Work on building the bridge started 7 October 1904 and was finished 7 August 1905.  On August 25 the first special car with officials ran to Chillicothe and regular service started Saturday 26 August 1905.

April 1930 service was discontinued with the last car out to Chillicothe leaving at 11:00p.m. with motor man William Rigney, and conductor George Gallager in charge.

     Scioto Valley Traction Car in front of the Chillicothe Terminal which was used until  the depot was built in 1908.  The twin Bridges are to the left of this picture.

The Scioto Valley Traction Company was completed in 1904 from Columbus via Lancaster to Chillicothe and ended passenger service in 1930.  The SVT was Ohio's only third rail electric interurban.  In the rural county side the cars received their 600 volt DC power from the third rail which sat adjacent to the running track.  When on city streets the conductor would put the trolley pole on an overhead wire to receive power.  Those conductors were skilled at putting up that trolley pole while the car was still moving.  An acquired skill as both the trolley wire and trolley pole would be in constant motion.

Interurban lines:
Columbus-Circleville (constructed 1904)
Circleville-Chillicothe (constructed 1905)
Columbus-Lancaster (constructed 1904)
Abandoned 1930

Scioto Valley Railway & Power Co. affiliate Valley Public Service Co. operated buses replacing the interurban railway lines. In 1945, the bus company was sold to Greyhound, and in 1949 the bus routes were transferred to Lake Shore Coach Lines. Service continued until 1974.

    A special excursion train in third rail territory.    The double track indicates this is located between Columbus and Obetz Junction.  The photo caption says this was taken south of Chase in 1906. This train had a seating capacity of 210 passengers.

     This photo  provides the viewer with the best example of service on the Scioto Valley  Traction Co. with big interurbans in one, two or three car trains traveling through Ohio farm land on the way to Lancaster or Chillicothe.

     Luke C. Bradley, superintendent and William Bobst, motorman are at the front end.  N.E. Rees is on front steps of rear car.

 Photo from the AJC Collection.

The last street car making the last run in Chillicothe as it turns onto Paint Street from Main.  Note Carlisle building in the back ground.

Looking East on Main Street, Chillicothe, Ohio  as Street Car is about to make the turn on to Paint Street.  Notice the shorter dresses on the ladies.

        The Scioto Car Co. (1911-1912) then The Arbenz Car Co. (1912-1918) produced an Automobile called the Arbenz. Fred Arbenz was president and founder of the company. His son Nand Arbenz was designer of the mid priced Arbenz. 
     The Scioto Car Co. was named after the Scioto river.   In 1912 the company was renamed after it's founder, Fred Arbenz.  The automobile name was spelled "ArBenZ" in advertising reportlly to take advantage of the popular Benz automobile made in Germany. 
    Early ArBenZ automobiles were equipped with four cylinder engines that developed 40 horsepower. In the 1914 ArBenZ advertising list their Touring Cars at $1885.00. Starting in 1916 the ArBenz produced a smaller and cheaper automobile with a 17 horsepower Lycoming engine that sold for $625.00.
    The ArBenZ was equipped with a special rear axle and transmission. The axle was full floating and had extra heavy pitch gears. The transmission was integral with rear axle and had three speeds forward and a reverse. With the axle and transmission connected together only one universal joint between motor and rear wheels. Another unusual feature was the fully enclosed 16 inch brakes.
    In September 1918 The ArBenZ Car Co. suspended operation because Nand Arbenz was called into the service due to WWI and the difficulties experienced in obtaining material and labor.
    Touring Cars and Roadsters were produced from 1911 to 1918.