As a kid, I remember and was amazed by those St. Louis streamlined cars having outstanding acceleration and deceleration characteristics, watching them sprint in and out of station stops. Seems like they were smoother riding and faster than the current Kawasaki units. Loved the Maroon and Cream.
I was 5 when we moved to Westtown in 1956 before West Chester Pike became 4 lanes. Still remember small sections of old trolley track that remained along the old pike. Thanks for this movie clip. Loved growing up in the West Chester area back then.
Until today I had only seen still photos of West Chester Pike before it was converted to four lanes and the tracks removed. This is INCREDIBLE footage!!!!!! Thank you so much for posting this - I learned a lot!
The Red Arrows Line operated two routes until about 1949; the routes split exiting the 69th street terminal,one operated parallel to old West Chester Pike and the second headed toward Media, splitting at Drexel Park, I believe, for Sharon Hill; as a kid I was fortunate to be able to ride all of these including the 'newer' 1949 St Louis cars, the Brill 'toasters' and master-units, and the old center-entrance cars. Half the fun of going anywhere was the ride. I remember when they closed the West Chester line to expand the road. Even then it was a sad day.
The two routes lasted beyond 1949. West Chester service ended in 1954 because the aptly-named Highway Department wanted the ROW to widen West Chester Pike. However there was limited service to Westgate Hills until 1958. The Ardmore line ran until 1966. It could have remained in service IF Red Arrow had been in better financial shape. Their trolley fleet was shrinking due to age and there were no longer enough cars to service all three remaining routes, but they didn't have the money to buy replacements. Ardmore was the shortest route so it got the ax. IIRC the state, uh, "helped" as well by offering tax breaks, back in those car-crazed days. The other two lines, which diverged at 69th Street, are still in operation. The 101 runs to Media and the 102 serves Sharon Hill. They escaped being converted to BRT because by that point the Urban Mass Transit Admin. was involved. The aid that they'd given SEPTA to keep the lines running had clawback provisions requiring FULL repayment if rail service were ended or replaced by buses.
@@Poisson4147 How old was I when I would have road my last trips to Philadelphia from Media..??...It was better than Lenape Park...and I loved trying to figure out what was out side the windows and who was sitting next to us...
One of my earliest memories was my mom taking my brother and I into 69th Street to shop. We lived on Ellis Ave in Newtown Square, and there was a stop at Ellis and West Chester Pike. What memories this video brings back. Thank you for posting.
Very interesting. I've lived relatively close to West Chester Pike for most of my life, and my mother also grew up in the Delco area. From what she told me, my grandmother and her would sometimes take the Red Arrow trolley into Philadelphia, either to visit relatives who still lived in the city or to go shopping.
This video is mind-blowing!! The Red Arrow Lines operating pretty-much, in the "country" and so close to the roadways. I understand that, despite the exposure and proximity to motor vehicles at rather high speeds, the Red Arrow had a very good safety record. I was used to seeing single-ended PCCs on the PTC. During my second ride (at age 4) on the Market-Frankford line to 69th Street, i got my first look at these weird (and totally cool) trolleys with two fronts and no rear! I was captivated. This video is one of the best things I have ever seen on UA-cam!! Thank you sooo much for sharing this!
..as a child I lived in Aldan, on the Sharon Hill Line, and I remember riding the Brill Center Entrance cars ( built about 1913), the Brill Master Units, and both the butt-ugly Brill 'toasters' and the highly advanced St Louis quasi PCC units. The St. Louis cars were introduced in 1949 and were easily capable of seventy miles-perhour..great memories of hauling-ass toward West Chester, just for the ride. The new Kung-Pow-Chop-Suey Japanese slug replacements have zero character, and I am lucky to have been in the right place, and right time period, to be able to look into the past with a smile.
Some of the scenes in this video are beautiful. I can just imagine how much better they would be if they could be fully restored (if that's the right word). Good eye by the person taking the film.
Ther goes the 1922 Market Frankford subway trains that except for the shape of the roof and door placements, they looked liked NYC IRT division subway trains that are now numbered 1 thru 7.
This looks like it might have been 16 mm Kodacolor film stock, probably transferred to VHS tape, and later digitized, with the effects of aging all along the way. I have family film clips from the late 1930s and 40s which didn't fare much better. Really too bad we don't have the sound, but it's still great to watch this historic run unfold.
Daniel Berry From the video you can see how well the trolley worked on the two lane road. Nowadays , with the four lane road and center islands and left turn lanes , it would be a real challenge to put a trolley line back in.
@TransitChuck678: That line should have been saved! They could have relocated the trackage further inward from WestChester Pike. These cars here are true Interurbans!
As a kid, I remember and was amazed by those St. Louis streamlined cars having outstanding acceleration and deceleration characteristics, watching them sprint in and out of station stops. Seems like they were smoother riding and faster than the current Kawasaki units. Loved the Maroon and Cream.
Faster and smoother than the present ones? I will take your word for it. After all they ran for several decades.
I was 5 when we moved to Westtown in 1956 before West Chester Pike became 4 lanes. Still remember small sections of old trolley track that remained along the old pike. Thanks for this movie clip. Loved growing up in the West Chester area back then.
Until today I had only seen still photos of West Chester Pike before it was converted to four lanes and the tracks removed. This is INCREDIBLE footage!!!!!! Thank you so much for posting this - I learned a lot!
