Just a small question: at 1:27, it's clear to see that there was a 3rd rail arc. But what was all that brown smoke? I've seen larger arcs than this, but never with that much smoke. Also, it looked like there was a small amount of debris that accompanied the arc. Hey, I'm just wondering.
I am glad that some of you guys remember that this had to have been filmed before 99. I'll have to look in my files to see just when I did film all of this.
@Gavin Lane Hard to tell unless you were in Philly during both decades. Transit-wise, the west Philly portion of the EL didn't start being rebuilt till the 2000s, & the Frankford side in the 1990s into 2000s. Most, if not all, of this video looks how I remember the EL as a child in the 1990s. The Budd cars got retired around 1999. I wish they kept one or two around on the line just for kicks or fan trips. Guess we better enjoy the BSL trains in their current iteration while it lasts ;). They will be turning 40 soon, IIRC.
I haven't been to Philadelphia since 3/05, I remember riding in the subway and elevated network; I was unaware of Bridge-Pratt station being replaced by the current Frankford Station: I last saw the former in 1/03 as the latter opened in 8/03. . .despite the new alignment, it was smart to put it across the street so the neighborhood didn't lose a piece of rapid transit history (love the name "Frankford Swing"), yet another piece of rapid transit history was partially lost when the elevated infrastructure was removed in order to finish notorious I-95: thankfully train service was restored despite the new alignment and station @ Spring Garden Street where it runs parallel to/with Fairmount Avenue; I was always curious about the tunnel portal and read the history and saw photos for the elevated routes (the original former being the Delaware Avenue elevated until its removal), I was under the impression the el turned into Elfreth's Alley, then Delaware Avenue into the tunnel for Market Street for Downtown and the Westside-if interested, watch the film "Rocky" (1976) where you can see the elevated train in the background as Rocky and his dog Butkas run along: sadfully THIS is the described section of el tracks that was removed; as far as the Almond Joy cars go, I last rode in the cars in 10/96 and rode in the current new less•than Almond Joy cars in 11/98.
Rode on the almond joy cars last time i was in philly in 1998. Also there use to be a pcc trolley at 30 center street sunway station. In 1998. U could sit inside it. Dont know if that one still sits there underground. Then came the new cars. That talked doors are opening doors are closing. If people got in the way it would repeat doors are closing over and over till people got all the way in the car. Drove me nuts. Havent been back since 2001. But did see the moon tree original one in 1998. Now i heard a clone grows in its spot sad.
Very well done, well thought out, very patient, took plenty of time to catch the essence of the cars at the different locations and different times of the day or evening.
I think I remember an MPRA Presenter making the point in an early 70s meeting at the old Robert Morris that the Almond Joys nearly qualified as PCC cars because numerous PCC Patent technologies were used in their construction. They really have a lot of features in common with Chicago's transit fleets except for dimensions and the third rail thing.
You should be getting an increase in views. I'm posting this in the Old Images of Philadelphia Riverward Neighborhoods and Philadelphia History and Memories FB groups.
@@josephheston9238 Seats, I can relate, But ugly, Nah I don't rlly See that. Now if Thwy had The logo Design as regional rail Sliverliners, They'd look Better. Respect ya opinion though🚃🚃 #traintalk
This is Frankford Avenue up in the Frankford section. But you are correct, i visited Chicago twice, rode the Lake Street portion of the El there. When they started building this line, the Neighborhoods that it traveled through were a mix of Industry and residential. All well established Neighborhoods that date back to pre Civil War times, Frankford itself was not even part of the City till it was incorporated in to Philadelphia county in 1849. Building this line took some doing, the typography of both Kensington and Frankford Avenues was very densely populated, and there were several Railroad lines and Railyards belonging to both the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Reading Railroad that this line had to cross over. The El structure rises up over 50 feet in some sections just to clear the Railroad lines beneath. Much of that industry is gone now. There is an old saying here. ..."you'll never get to heaven on the Frankford El".
Heroin detox. Its at the corner of Lehigh and Kensington Aves so a very appropriate location for a billboard such as that. As long as I can remember that billboard has been there, referencing some sort of drug or alcohol detox hotline. Also probably because Episcopal Hospital is only a block away.
@hoteldennis are u sure? because two sets of m-4's had arrived in 1997, plus those automobiles look oler than 99 models, like all of them. not to contridict the film maker.
4:32 the sound of the cars pulling out of the yard and wrapping around the curve there now sounds like a symphony all these years later.
Spotted a Neo AN440 at 7:44. Them buses will never be forgotten too. Loved them high pitched diesels.
Just a small question: at 1:27, it's clear to see that there was a 3rd rail arc. But what was all that brown smoke? I've seen larger arcs than this, but never with that much smoke. Also, it looked like there was a small amount of debris that accompanied the arc. Hey, I'm just wondering.
Lol, it could have been the electic smoke from all that arc collection
fried pigeon?
That's what I was thinking Fragile Thunder Lol
0:53 Anyone have footage from inside the building on the right connected to the station?
I drove these. Fun times...
12:23
I am glad that some of you guys remember that this had to have been filmed before 99. I'll have to look in my files to see just when I did film all of this.
Wow you have the Same first same name as Kevin Pfeiffer. Wow, awesome Name!!!
@Gavin Lane Hard to tell unless you were in Philly during both decades. Transit-wise, the west Philly portion of the EL didn't start being rebuilt till the 2000s, & the Frankford side in the 1990s into 2000s. Most, if not all, of this video looks how I remember the EL as a child in the 1990s. The Budd cars got retired around 1999. I wish they kept one or two around on the line just for kicks or fan trips. Guess we better enjoy the BSL trains in their current iteration while it lasts ;). They will be turning 40 soon, IIRC.
