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| PHOTOS: Reading Tech SEPTA Trip (1474174) | |||
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PHOTOS: Reading Tech SEPTA Trip |
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Posted by kp5308 on Sat Apr 28 18:31:14 2018 Back when we lived in Jersey we ran what we called "Informal Railfan Events" and had pretty good success with them. I decided to try one with the Reading Tech guys, focusing on the recent changes on the West Trenton Line. Bill & got on a Silverliner IV set at Elm St. in Norristown. Train #209 picked up the rest at Norristown Transportation Center where Kevin & Jay shoot our arrival: In to 30th St. to catch #310 for West Trenton. But first, off to the Robert Vogel Memorial Parking Garage for a look see at Race Street. The PRR observation was built by Pullman-1947 (Lot 6792, Plan 4134). The car contains 2 drawing rooms, 1 compartment, 1 bedroom, a buffet, and an observation/lounge section. Numbered 8423 and named Frank Thomas by the Pennsy, it was sold off in 1967. The car was renamed "Louis Sockalexis" but retained the original paint scheme & interior layout. It was sold to a private party in Maryland last year:  Our ride to West Trenton has a SL-V set so we grab the front seats to start shooting. An inbound passes as a Fox Chase local "races" us:  Around the curve we go at Jenkintown to head for Jersey and pass a wire train. The 60 is a Republic Locomotive RL1000, built in 1992:  The ex-Reading New York Branch was a speedway that was also used by the Baltimore and Ohio to reach New York via RDG subsidiary Jersey Central. The CNJ was accessed at Bound Brook and terminated at Jersey City with ferry & bus service to lower Manhattan. The route of the Crusader at Rydal:  At Neshamity Falls the RDG Philly freight line, named the New York Short Line joined the passenger line to send B&O/RDG freight to North Jersey. CSX gained control of it in the Conrail split and it was operated & dispatched by Jacksonville. With the PTC legislation coming into play the 2 decided to physically split the railroad so a 3rd track was re-installed between Woodbourne and Yardly plus the SEPTA West Trenton yard was reconfigured and CSX single track moved. Yardley got a new high level platform station on one side only:  CSX now bends off to the right completely bypassing SEPTA instead of SEPTA crossing over. The platform on the left will be getting a station similar to Yardley. The main building is privately owned:  On the return trip we stop at Bethayers where the Newtown Branch ROW is crossed. Note the trail is equipped with crossing signals:  We change from train #313 to #525 at Jenkintown since West Trenton trains don't stop at Wayne Junction:  The $31 million Wayne Junction Transit Center has been completed and looks great! We'll shoot around then catch #441 for Center City:   SEPTA has done an excellent job with explaining the history of the infrastructure:  Off to Reading Terminal Market. BTW all the 100 series Silverliner "bride & groom" sets are the ex-Reading cars:  Time for a Dinic's roast beef sandwich. First time for most of the gang. Dig in Jay:  In honor of the Market (and structure) anniversary a "Diamond Wall" has been reserved for those that wish to note the occasion:  The pink brick and white terra cotta magnificence of the restored head house. Reading's executive and general offices were located here at 12th & Market until the Conrail takeover in 1976:  Next is a short walk to check on a little known part of the Reading Terminal project. In order to gain city approval the City Branch had to be put in a trench to take the 4 tracks off city street grade. It has been empty since the Philadelphia Enquirer left for their new Conshohocken facility in 1993. A ramp was built from the branch so Main Line trains could reach the new Terminal. It is presently being turned into the first phase of a lineal park:   RDG diner #1186 has sat next to the Terminal Commerce Building on North Broad for many years and will become the park welcome center:  We then walk to Suburban Station to catch the next train to Temple University to shoot the curve in afternoon light. The younger generation call these "Heritage" cars:  Time to call it a day by boarding #222 to get back to Norristown:  But we ain't done yet! An NS freight with a Juniata rebuild leading passes DeKalb St. station to end our day:  We all had a good time under purfetly sunny skies. Yessir, the gods of railfanning were with us! |
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