East-west passenger rail service in the Lykens Valley officially ended on October 30, 1937. The schedule formerly maintained by the old Lykens Valley Railroad and operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad, was then taken over with bus service provided by the Williams Valley Transportation Company of Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
The Lykens Standard reported the end of the passenger rail service in its October 29, 1937 edition:
Last P. R. R. Passenger Train Will Arrive in Lykens Saturday Night
The last passenger run of the Lykens-Harrisburg accommodation on the Pennsylvania lines, will arrive in Lykens, Saturday evening, October 30th.
The train service will be supplemented by buses of the Williams Valley Transportation Company which will leave the [Lykens] Pennsylvania Station at 6:40 A. M. and arrive at Harrisburg 8:15. The return trip to Millersburg will be made by the Greyhound Lines and will leave Harrisburg in the evening at 5:45 and arrive at Lykens, the morning and evening run will be made by the Williams Valley Transportation Company.
The brief article does not make clear that passengers were conveyed by the Williams Valley Transportation Company only between Lykens and Millersburg and that a transfer had to be made to Greyhound at the Millersburg Railroad Station. Greyhound provided the connecting bus service between Harrisburg and Millersburg, but the Pennsylvania Railroad was still operating trains between Harrisburg and Millersburg.
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Prior to the end of east-west passenger rail service in the Lykens Valley, the Williams Valley Transportation Company was already providing some transit accommodation for special events as this article from the Lykens Standard of July 23, 1937 notes:
Elizabethville Camp Meeting Opens Today
Today in their meeting grove near Elizabethville, the annual camp meeting of the Lykens Valley United Brethren Church will convene and continue each day and evening to Tuesday, August 3rd, inclusive. All trains of the Lykens Valley Branch and buses of the Williams Valley Transportation Company, make stops at the grove for visitors.
The detailed program of each day’s activities was published in last week’s issue of the Standard.
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Williams Valley Transportation Company also provided charter service in 1937 for school sports teams as this brief from the column, “What Is Going On In Lykens High School,” Lykens Standard, January 8, 1937, reports:
The basketball teams are scheduled to play at Donaldson in Frailey Township tonight. Both teams are looking for victories but will probably meet some stiff opposition. This is the first time these teams have met, at least for a number of years. The teams are again traveling by bus, using the buses of the Williams Valley Transportation Company which have proved very satisfactory the previous year.
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As the bus company began to provide more service in the Lykens Valley area, it had to expand its fleet of buses. Two articles in the Lykens Standard, the first from April 5, 1940, and the second from January 3, 1941, report on the new equipment acquisitions:
(1) BUS COMPANY ADD TO FLEET
Announcement was made last week by Williams Valley Transportation Company that a new 29-passenger Mach Coach has been added to the fleet of buses in operation. The new bus was put into service on Monday.
The Transportation Company is to be congratulated on developing the business to the point that would warrant this purchase that will be used mostly for party service.
The rolling stock of the Company now consists of six of the latest type buses.
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(2) NEW STREAMLINED COACHES ADDED TO BUS FLEET
Mr. George Uhler, president of the Williams Valley Transportation Company announced that the company has placed two new modern streamlined buses in service.
The buses are of the very latest style and design. They are much larger, roomier, and more comfortable than any in service hereabouts. Those using the new facilities will find their riding made a pleasure in safe and luxurious equipment.
The coaches will be used on the Williamstown-Harrisburg run. One round trip will be made daily. Leaving Williamstown at 6:15 in the morning the bus will lay over until 5:15 in the evening.
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Draftees were also transported for their medical exams as this brief article states. From the Lykens Standard, August 6, 1943:
Draftees Will Report For Examination In Harrisburg
This morning at 8 o’clock via the Williams Valley Transportation Company, this month’s group of draftees from this section under the jurisdiction of Selective Service Board, No. 4, Lykens, will leave for the U. S. Army Medical Center where they will undergo physical examination for induction into the nation’s armed services.
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The Williams Valley company also provided student transportation as can be seen from this notice that appeared in the Lykens Standard, August 27, 1943:
Wiconisco Schools Will Open September 7th For 1943-1944 Term
The Wiconisco Schools will open on Tuesday, September 7th. The Williams Valley Transportation Company will again provide the transportation service and will run on the same schedule as last year. On the first day the school will dismiss at noon.
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On December 29, 1944, Susan A. Klinger and Morrow G. Klinger announced in the Lykens Standard that they had sold their stock in the Williams Valley Transportation Company to George H. Uhler:
NOTICE TO TRANSPORTATION PATRONS
We, having sold our Williams Valley Transportation stock to George H. Uhler, of Williamstown, on October 2nd, 1944, who also paid us for our stock and all court costs and court release, wish to announce that were are no longer connected with the firm. We desire to thank the public for their patronage during our connection with the company.
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Accidents involving buses were not frequent, but the few that did occur were brought to the attention of the readers of the Lykens Standard. From the January 26, 1945 edition of that paper:
Two Local Boys Hospitalized After Sled Hits Valley Bus
Two Wiconisco boys were sent to the Pottsville Hospital Tuesday night after suffering injuries when the sled on which they were riding crashed into a Williams Valley Transportation Company bus at the intersection of Center and Spring Streets, Wiconisco.
Dr. G. H. Gillis, Wiconisco, who treated the boys at the scene, listed their injuries as follows:
Lawrence Heaney, 11, 217 Pottsville Street, Wiconisco, fractured collarbone, possible fractured writs, forehead bruises; Lawrence Coles, 10, Spring Street, Wiconisco, possible concussion, laceration of mouth and shock.
State Police reported that the boys, on one sled, were coasting down the Spring Street hill and when they reached the intersection of Center Street, crashed head-on into the right front wheel of the bus, which was traveling east in Center Street. Police said Eli Gething Jr., operator of the bus, saw the sled approaching and applied his brakes, with the result that the bus did not run over the boys, but, instead, pushed then ahead as the bus came to a stop.
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Then there was the accident involving a bus and an automobile occurring north of Dauphin Borough in 1945 in which the Williams Valley Transportation Company vehicle was struck causing nearly $5000 in damage to the bus. The company sued for damages in June 1945 and case was settled in October 1945.
From the Lykens Standard, June 15, 1945:
Bus Company Brings Damage Suit Following Collision
A $4722.14 suit was brought by Walter H. Compton and Homer L. Kreider, counsel for the Williams Valley Transportation Company, 226 West Market Street, Williamstown, against D. L. M. Raker, trading as the General Electric Service Company, 2424 Raleigh Street, Harrisburg. It is alleged that Raker, while operating his automobile in the River Road, north of Dauphin, last January 11, made a sharp turn into the side of the transportation company’s bus, forced it off the road and into the guard rails and post on the highway. The suit is brought to recover for repairs to the bus.
And, from the Lykens Standard, October 19, 1945:
Settle Accident Claim In Court Last Week
When President Judge Hargest convened Dauphin County Common Pleas Court Friday the settlement of the damage suit of the Williams Valley Transportation Company, 226 West Market Street, Williamstown, against D. L. M. Raker, Red Hill, trading as the General Electric service Company, 2424 Raleigh Street, Harrisburg, which went to trial Tuesday, was announced.
The suit resulted from a collision between Raker’s sedan and a bus of the transportation company at the junction of the River and Speeceville Roads, north of Dauphin, last January 11.
Judge Hargest dismissed the jurors and adjourned court as this was the last case for trial of the October term.
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News article from Newspapers.com.
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