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Rochester’s first tokens were introduced in 1887 by the Rochester City and Brighton Railway. In those
days, city trolleys were horse drawn and tokens (23mm in size), were sold 22 for $1.00.
Due to a lack of popularity, tokens were discontinued and replace with tickets until 1900 when the
Rochester Railway Co. reintroduced them in their smaller (16mm) size. Since then, tokens have been used
regularly for city fares by Rochester Railway Co. and then Rochester Transit Corp. when eventually
they would change from metal to plastic.
In 1943 Donald Byrne, who was with the RTC and it’s rail predecessors for 59 years, recalled the following:
When tokens were introduced, riders had to walk to the front of the car and hand one to the driver.
Later, fare conveyors were installed and passengers could board at the rear, find a seat, and drop a token
into the conveyor. On the old cars there was a device that registered the passengers as they stepped onto
the rear platform. That indicated to the driver how many passengers were aboard. If someone tried to evade
paying a fare the driver would jingle a warning bell—“and everyone would look to see who didn’t pay.”
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