The Springfield Mall is still doing a vibrant business and is still a popular car stop on the Media line. The 69th street trolley and bus terminal and boarding area still looks pretty much the same, as do the buildings in the photos. The Bowling Green name has been abandoned and is now called the “Providence Road” stop. Very good presentation, particularly for those of us who live in Delaware County, and ride the line. The Garrett Road trestle at 45:44 in the presentation has been replaced, with concrete piers replacing the steel girders.
Naylor's Run was the creek they bridged over. Its original height owed to the Wooden cars Shimer (CEO before A Merritt Taylor) had equipped the West Chester Line with. Any cinders from the PRR steam locos igniting a wooden trolley would have been disastrous.
The first and second order of Center-Door cars, as we know them, were likely deivered on their own wheels via the freight connection at 63rd/Market St., which went away in 1926; much the same way PRT's Frankford Cars were delivered. I am an owner of DeGraw's "The Red Arrow".
That St Louis car being unloaded off of the flatcar around 16:30 is being delivered by the Pennsylvania Railroad on the PRR Newtown Square branch which ran adjacent to the Llanerch car barns. This would be the temporary track described later.
I would like so very much to thank you for such a great video.I have always been looking for more of the strafford line off of norristown line. Are there any videos of the strafford line?
The Ardmore line was lost because by the mid-1960s even the mighty Red Arrow was on the financial ropes. Several cars in the fleet were no longer operable, but couldn't scrape together enough cash, IIRC something like $500K (in 1960s bucks) to buy replacements. Ardmore was the shortest of the 3 remaining lines, so it got the ax. A decent chunk of the ROW still exists, but it would take a lot of work to rehab the parts that have been ceded to cars. Maybe someday ...
I'm surprised that the P& W came down to ground level running past the end of the elevated. They had to have switched to overhead trolley wire when they ran to SWEDE STREET.
My understanding is the Liberty Liners used excessive power and their weight caused rail wear. Also there were no stretches where they could go at top speed. On the positive side they were later acquired by trolley museums.
The Springfield Mall is still doing a vibrant business and is still a popular car stop on the Media line. The 69th street trolley and bus terminal and boarding area still looks pretty much the same, as do the buildings in the photos. The Bowling Green name has been abandoned and is now called the “Providence Road” stop. Very good presentation, particularly for those of us who live in Delaware County, and ride the line. The Garrett Road trestle at 45:44 in the presentation has been replaced, with concrete piers replacing the steel girders.
Naylor's Run was the creek they bridged over. Its original height owed to the Wooden cars Shimer (CEO before A Merritt Taylor) had equipped the West Chester Line with.
Any cinders from the PRR steam locos igniting a wooden trolley would have been disastrous.
The first and second order of Center-Door cars, as we know them, were likely deivered on their own wheels via the freight connection at 63rd/Market St., which went away in 1926; much the same way PRT's Frankford Cars were delivered.
I am an owner of DeGraw's "The Red Arrow".
Wonderful presentation!
A very enjoyable programme with a superb selection of illustrations
The 80-Series were the last cars delivered on their own wheels, via a temporary track connection with PRT at McDade Blvd.
This was an excellent presentation - thanks John and thanks PTM!
That St Louis car being unloaded off of the flatcar around 16:30 is being delivered by the Pennsylvania Railroad on the PRR Newtown Square branch which ran adjacent to the Llanerch car barns. This would be the temporary track described later.
The 'last line built' was truthfully the McDade Blvd to Chester Pike segment of the Sharon Hill line, completed in 1918.
I would like so very much to thank you for such a great video.I have always been looking for more of the strafford line off of norristown line. Are there any videos of the strafford line?
I wish the Ardmore Line would be restored. It's badly missed.
The Ardmore line was lost because by the mid-1960s even the mighty Red Arrow was on the financial ropes. Several cars in the fleet were no longer operable, but couldn't scrape together enough cash, IIRC something like $500K (in 1960s bucks) to buy replacements. Ardmore was the shortest of the 3 remaining lines, so it got the ax.
A decent chunk of the ROW still exists, but it would take a lot of work to rehab the parts that have been ceded to cars. Maybe someday ...
I'm surprised that the P& W came down to ground level running past the end of the elevated. They had to have switched to overhead trolley wire when they ran to SWEDE STREET.
Correct, cars were equipped with poles for many years.
Finally figured out that the Radnor trail is the former ROW of the old Strafford line
At one time MERRIIT-TAYLOR was considering taking over the Chicago Aurora and Elgin. However they only wanted to run it Wheaton ILL or Warrenville ILL
My understanding is the Liberty Liners used excessive power and their weight caused rail wear. Also there were no stretches where they could go at top speed. On the positive side they were later acquired by trolley museums.
Today's South Shore Line cars ( single level) are very much like the GE heavyweight SEPTA electrics on the mainlines like to TRENTON NJ.
There is a way to put trolleys back on West Chester Pike; underground (though a 19-mile long subway tunnel would be expensive).
I am new to this channel have u done the halts county radio railway