 On July 27, 1896 the "United Traction Company" was chartered and absorbed the "Second Avenue Traction Company", which had been running electric cars since 1890.The "Southern Traction Company" acquired the lease of the "West End Traction Company" on October 1, 1900.Pittsburgh Railways was formed on January 1, 1902, when the "Southern Traction Company" acquired operating rights over the "Consolidated Traction Company" and "United Traction Company".