban line:
Cincinnati-Hamilton (completed 1901)
Abandoned 1930

CINCINNATI, LAWRENCEBURG & AURORA ELECTRIC STREET RAILROAD CO.
Reorganized 1928 as Cincinnati, Lawrenceburg & Aurora Electric Railway Co.

Interurban lines:
Cincinnati-Aurora/Harrison (completed 1900)
Abandoned 1930

CINCINNATI, MILFORD & BLANCHESTER TRACTION CO.
Originally Cincinnati, Milford & Loveland Traction Co.
Reorganized 1918 as Cincinnati, Milford & Blanchester Traction Co.

Interurban line:
Cincinnati-Blanchester (completed 1906)
Abandoned 1942

CLEVELAND, PAINESVILLE & EASTERN RAILROAD

Interurban lines:
Cleveland-Painesville (constructed 1896)
Cleveland-Willoughby shore line (constructed 1898)
Painesville-Ashtabula (constructed 1904)

Abandoned 1926

Line between Painesville and Ashtabula operated by subsidiary Cleveland, Painesville & Ashtabula Railroad.

Local service: Painesville

Competing bus service operated by Cleveland-Ashtabula-Conneaut Bus Co., which later became Central Greyhound Lines.

CLEVELAND, SOUTHWESTERN & COLUMBUS RAILWAY
Reorganized 1924 as Cleveland Southwestern Railway & Light Co.

Interurban lines:
Cleveland-Elyria (constructed 1895, discontinued 1931)
Elyria-Oberlin (constructed 1897, discontinued 1931)
Elyria-Wellington (constructed 1899, discontinued 1931)
Elyria-Lorain (constructed 1900, discontinued 1931)
Oberlin-Norwalk (constructed 1902, discontinued 1924)
Cleveland-Medina (constructed 1897, discontinued 1931)
Medina-Wooster (constructed 1901, discontinued 1931)
Seville-Mansfield (constructed 1908, discontinued 1931)
Mansfield-Bucyrus (constructed 1902, discontinued 1931)

COLUMBUS, DELAWARE & MARION RAILWAY
Reorganized 1917 as Columbus, Delaware & Marion Electric Co.

Controlled 1930-1932 by Middle West Utilities Co.

Interurban lines:
Columbus-Marion (constructed 1903)
Marion-Bucyrus (constructed 1908)
Abandoned 1933

Line between Marion-Bucyrus operated by subsidiary Columbus, Marion & Bucyrus Railroad.

Local service: Delaware, Marion

Interurban railway service replaced by bus service operated by Marion-Lima Transit Co., sold to Greyhound in 1939.

COLUMBUS, MAGNETIC SPRINGS & NORTHERN RAILWAY
Consolidation in 1906 of what had been the following interurban railway companies.

Delaware & Magnetic Springs Railway
Richwood & Magnetic Springs Railway

Interurban line:
Delaware-Magnetic Springs (constructed 1904)
Magnetic Springs-Richwood (constructed 1906)
Abandoned 1919

DAYTON, COVINGTON & PIQUA TRACTION CO.

Interurban line:
Dayton-Piqua (completed 1903)
Abandoned 1926

Bus service between Dayton and Piqua operated by St. John Transportation Co., presumably replacing interurban railway, and existed into 1950's.

DAYTON & TROY ELECTRIC RAILWAY

Interurban line:
Dayton-Troy (completed 1901)
Troy-Piqua (completed 1893)
Abandoned 1932

Local service: Piqua

DAYTON & XENIA TRANSIT CO.
Originally Dayton & Xenia Traction Co., constructing a line between its namesake cities, and subsequently acquired the following interurban railway companies.

Dayton & Xenia Rapid Transit Co.
Dayton, Spring Valley & Wilmington Transit Co.

Renamed 1901 to Dayton & Xenia Transit Co.

Interurban lines:
Dayton-Xenia (constructed 1899, discontinued 1937)
Dayton-Xenia (Rapid Transit) (constructed 1899, discontinued 1908)
Belmont-Spring Valley (constructed 1899, discontinued 1923)

Dayton & Xenia Transit Co. subsidiary Dayton & Xenia Motor Bus Co. operated buses replacing the interurban railway lines. Dayton & Xenia Transit Co. continued to operate a local streetcar line in Dayton, replaced with trolleybuses in 1940. Interurban bus line continued to operate until 1950's.

EASTERN OHIO TRACTION CO.