The Red Arrows Line operated two routes until about 1949; the routes split exiting the 69th street terminal,one operated parallel to old West Chester Pike and the second headed toward Media, splitting at Drexel Park, I believe, for Sharon Hill; as a kid I was fortunate to be able to ride all of these including the 'newer' 1949 St Louis cars, the Brill 'toasters' and master-units, and the old center-entrance cars. Half the fun of going anywhere was the ride. I remember when they closed the West Chester line to expand the road. Even then it was a sad day.
The two routes lasted beyond 1949. West Chester service ended in 1954 because the aptly-named Highway Department wanted the ROW to widen West Chester Pike. However there was limited service to Westgate Hills until 1958. The Ardmore line ran until 1966. It could have remained in service IF Red Arrow had been in better financial shape. Their trolley fleet was shrinking due to age and there were no longer enough cars to service all three remaining routes, but they didn't have the money to buy replacements. Ardmore was the shortest route so it got the ax. IIRC the state, uh, "helped" as well by offering tax breaks, back in those car-crazed days.
The other two lines, which diverged at 69th Street, are still in operation. The 101 runs to Media and the 102 serves Sharon Hill. They escaped being converted to BRT because by that point the Urban Mass Transit Admin. was involved. The aid that they'd given SEPTA to keep the lines running had clawback provisions requiring FULL repayment if rail service were ended or replaced by buses.
@@Poisson4147 How old was I when I would have road my last trips to Philadelphia from Media..??...It was better than Lenape Park...and I loved trying to figure out what was out side the windows and who was sitting next to us...
One of my earliest memories was my mom taking my brother and I into 69th Street to shop. We lived on Ellis Ave in Newtown Square, and there was a stop at Ellis and West Chester Pike. What memories this video brings back. Thank you for posting.
Very interesting. I've lived relatively close to West Chester Pike for most of my life, and my mother also grew up in the Delco area. From what she told me, my grandmother and her would sometimes take the Red Arrow trolley into Philadelphia, either to visit relatives who still lived in the city or to go shopping.
This video is mind-blowing!! The Red Arrow Lines operating pretty-much, in the "country" and so close to the roadways. I understand that, despite the exposure and proximity to motor vehicles at rather high speeds, the Red Arrow had a very good safety record. I was used to seeing single-ended PCCs on the PTC. During my second ride (at age 4) on the Market-Frankford line to 69th Street, i got my first look at these weird (and totally cool) trolleys with two fronts and no rear! I was captivated. This video is one of the best things I have ever seen on UA-cam!! Thank you sooo much for sharing this!
..as a child I lived in Aldan, on the Sharon Hill Line, and I remember riding the Brill Center Entrance cars ( built about 1913), the Brill Master Units, and both the butt-ugly Brill 'toasters' and the highly advanced St Louis quasi PCC units. The St. Louis cars were introduced in 1949 and were easily capable of seventy miles-perhour..great memories of hauling-ass toward West Chester, just for the ride. The new Kung-Pow-Chop-Suey Japanese slug replacements have zero character, and I am lucky to have been in the right place, and right time period, to be able to look into the past with a smile.
born skeptic: I do like the horns on the Kawasaki Cars used on the Media#101 and Sharon Hill #102 Lines.
I hope that SEPTA order replacements that are copies of those but with modern motors and brakes.
@@luislaplume8261 The new cars are proposed to be low-floor articulateds. But I'd LOVE to see someone, anyone (Brookville?) build a modern PCC clone.
I remember being able to catch the trolly on W Chester Pike from Media line to 69th street, shopping with my mom and dad in 69th street
Grew up in Newtown Square. I remember the old Castle Rock station was still in existence west of town. It was just a small shelter with some benches.
Yes if you look around there is still some bridge parts on the side of rt 3
I don't recognize West Chester Pike. I do remember the trolley going down WCP in the center of the roadway. Great video!!!
Thanks for the memories!
This video is better than anything I've seen for sale.
This is awesome! Wish I could have ridden this amazing line.
Some of the scenes in this video are beautiful. I can just imagine how much better they would be if they could be fully restored (if that's the right word). Good eye by the person taking the film.
Ther goes the 1922 Market Frankford subway trains that except for the shape of the roof and door placements, they looked liked NYC IRT division subway trains that are now numbered 1 thru 7.
This looks like it might have been 16 mm Kodacolor film stock, probably transferred to VHS tape, and later digitized, with the effects of aging all along the way. I have family film clips from the late 1930s and 40s which didn't fare much better. Really too bad we don't have the sound, but it's still great to watch this historic run unfold.
6:40 - THIS explains why these St. Louis-built cars are NOT classified as PCC's. Conventional trucks instead of Clark B-2 or B-3's.
The West Chester and Ardmore routes were abandoned ca 1954 due to the widening of West Chester Pike.
+Guido Panadero Ardmore - 12.30.66
no! I was born in 1954 and remember those trolleys running in the early 60's.
Thanks to all for enjoying the video.
Where were the double-track private right-of-way sections shown in the first 10 minutes or so? Were they on the West Chester line?
Ardmore & Media Branches.West Chester footage starts abt 3:56.
Much of the Rt 104 Bus follows some of the original right of way.
Never rode that line, and I'm mad I did not.
I just found this and thoroughly enjoyed it Never had seen any representation of West Chester LinE!
Daniel Berry From the video you can see how well the trolley worked on the two lane road. Nowadays , with the four lane road and center islands and left turn lanes , it would be a real challenge to put a trolley line back in.
Charles Greene: ME TOO!
@TransitChuck678: That line should have been saved! They could have relocated the trackage further inward from WestChester Pike. These cars here are true Interurbans!
can someone post song END OF THE LINE by traveling wilburys to video ??