17th Century | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century
The electric railroad of York was started in 1897 and put in operation in 1898, being built by Gerald and Libby. Like all new things, it was fought by certain elements of the town, particularly in York Harbor, where it was thought this common form of travel would ruin the exclusiveness of this popular resort.
This railroad was known as the Portsmouth, Kittery and York Street Railway. It ran from Badger’s Island in Kittery via Kittery Point, across Brave Boat Harbor to Seabury, Sewall’s Bridge and York Corner, then through York Village and Harbor, following the highway across Long Beach to York Beach. The connection to Portsmouth was made via ferry from Badger’s Island.
Shortly after this railroad was started, a branch was run up into Eliot. This line was extended to Dover and South Berwick, and then a cross-country line was built from “Rosemary,” in Eliot, to York Corner to join the original line. The road name was now, after these extensions, known as the Portsmouth, Dover and York Street Railway.
The railroad was operated in this form for a few years, when a line was built from York Beach to Kennebunk, via Ogunquit and Wells, to connect with the existing line which operated from Springvale to Sanford to Biddeford, with branches to Cape Porpoise and Kennebunkport. When this connecting link was completed the different lines were consolidated under one head, and known as The Atlantic Shore Line Railway.
This railroad operated for a few years, went into a receivership, and was reorganized as the Atlantic Shore Railroad. This was the time of the decline of electric railroads, and the advance of the automobile. It was only a short time before another receivership occurred. The railroad was divided at York Beach, in April 1917, and the western division went back to its original name of Portsmouth, Dover and York Street Railway, commonly known as the P. D. & Y., which the public said stood for Pull, Drag & Yank.