Interurban lines:
Cleveland-Chagrin Falls (constructed 1897, discontinued 1925)
Chagrin Falls-Hiram (constructed 1902, discontinued 1914)
Hiram-Garrettsville (constructed 1903, discontinued 1914)
Cleveland-Middlefield (constructed 1901, discontinued 1925)
Chardon branch (constructed 1901, discontinued 1925)

FOSTORIA & FREMONT
Sold 1930 to Western Ohio Railway & Power Co.

Interurban line:
Fostoria-Fremont (completed 1911)
Abandoned 1932

Local service: Fremont

GALLIPOLIS & NORTHERN TRACTION CO.

Interurban line:
Gallipolis-Point Pleasant (electrified 1913)
Abandoned 1923

Local service: Fremont

HOCKING-SUNDAY CREEK TRACTION CO.
Reorganized 1926 as Nelsonville-Athens Electric Railway Co.

Interurban line:
Nelsonville-Athens (completed 1915)
Abandoned 1932

INTERURBAN RAILWAY & TERMINAL CO.
Consolidation of the following interurban railway companies.

Cincinnati & Eastern Electric Railway (to New Richmond)
Suburban Traction Co. (to Bethel)
Rapid Railway (to Lebanon)

Interurban lines:
Cincinnati-New Richmond (constructed 1902, discontinued 1922)
Cincinnati-Bethel (constructed 1903, discontinued 1918)
Cincinnati-Lebanon (constructed 1903, discontinued 1922)

LAKE ERIE, BOWLING GREEN & NAPOLEAN RAILWAY

Interurban lines:
Woodville-Pemberville (constructed 1906, discontinued 1916)
Pemberville-Bowling Green (constructed 1902, discontinued 1925)
Bowling Green-Tontogony (constructed 1910, discontinued 1916)

Line between Pemberville and Bowling Green sold 1916 to Toledo Fostoria & Findlay Railway.

LAKE SHORE ELECTRIC RAILWAY
Incorporated 1901, and acquired what had been the following interurban railway companies. Unless noted, interurban companies basically operated between their namesake cities.

Toledo, Fremont & Norwalk Railway
Sandusky Milan & Norwalk Railway
Sandusky & Interurban Electric Railway
Lorain & Cleveland Electric Railway
East Lorain Street Railway (to Elyria)

Lake Shore Electric Railway subsequently completed the line between Fremont and Sandusky.

Interurban lines:
Toledo-Norwalk (constructed 1901, discontinued/replaced with buses 1938)
Fremont-Sandusky (constructed 1907, discontinued/replaced with buses 1938)
Sandusky-Norwalk (constructed 1893, discontinued/replaced with buses 1928)
Sandusky/Norwalk-Lorain (constructed 1894, discontinued/replaced with buses 1938)
Lorain-Cleveland (constructed 1897, discontinued/replaced with buses 1938)
Lorain-Elyria (constructed 1894, discontinued/replaced with buses 1938)

Local service: Lorain, Sandusky

Lake Shore Electric Railway subsidiary Lake Shore Coach Co. operated buses replacing the interurban railway lines. In 1949, the Lake Shore Coach Co. bus routes were transferred to Greyhound.

LEBANON & FRANKLIN TRACTION CO.

Interurban line:
Lebanon-Franklin (completed 1904)
Abandoned 1919

MAHONING & SHENANGO RAILWAY & LIGHT CO.
Incorporated 1905, and acquired several predecessor street railway companies.
Renamed 1920 to Pennsylvania-Ohio Electric Co.

Controlled after 1929 by Commonwealth & Southern Corp.

Interurban lines:
Youngstown-Warren (constructed 1895, discontinued/replaced with buses 1932)
Niles-Mineral Ridge (constructed 1899, discontinued 1927)
Youngstown-New Castle (constructed 1900, discontinued 1933)
Youngstown-Sharon (constructed 1901, discontinued 1939)
Warren-Leavittsburg (constructed 1901, discontinued 1924)
Hubbard-New Castle (constructed 1902, discontinued 1925)

Local service: Youngstown

Commonwealth & Southern Corp. subsidiary Penn-Ohio Coach Lines operated buses replacing the interurban railway lines. In 1945, Penn-Ohio Coach Lines was sold to Ohio Greyhound Lines.

MANSFIELD RAILWAY LIGHT & POWER CO.
Originally Citizens Electric Light & Power Co.

Sold 1903 to Mansfield Railway Light & Power Co.
Sold 1915 to Mansfield Public Utility & Service Co.
Sold 1918 to Richland Public Service Co.
Sold 1922 to Ohio Public Service Co.

