Pete-Early Days of Public Transportation

The Early Days of Public Transportation

By Pete Lewnes | November 26, 2017

Here’s a sampling of some rare public transportation cards—early equivalents of a Metro SmarTrip card, if you will—that feature some well-known family names from Laurel’s history. Click to view at full size.

ALL PHOTOS: PETER AND MARTHA (KALBACH) LEWNES COLLECTION

An 1865 commutation ticket issued by the B & O Railroad to Charles F. Shaffer just less than 5 months after the Civil War had ended—and five years before the city of Laurel was formally incorporated.

A commutation ticket issued by the B & O Railroad to Mr. Morton M. Phelps in August 1912. Mr. Phelps served as a delivery clerk for the B & O Railroad until the early 1950’s, which entitled him to additional B & O benefits.

A collection of early employee passes from Morton M. Phelps.

A commutation ticket book issued by the Safeway Trails Bus Company in 1944, which featured stops in Laurel, Muirkirk, and Savage.

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