ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti sˈɪks, ðə pˈæɹəlˌɛl pˌɛnsɪlvˈeɪniə ɹˈeɪlɹoʊd bˈɔːt ðə tˈɜːnpaɪk fɹʌm fˈɪfti sˈɛkənd stɹˈiːt ɪn fɪlɐdˈɛlfiə wˈɛst tə pˈaʊli fɔːɹ dˈɑːlɚ twˈɛnti,zˈiəɹoʊzˈiəɹoʊ zˈiəɹoʊ ˈiːkwəl tə dˈɑːlɚ tədˈeɪ tə pɹɪvˈɛnt kəmpˈiːɾɪŋ stɹˈiːtkɑːɹ kˈʌmpəniz fɹʌm bˈɪldɪŋ ɐlˈɔŋ ɪt.
In 1876, the parallel Pennsylvania Railroad bought the turnpike from 52nd Street in Philadelphia west to Paoli for $20,000 (equal to $ today) to prevent competing streetcar companies from building along it.