Controlled after 1914 by Cities Service Co.

Interurban line:
Mansfield-Shelby (completed 1901)
Abandoned 1934

Local service: Mansfield

MAUMEE VALLEY RAILWAYS & LIGHT CO.

Interurban line:
Toledo-Waterville (completed 1901)
Abandoned 1924

NORTHERN OHIO TRACTION & LIGHT CO.
Incorporated 1895 as Northern Ohio Traction Co., and subsequently acquired what had been the following interurban railway companies. Unless noted, interurban companies basically operated between their namesake cities.

Akron, Bedford & Cleveland Railroad
Canton-Akron Consolidated Railway (to Uhrichsville)
Akron & Cuyahoga Falls Rapid Transit Co. (Akron-Ravenna)
Cleveland, Alliance & Mahoning Valley Railway (Ravenna-Alliance/Ravenna-Warren)

Renamed Northern Ohio Traction & Light Co. in 1902, and renamed Northern Ohio Power & Light Co. in 1926.

Controlled after 1929 by Commonwealth & Southern Corp.

Interurban lines:
Cleveland-Akron (constructed 1895, discontinued 1932)
Akron-Canton (constructed 1892, discontinued 1928)
Canton-Massillon (constructed 1892, discontinued 1940)
Massillon-Uhrichsville (constructed 1892, discontinued 1929)
Akron-Wadsworth (constructed 1907, discontinued 1928)
Massillon-East Greenville (constructed 1907, discontinued 1929)
Akron-Kent (constructed 1897, discontinued 1931)
Kent-Ravenna (constructed 1900, discontinued 1931)
Ravenna-Alliance (constructed 1913, discontinued 1931)
Ravenna-Warren (constructed 1915, discontinued 1931)

Line between Canton and Massillon sold 1930 to Inter-City Rapid Transit Co.

Local service: Akron, Canton, Massillon

Commonwealth & Southern Corp. subsidiary Penn-Ohio Coach Lines operated buses replacing the interurban railway lines. In 1945, Penn-Ohio Coach Lines was sold to Ohio Greyhound Lines.

Upon abandonment of suburban interurban rail service between Cleveland and Bedford, the Cleveland Southeastern Bus Co. began operating. In 1975, that bus route became part of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.

OHIO ELECTRIC RAILWAY
Incorporated 1907, and acquired or leased what had been the following interurban railway companies. Unless noted, interurban companies basically operated between their namesake cities. Several railways had been consolidated into the Indiana Columbus & Eastern Traction Co. (IC&E) in 1906.

Cincinnati & Hamilton Electric Street Railway
Cincinnati & Miami Valley Traction Co. (Hamilton-Dayton)
Miamisburg & Germantown Traction Co.
Dayton, Springfield & Urbana Railway (IC&E)
Urbana, Bellefontaine & Northern Railway (Urbana-Bellefontaine, IC&E)
Lima & Toledo Traction Co.
Dayton & Western Traction Co. (to Richmond/New Paris, IC&E)
Dayton & Northern Traction Co. (to Greenville, IC&E)
Dayton & Muncie Traction Co. (Greenville-Union City, IC&E)
Fort Wayne, Van Wert & Lima Traction Co.
Columbus & Lake Michigan (Lima-Defiance, IC&E)
Columbus, Buckeye Lake & Newark Traction Co. (IC&E)
Columbus, Newark & Zanesville Electric Railway (Newark-Zanesville, IC&E)
Columbus, Grove City & Southwestern Railway (to Orient, IC&E)

In 1918, Cincinnati-Dayton line sold to Cincinnati & Dayton Traction Co. In 1920, lease terminated with Dayton & Western Traction Co. And in 1921, Ohio Electric Railway disolved, with remaining lines returned to original owners.

In 1924, Lima & Toledo Traction Co. reorganized as Lima-Toledo Railroad. In 1926, Cincinnati & Dayton Traction Co. reorganized as Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway Co. And in 1930, those two railroads merged with IC&E forming Cincinnati & Lake Erie Railroad.

Columbus, Newark & Zanesville Electric Railway reorganized 1925 as Southern Ohio Public Service Co., controlled 1928-1929 by American Gas & Electric Co./Electric Bond & Shares Co.

