THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN ROUTE

Small, light, street cars powered by storage batteries began spasmodic operation in March of 1912 over six miles of Ephrata and Lebanon Street Railway trackage between Ephrata and Hopeland, Pennsylvania. After various construction delays, the twenty-three mile line linking Lebanon with Ephrata was finally completed two years later.

After reorganization as the Ephrata and Lebanon Traction Company, overhead trolley wire was erected and in May of 1915, the faltering battery cars were replaced by four new steel interurban cars. However, the event was overshadowed by the gathering clouds of World War I precipitated by the sinking of the "Lusitania," a week previously.

Referred to in company schedules as "trains," the green colored interurbans operated at about ninety minute intervals from Ephrata to Clay and then along Middle Creek through a range of hills known as the South Mountains to Schaefferstown and Lebanon. Schedules were timed so that north and southbound cars passed at Kleinfeltersville, a midpoint on the line.

Package freight was carried on the passenger cars, two of which had baggage compartments. There was also a track connection with the Hershey Transit Company in Lebanon and a considerable volume of milk was handled by trolley freight cars running through from milk collection stations along the Ephrata and Lebanon to the famous chocolate factory at Hershey.

Although it was a pretty ride through the rugged hills of northern Lancaster County, population was sparse between the two terminals and with the automobile competition, the Ephrata and Lebanon was never able to develop a profitable passenger, business. Plagued with financial troubles, the line was reorganized in 1924 as the Lancaster, Ephrata and Lebanon Street Railway. The company's major sources of revenue disappeared when motor trucks took over the milk hauling from the trolley freight cars. Revenues continued to decline and in May of 1931, the "South Mountain Route" discontinued operations.

Trolleys of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country by John D. Denny, Jr.

There is another writeup that covers the Ephrata & Lebanon line in more detail. It is found in the fourth volume of Trolley Roads in Lebanon and Lancaster Counties
It is titled History of Ephrata and Lebanon Street Railway Company; Ephrata and Lebanon Traction Company; Lancaster, Ephrata and Lebanon Street Railway Company and Other Trolley Roads In Lebanon and Lancaster Counties Pennsylvania. Compiled by Harry David Lentz, Jr. (Formerly Conductor with Ephrata and Lebanon Traction Co.)