Pennsylvania Streetcar Systems by John Smatlak

Pennsylvania Streetcar Systems

Philadelphia

Route 15- Girard Ave.

Began Operation: September 2005

Miles of Line: 8.2

Stations: frequent on-street stops

Org: transit agency

Schedule: daily

photo: Bob Vogel

Philadelphia is among the small group of North American cities that never completely eliminated streetcar service. Although the system shrank dramatically in size after World War II, a portion was retained, and some routes were ultimately upgraded with new vehicles in the early 1980s. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's (SEPTA) Girard Ave. Light Rail Project operates today with rebuilt PCC-type trolleys.

Coincident with the retirement of the PCC fleet in 1992, SEPTA converted its Route 15- Girard Ave. to bus service, although the tracks and overhead wire were left in place. Girard Ave. is a long line that crosses the city north of downtown, and strong local pressure was applied to return the trolleys. In late 1997 SEPTA announced plans to reactivate trolleys on Route 15, with service being provided by a rebuilt fleet of PCC-type cars.

1940's-era PCC-type cars remained in service on SEPTA routes until 1992, when the majority were retired. Still in reasonably good condition, most were auctioned off, and a large number were purchased for resale or for use on vintage trolley operations around the country, most notably in San Francisco. Philadelphia retained approximately 50 cars.

In November 2001, SEPTA's board authorized a $23 million contract with Brookville Equipment Corp. of Brookville, PA for rebuilding 18 PCC cars at a per unit cost of $1.2 million. The Authority also obtained an option to rebuild a further 8 cars at the same price. Brookville completely rebuilt the car bodies, equipped them with new trucks, added wheelchair lifts at the center doors, installed a new solid state control system, and added air conditioning. Work on the cars was completed in 2004. Like the new Vintage Trolley replica cars being built for New Orleans, the remanufactured SEPTA PCCs are thus a new vehicle in a "classic" package.

Service on the rebuilt line did not begin until September of 2005 due to local political situation (see updates below). In addition to the Girard Ave. line, SEPTA also operated a small group of PCC cars on a seasonal "Holiday Trolley" operation, but that operation was discontinued in 2004.

News and Updates

11/3/03- The first remanufactured PCC car from Brookville Equipment was received in Philadelphia in September. While retaining the same general appearance of the PCC, the end product is almost a new vehicle, having been stripped to a frame and completely rebuilt. The new cars feature all new propulsion equipment including new trucks with AC motors, air conditioning, and new interiors. The remaining 17 rebuilt cars are expected in the next few months.

The first rebuilt car arrived in Philadelphia in September 2003
The redesigned operator's control position. New seating Each car is equipped with an onboard wheelchair lift just inside the rear doorway

3/30/03- Although all 18 of the newly remanufactured "PCC-II" cars have been delivered to SEPTA, trolley service has not yet resumed on Route 15 / Girard Ave. Service was scheduled to begin in June of 2004, but a delay has resulted due to a standoff with local residents concerning parking on one of the streets that the route uses to access the Callowhill Depot. Click here for the story.

7/27/05- The $82M Girard Ave. Light Rail project is scheduled to begin carrying passengers in September 2005. A local political standoff over parking spaces adjacent to a short section of the route delayed the start of service for over a year. This article in the Philadelphia Daily News has the full story.

9/5/05- Service begins! Regular service began as scheduled on September 4. A scheduled trip over the 8.2 mile line varies from about 45 minutes to just over one hour during peak periods. 24/7 service is provided, with 10 to 15 minute headways during the day, and up to 30 minute headways in the overnight hours. Click here for the Route 15 schedule. Thanks to Bob Vogel for the excellent photographs.

Philly Bob Vogel 05_05_15_049.jpg (113766 bytes)

Philly Bob Vogel 05_05_14_18.jpg (79229 bytes)

Philly Bob Vogel 05_09_04_22 interior.jpg (82091 bytes)

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Bob Vogel photos

3/18/10- From 1982 to 1995, a Vintage Trolley operation was in service along the Delaware River waterfront under the Ben Franklin bridge. The line shared a freight spur in the median of Delaware Ave. (now Christopher Columbus Blvd.), about a mile of which was electrified. Click here for a pdf of a 1987 brochure.

The line was a cooperative effort between the City of Philadelphia and the non-profit Buckingham Valley Trolley Association. This article on PlanPhilly.com has more details on the operation. The line closed in 1996 when the pier that was used as the operations base was sold for redevelopment. The BVTA subsequently moved their collection to a new home adjacent to the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania where they operate today as the Electric City Trolley Museum Association.

In March 2010, the Delaware River Port Authority approved a $6.5 million contract for environmental studies and preliminary design for a new waterfront rail line. The work, expected to take about two years, is to prepare the way for a proposed $500 million light-rail line in the middle of Columbus Boulevard between Pier 70 and Girard Avenue. The line, which could be operated by SEPTA or PATCO, would be designed to improve transportation and spur development on the Philadelphia waterfront. It also would provide service between two casinos planned for the riverfront, Foxwoods to the south and SugarHouse to the north. Click here for the news article from Philly.com.