Interurban lines:
Cincinnati-Hamilton (constructed 1898, discontinued/replaced with buses 1939)
Hamilton-Dayton (constructed 1897, discontinued/replaced with buses 1939)
Miamisburg-Germantown (constructed 1901, discontinued 1939)
Dayton-Springfield-Urbana (constructed 1900, discontinued/replaced with buses 1939)
Urbana-Bellefontaine (constructed 1903, discontinued/replaced with buses 1939)
Bellefontaine-Lima (constructed 1908, discontinued/replaced with buses 1939)
Lima-Toledo (constructed 1908, discontinued/replaced with buses 1937)
Lima-Defiance (electrified 1909, sold/deelectrified 1923)
Dayton-Eaton (constructed 1898, discontinued 1937)
Eaton-Richmond (constructed 1903, discontinued 1937)
New Westville-New Paris (constructed 1903, discontinued 1937)
Dayton-Greenville (constructed 1901, discontinued 1925)
Greenville-Union City (constructed 1904, discontinued 1925)
Lima-Fort Wayne (completed 1905, discontinued 1932)
Springfield-Columbus (constructed 1902, discontinued/replaced with buses 1939)
Columbus-Newark (constructed 1902, discontinued 1929)
Newark-Zanesville (constructed 1904, discontinued 1929)
Columbus-Orient (constructed 1898-1901, discontinued 1922)

Local service: Lima, Hamilton, Newark, Zanesville

Cincinnati & Lake Erie Railroad subsidiary Cincinnati & Lake Erie Bus Co. operated buses replacing the interurban railway lines. In 1947, the renamed Cincinnati & Lake Erie Transportation Co. was sold to Greyhound.

OHIO RIVER ELECTRIC RAILWAY & POWER CO.

Interurban line:
Racine-Pomeroy-Gravel Hill (completed 1900)
Abandoned 1929

OHIO TRACTION CO.
Originally Cincinnati & Hamilton Traction Co.
Reorganized 1905 as Ohio Traction Co.

Interurban line:
Cincinnati-Hamilton (completed 1901)
Abandoned 1926

PENNSYLVANIA & OHIO ELECTRIC RAILWAY
Reorganized 1919 as Pennsylvania & Ohio Traction Co.

Interurban lines:
Ashtabula-Conneaut (constructed 1901)
Ashtabula-Jefferson (constructed 1902)
Abandoned 1926

Competing bus service operated by Cleveland-Ashtabula-Conneaut Bus Co., which later became Central Greyhound Lines.

PORTSMOUTH STREET RAILWAY & LIGHT CO.
Sold 1923 to Portsmouth Public Service Co.

Controlled 1926-1929 by American Gas & Electric Co.

Interurban line:
Portsmouth-Sciotoville (completed 1893)
Abandoned 1929

Local service: Portsmouth

SANDUSKY, NORWALK & MANSFIELD RAILWAY

Interurban lines:
Norwalk-Plymouth (constructed 1904)
Plymouth-Shelby (constructed 1907)
Sold/deelectrified 1921

SCIOTO VALLEY TRACTION CO.
Renamed 1923 to Scioto Valley Railway & Power Co.

Interurban lines:
Columbus-Circleville (constructed 1904)
Circleville-Chillicothe (constructed 1905)
Columbus-Lancaster (constructed 1904)
Abandoned 1930

Local service: Chillicothe

Scioto Valley Railway & Power Co. affiliate Valley Public Service Co. operated buses replacing the interurban railway lines. In 1945, the bus company was sold to Greyhound, and in 1949 the bus routes were transferred to Lake Shore Coach Lines. Service continued until 1974.

SOUTHEAST OHIO RAILWAY & LIGHT CO.
Reorganized 1916 as Southeastern Ohio Railway Co.

Interurban line:
Zanesville-Crooksville (completed 1906)
Abandoned 1924

Bus service between Zanesville and Crooksville operated by United Motor Stage Co., presumably replacing interurban railway, and existed into 1950's.

SPRINGFIELD, TROY & PIQUA RAILWAY
Reorganized 1917 as Springfield Terminal Railway & Power Co.

Interurban line:
Springfield-Troy (completed 1904)
Abandoned 1923

Bus service between Springfield and Troy operated by Springfield-Troy Bus Line, presumably replacing interurban railway, and existed into 1950's.

SPRINGFIELD & WASHINGTON RAILWAY
Originally Springfield, S. Charleston, Washington C.H. & Chillicothe Traction Co.
Reorganized 1905 as Washington Traction Co.
Reorganized 1908 as Springfield & Washington Railway.

