Red Arrow P&W/SEPTA Norristown High Speed Line 1965 to 1974

A video slide show of an outbound trip from 69th St Terminal to Norristown featuring Brill Bullet Cars, Strafford Cars, LibertyLiners, work cars and snow equipment from 1965 to 1974.

[@tomod4173]

The bar car train, my favorite, really a comfortable train, never took the train past Garret Hills , used to live at the Chetwyn Apts.

[@MontSteve36]

Thank you for sharing your collection with us. My army reserve unit was at Valley Forge in the early 60's and I spent some time riding these cars. A name that I remember best is Upper Darb and Norris Town.

[@fredpohl5202]

Iliked everything on The Norristown High SpeedLine I did a few fantrips on The Libertyliners back in the day

[@rolandrd7001]

Joe, I can't thank you enough for posting. My dad who is 92 years old and lives with me in Aston,Pa. he got so emotional yesterday after noon when I showed this this part of history to him. You see my dad started working for Red Arrow back in 1953 on the track gang and in 1955 he started his journey working at the Norristown P & W high speed line at the car barn in the maintenance department for 33 years he was in charged in maintaining the 60 and 200 cars, shifting them in the yard they really depended on him which he did very well. My dad was the first one to drive the Liberty Line into the car barn where they started working on the transformation of the train that came from the Chicago area. I think that you would love to talk to my Dad there is so much history that he could share with you. Thanks once again!!!!!!!!!

[@1711and14]

rolandrd7001 Thank you for the very kind note. I am happy that your Dad enjoyed the video. Who knows, we may have seen each other somewhere along the line in the late 1960s and early 70s. In those days Ron DeGraw were fellow Railfans and I was in and out of the shop every with Ron every now and then. Ask your Dad if he remembers 165 painted in SEPTA tan being used for a fan trip on Mothers Day. That was my one and only charter. Thank you again for your note. Joe

[@rolandrd7001]

+1711and14 Joe, Yes he does remember fond memories Thanks again!!!!!!!

[@Poisson4147]

I loved the Electroliners. It was like a time machine - you halfway expected to hear the Andrews Sisters and Benny Goodman coming out of the PA speakers. They were originally acquired when SEPTA anticipated adding high-speed service to Exton (?) as part of the Route 202 rebuild. The 'Liners were just too heavy and electricity-hungry to be limited to the P&W tracks when plans for Exton fell through, so they were only run at rush hour. A few years later they were sold again and fortunately both sets have been preserved.

[@robertglotzer9665]

I never rode the Electro-Liners, but I rode the North Shore many times in my youth. Fond memories of going eighty MPH all the way to Milwaukee! So sad the North Shore was abandoned as a regional transportation resource.

[@nelsonjohnsonn562]

Again this what I am talking about when I mention your great work

[@Rob774]

Amazing video, i work up the street, its weird to see First Baptist still there, prior to its demolition and replace with One Montgomery Plaza. I would kill the see a video of the trolley lines crossing over main st. I've seen photos of course,

[@nyshortline]

VERY nice!! Great photos and some really rare ones, too, like the tan 165 and the "Electroliner" at Ardmore Jct. and Bridgeport.

[@ScampCamper]

Great photos. Car 165 is still running in El Reno, OK, rebuilt as a propane powered rail car.

[@eirugsiongriffiths8563]

Sad to see such a good transport railway being closed down in the late 1970's,it would have been nice if it was kept running,especislly when we have so much traffic congestion on our roads,in the US,UK

[@1711and14]

Who said it was closed down? It continues to run with an all new fleet of cars. Although the new cars are now middle aged.

[@jimmyfeathersmith1333]

At 1:05 can anyone tell me what year that was demolished & what was its exact location? It was an ominous site to have one set of elevated track on one side of the street.

[@tedvalis6071]

Is the old Strafford branch junction at the 6:03 and 7:08 marks?
Would be nice to see some photos of that branch.

[@josephheston9238]

I guess that was the end of 170.

[@carlohines8025]

NOW THAT'S REEEEEEEAAAAAAALLYYYY OLD,!!!!

[@floridaruttles3984]

MEMORIES ! ..... Who knew I was such a sentimental old fool ? Well, I guess I am.