Most people could not imagine that a trolley line came through Wilbraham. One would think that they were reserved only for the large cities. This being true, it was also very common to have these systems reaching out beyond city limits, to small communities as well. There was a very large network of trolley systems throughout the country, especially after the 1900s.
In March of 1870, the first horse-drawn trolley, running on rails appeared in the city of Springfield. By 1890, part of their system was equipped with electric motor cars, and the use of horsepower was discontinued rapidly as this electric technology became more available.
The trolley lines were gradually extended in all directions from the core of the city. By 1892 the Springfield Street Railway line had been extended near the Wilbraham town line at the Ludlow bridge in Indian Orchard. Wilbraham made efforts to have this line extended through North Wilbraham, but without success. On September 17, 1901, trolley service was extended to North Wilbraham but it came from the east, the Palmer and Monson Street Railway (later succeeded by the Springfield and Eastern Street Railway in 1906) was granted a franchise to operate through the north end of town and to connect with the easterly terminus of the Springfield Street Railway system at the Ludlow bridge, in Indian Orchard. So at this point, the electric cars began running regularly through the north part of Wilbraham.
Efforts were made by the residents of Wilbraham to extend the trolley line even further, in February of 1912. A warrant article was proposed at the town meeting, to have the trolley line in Springfield extended from Wilbraham Road by Watershops Pond through Sixteen Acres and along Springfield Street to the center village, then onto North Wilbraham and connect with the present trolley system. This warrant article did pass the town meeting but the proposal to the Springfield and Eastern Street Railway Company never made it to success.
The route of the trolley line in the northern part of town going from west to east is as follows. Indian Orchard heading on Stony Hill Road to Old Boston Road and then over the dry bridge (Moran's Bridge) that crosses the railroad tracks. From this point, it traveled on Boston Road to Collins Depot and then under the original railroad bridge that was replaced by a newer one further east which is used today. It continued on Boston Road until Silver Street when it left the road and traveled through the woods on the north side of the railroad tracks and into Palmer. Remnants of the old trolley bed and stone bridges that cross over many streams, can still be seen in that area today.
By 1907, the entire trolley line between Springfield and Worcester had been electrified. This trolley line was for some twenty years the longest electrically operated passenger trolley line in New England.
Town residents took advantage of this mode of travel, it being very convenient for the time. High school students and other persons having business in Springfield rode to North Wilbraham by horse and carriage, stabling the horse for the day at Collins Livery and riding the trolleys to Springfield and return, when the horse and carriage were picked up and driven home.
Trolleys continued to operate through the north end of town until about 1928 when conversion to buses was made. Then the old trolley tracks were forever abandoned. Town records do indicate that in 1928 the Springfield Street Railway was given the franchise to operate buses from Indian Orchard to North Wilbraham.
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