Interurban line:
Springfield-South Charleston (completed 1904)
Abandoned 1922

SPRINGFIELD & XENIA RAILWAY
Originally Springfield & Xenia Traction Co.
Reorganized 1904 as Springfield & Xenia Railway.
Sold 1928 to Springfield & Xenia Railroad.

Interurban line:
Springfield-Xenia (completed 1902)
Abandoned 1934

Bus service between Springfield and Xenia operated by Springfield & Xenia Transportation Co., presumably replacing interurban railway. By 1950's operated by Dayton & Southeastern Lines, existed at least into 1960's.

STARK ELECTRIC RAILROAD

Interurban line:
Canton-Alliance-Salem (completed 1904)
Abandoned 1937

Local service: Alliance

Interurban railway service replaced by bus service operated by Stark Transit. Service continued into 1950's or 1960's.

STEUBENVILLE, EAST LIVERPOOL & BEAVER VALLEY TRACTION CO.
Incorporated 1917, and acquired several predecessor street railway companies.

Interurban line:
Steubenville-East Liverpool-Beaver (completed 1906)
Abandoned 1939

Local service: Steubenville, East Liverpool

Bus service between Steubenville and Beaver operated by Valley Motor Transit Co., presumably replacing interurban railway, and existed into 1950's.

TIFFIN, FOSTORIA & EASTERN ELECTRIC RAILWAY
Originally Tiffin & Fostoria Electric Railway Co.
Reorganized 1898 as Tiffin, Fostoria & Eastern Electric Railway Co.
Sold 1925 to Toledo, Fostoria & Findlay Railway Co.

Interurban line:
Tiffin-Fostoria (completed 1896)
Abandoned 1930

Local service: Tiffin

Bus service between Tiffin and Fostoria operated by Tiffin-Fremont-Fostoria Bus Lines, presumably replacing interurban railway, and existed into 1950's.

TOLEDO, BOWLING GREEN & SOUTHERN TRACTION CO.

Interurban line:
Toledo-Findlay (completed 1902)
Abandoned 1930

Local service: Findlay

TOLEDO, FOSTORIA & FINDLAY RAILWAY

Interurban lines:
Toledo-Pemberville (constructed 1908, discontinued 1930)
Pemberville-Fostoria (constructed 1905, discontinued 1930)
Fostoria-Findlay (constructed 1901, discontinued 1932)

Line between Fostoria and Findlay sold 1930 to Western Ohio Railway & Power Co.

TOLEDO & INDIANA RAILROAD
Originally Toledo & Indiana Railway
Reorganized 1910 as Toledo & Indiana Traction Co.
Reorganized 1911 as Toledo & Indiana Railroad.

Controlled after 1926 by Cities Service Co.

Interurban line:
Toledo-Bryan (completed 1905)
Abandoned 1939

TOLEDO, PORT CLINTON & LAKESIDE RAILWAY

Interurban line:
Toledo-Marblehead (completed 1906)
Abandoned 1939

Bus service between Toledo and Marblehead operated by Port Clinton Coach Lines, presumably replacing interurban railway. During 1950's operated by Buckeye Stages.

TOLEDO & WESTERN RAILWAY
Reorganized 1906 as Toledo & Western Railroad
Reorganized 1921 as Toledo & Western Railway

Controlled 1907-1924 by Cities Service Co.

Interurban lines:
Toledo-Adrian (constructed 1901)
Toledo-Fayette (constructed 1902)
Fayette-Pioneer (constructed 1903)
Abandoned 1933

WELLSTON & JACKSON BELT RAILWAY

Interurban line:
Wellston-Jackson (completed 1896)
Abandoned 1915

WESTERN OHIO RAILWAY
Reorganized 1928 as Western Ohio Railway & Power Co.

Interurban lines:
Lima-Wapakoneta-Minster (constructed 1902)
Wapakoneta-Piqua (constructed 1903)
St. Mary's-Celina (constructed 1903)
Lima-Findlay (constructed 1905)
Minster-Fort Loramie (constructed 1911)
Abandoned 1932

YOUNGSTOWN & OHIO RIVER RAILROAD

Interurban line:
Leetonia-East Liverpool (completed 1909)
Abandoned 1931

YOUNGSTOWN & SOUTHERN RAILWAY
Reorganized 1916 as Youngstown & Suburban Railway
Renamed 1944 to Youngstown & Southern Railway Co.

Interurban line:
Youngstown-Leetonia (electrified 1907)
Abandoned 1948

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