@@IvyANguyen yep the Kawasaki's B-IV's are tbe only trains that come close to resembling the Budd M3's. They showed up on SEPTA's property in 1981.
Funny that you’re trying to guess the year by the train cars and not the cars on the street😃
1991 or 1992?
I remember those, when the train stopped, so did the fans, very hot.
3:15 they don't have those kind of plat form on the outside train in philly anymore
I miss that train
I haven't been to Philadelphia since 3/05, I remember riding in the subway and elevated network; I was unaware of Bridge-Pratt station being replaced by the current Frankford Station: I last saw the former in 1/03 as the latter opened in 8/03. . .despite the new alignment, it was smart to put it across the street so the neighborhood didn't lose a piece of rapid transit history (love the name "Frankford Swing"), yet another piece of rapid transit history was partially lost when the elevated infrastructure was removed in order to finish notorious I-95: thankfully train service was restored despite the new alignment and station @ Spring Garden Street where it runs parallel to/with Fairmount Avenue; I was always curious about the tunnel portal and read the history and saw photos for the elevated routes (the original former being the Delaware Avenue elevated until its removal), I was under the impression the el turned into Elfreth's Alley, then Delaware Avenue into the tunnel for Market Street for Downtown and the Westside-if interested, watch the film "Rocky" (1976) where you can see the elevated train in the background as Rocky and his dog Butkas run along: sadfully THIS is the described section of el tracks that was removed; as far as the Almond Joy cars go, I last rode in the cars in 10/96 and rode in the current new less•than Almond Joy cars in 11/98.
Rode on the almond joy cars last time i was in philly in 1998. Also there use to be a pcc trolley at 30 center street sunway station. In 1998. U could sit inside it. Dont know if that one still sits there underground. Then came the new cars. That talked doors are opening doors are closing. If people got in the way it would repeat doors are closing over and over till people got all the way in the car. Drove me nuts. Havent been back since 2001. But did see the moon tree original one in 1998. Now i heard a clone grows in its spot sad.
IIRC, the current trains were in service by 1998, maybe even 1997. For a year or two they had a bit of both running until the old ones were retired.
1:26 WHAT IS THAT PEICE OF QUICKTIME IS THAT TRAIN DOING? 1:27 A BIG SPARK!!!
Very well done, well thought out, very patient, took plenty of time to catch the essence of the cars at the different locations and different times of the day or evening.
I think I remember an MPRA Presenter making the point in an early 70s meeting at the old Robert Morris that the Almond Joys nearly qualified as PCC cars because numerous PCC Patent technologies were used in their construction.
They really have a lot of features in common with Chicago's transit fleets except for dimensions and the third rail thing.
Does this vid pre-date the rebuilding of the Frankford El?
It looks like it does.
Yes at this location.
@@hoteldennisThat was back the old days. I've seen the El before.
Thanks for the video...brings back memories. I used to live near the tioga stop.
You should be getting an increase in views. I'm posting this in the Old Images of Philadelphia Riverward Neighborhoods and Philadelphia History and Memories FB groups.
I miss the Almond Joys and I can't wait until the M-4s head to the scrapyard.
What's wrong with M-4s
@@IJC144 For starters they are crap, they have a reduced seating capacity, they are ugly. I hope the M-5s are better designed.
@@josephheston9238 Seats, I can relate, But ugly, Nah I don't rlly See that. Now if Thwy had The logo Design as regional rail Sliverliners, They'd look Better. Respect ya opinion though🚃🚃
#traintalk
At 10;30 the el passes a milk bottle,,,is that the old Kovak??? at front and i believe coral sts ????
Harbinson Dairy had a milk bottle water tower on top.
This was filmed around 1999 or so. The new El cars had not arrived yet.
Where can you see the train wheels on the El?
Market Street kinda resemble Lake St. on Chicago's West Side......
Very Little Market Street action on this vid... 7/8 of it are on the Frankford side of the line.
OK word thanks, it still resembles it though.
This is Frankford Avenue up in the Frankford section. But you are correct, i visited Chicago twice, rode the Lake Street portion of the El there. When they started building this line, the Neighborhoods that it traveled through were a mix of Industry and residential. All well established Neighborhoods that date back to pre Civil War times, Frankford itself was not even part of the City till it was incorporated in to Philadelphia county in 1849. Building this line took some doing, the typography of both Kensington and Frankford Avenues was very densely populated, and there were several Railroad lines and Railyards belonging to both the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Reading Railroad that this line had to cross over. The El structure rises up over 50 feet in some sections just to clear the Railroad lines beneath. Much of that industry is gone now. There is an old saying here. ..."you'll never get to heaven on the Frankford El".
There are a lot of similarities to Philadelphia and Chicago Neighborhoods.
@hoteldennis The first 12 new El cars arrived in the summer of 97...i know because my dad was one of the first El drivers to drive one...nice vid tho.
Great Video!
I miss my Budds
@9:31 is that an ad for Heroin?!:o When was this filmed? Had they began taking delivery of the M-4's yet?
Heroin detox. Its at the corner of Lehigh and Kensington Aves so a very appropriate location for a billboard such as that. As long as I can remember that billboard has been there, referencing some sort of drug or alcohol detox hotline. Also probably because Episcopal Hospital is only a block away.
1:25 looked dangerous wow...
WHAT THE PEICE OF QUICKTIME IS THAT TRAIN? I NEVER SAW IT IN 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 AND "2018" AT 0:01
It's too bad a pair wasn't saved.
ncc1313 one is at Seashore and one at PA Trolley museum
I think he meant a married pair. Me personally, I wish the 711/712 pair was saved.
the trains and train station are smaller
@hoteldennis are u sure? because two sets of m-4's had arrived in 1997, plus those automobiles look oler than 99 models, like all of them. not to contridict the film maker.
Actually they didnt...lol