Amazing to me that the Cynwyd line is still in existence considering how short the line is, only one car used, and frankly low ridership numbers.....I would like to see service restored to Reading in addition to West Chester

SEPTA wasn't formed in the 80s. It was formed in 1964 and began service 09.30.1968. It took over the Regional Rail system from Conrail (successor to PRR and RDG) in 1983.

First time seeing this video, its very informative and well done thanx . My take is never get rid of any rail line or service. Expand them or re-do them for better service and more jobs.

Remove all trails and place rails 😎

Video I've been waiting to see! I loved it! Thanks for uploading!

These videos are very interesting. Keep up the good work!

I never knew Silverliner V units could run as just one coach. All this time I thought they were exclusively married pairs like the LIRR M7. As for the Cynwyd branch itself, I find it so odd to come across a short branch with an infrequent shuttle service, especially given how busy the rest of the network is (not to mention the much longer trains). It reminds me of the Melling Line service in Wellington, NZ. That service uses 2-car Matangi EMUs (coupled in pairs at peak times) while calling only at five stations. It also has an inconsistent service pattern and doesn't run on weekends.

Very stupendously amazing video! I must say, your awesome talents/efforts of making your entertaining content never ceases to pay off wonderfully! Keep persevering with your spectacular work, and as for my continuous and devoted support, I wish you the brightest future that awaits you and that you gain tons of subscribers, loyal support and milestones than you ever dream of having! Very well done all in all! :) 👍👍

Alrighty I gotta put my two cents in...... The Amtrak incident in 2013 was due to a inexperienced conductor on a routine wye move; AMTRAK uses the ramp to the Cynwyd overpass as a leg of a wye utilizing the Pittsburgh Subway and the Berry Track past ZOO Tower to turn diesels and bad order equipment. In that case the AEM cab signals failed, and the conductor was on the tail end of the move. SEPTA dispatchers noticed something was wrong when they got the violation signal from CP JEFF (where the single track starts) when there was nobody scheduled to be up there. It was surprising that the engineer didn't note that something was wrong when not only they went through CP JEFF (which is SEPTA territory) but past three other stations before coming to a stop 50 feet before the bumper in Cynwyd and the motor stop on the catenary. Needless to say, heads rolled that day. As to improving the line itself, there is still plans on the books to convert the line to LRT, and connect with the Route 10 trackage at 54th and Lancaster. This will improve line speeds and connect directly to University City. More importantly, it takes the line out of partial Amtrak control and improve flow for the Thorndale line and keystone service; AMTRAK has a single car ban on the corridor and the Harrisburg line, and in order to operate single mu or lite engines, trains must operate under absolute block between controlled points. SEPTA and Amtrak made the entire stretch from Kay through Belmont int to VALLEY/STILES controlled points to allow for those moves, and at times it can cause a backup as it takes extra time to clear. The Reading service will be delayed until NS comes to is senses and stop demanding 100 million a year for trackage rights WITHOUT ELECTRIFICATION. Don't help that the property values along the line is constantly increasing. The same issue is in place for the NEWTOWN Line as multiple homeowners have deeded the abandoned row as their own to expand their properties. Finally the Fox Chase was double tracked to Cheltenham up to 2010 as part of the cab signals and PTC projects. CSX placed multiple demands tenant railroads to comply with their standards and pay for rights; SEPTA, NJT was hit hard with that. I'm order to stop having to deal with that, SEPTA utilized what physical plant they had: Newtown Junction was reconfigured to separate SEPTA from the CSX Trenton sub and have a controlled siding in the open area, a new siding north of Lawnside allows for passing, but that meant the inbound track is the new single main (that's why Olney is as big as it is, and why Lawnside has that walkway that is protected by both SEPTA and CSX), further up the line, SEPTA installed a third track between Woodbourne and Yardley and made the inbound track between Yardley and West Trenton single mains for both SEPTA and CSX, and rerouting the outbound track around the yard at West Trenton essentially physically separating the two railroads.

8:10 I’m not sure why you rated the Raritan Valley Line lower then the Pascack Valley Line. The former gets a lot more service, around one train an hour between Newark and Raritan 7 days a week. And the Pascack service every two hours on weekends, and mostly rush hour service on weekdays

The Norristown Loop is a good idea. I remember when Norristown wasn't crime ridden No' town and we bought a seven passenger v-8 station wagon from someone who lived in Norristown in the 60s. I think that the Norristown loop will bring back urban pioneers looking for a cheaper place to live like Media and Chester/Upland. Granted, you have to be a hardier sort than your Media urban pioneer and pack pepper spray and put a baseball bat in the umbrella stand next to your front door, but you can do this. Trains built SE Pennsylvania and continue to do so. Wallingford and Swarthmore represent 🤘 ❤️

Unfortunately commuter rail was cut back in the 70s when a large part of suburban Philadelphia was undeveloped. Now that these areas are highly developed, much of what was removed would be viable as commuter rail.

Finally I've been waiting for a Septa one

The first thing that should be done is make it run through the Center City and go onto one of the Ex-Reading lines, then they can extend onto the Norristown Line.

The solution here is actually buying Class 755 Flirts dual mode for both R6 Cynwd Norristown Line R8 Chestnut Hill West to Newtown via Fox Chase lines. In an emergency situation Class 755 dual door if ordered version can diesel power through the 1978-1984 Center City Tunnel.

BTW: Wynnefield is pronounced "Win-field". Driving from center city to Cynwyd can take a lot longer than 22 minutes, and it is less stressful. I used to live near the Cynwyd station, but I only used it once, when I returned from Princeton, via the Dinky, to buy my uncle's car in 1976. While they would never build just that line today, replacing it with buses would be a disaster, taking much more than 22 minutes. As long as there is sufficient ridership, and it is not subsidized more than other lines, then I say keep it running.

The Xpress local service on stores Townline could be a good idea. I think I would like to add to that is they would restored the right of way and tracks of the Pennsylvania railroad line and reserve that for Xpress service to Norristown, and make the Reading service to local

I remember seeing An Amtrak Train On this branch line. I was like 8

The Cynwyd line should be a bus. I rode it once,and there was hardly anyone on that train.

The Cynwyd Line isn't marketed very well, considering it crosses congested City Ave (US 1) not far from the infamous Schuylkill Expressway (I-76).

An excellent episode of Fixing Your Branchline Pensyfan19! Glad to have provided the Trainz footage at 3:51

May be a bit late to add my two cents on this topic, but I can see why Amtrak chose NS trackage for their line to Reading with the SRPRA, since running on a restored Cynwyd line or the present Manayunk/Norristown line would get in the way of SEPTA's traffic, and require the trains to either use the platforms dedicated to SEPTA at 30th Street before going through the Center City Tunnel (which given the tight corner after Jefferson Station, might be tricky to get their future ALC-42E dual mode locomotives through) or use the regular Amtrak platforms, and back up immediately after leaving 30th Street, up the SEPTA platforms and do the same thing, which is just more inconvenient. Running over the Cynwyd line would be easier if it were restored, but that's a bit of an if, and again would be an Amtrak train getting in the way of a SEPTA line with questionable room to expand to three or four tracks. Getting in the way of a regional rail system that is looking to improve frequency in the coming years is bad for both parties, so Amtrak would want to use the frankly more predictable NS trackage, encourage the SRPRA to invest in sidings and double-tracking on the line to improve capacity, and run Amtrak service over that. I do agree that in an ideal universe, SEPTA should run the line to Reading instead of Amtrak, but for what we're getting, it makes more sense since it's frankly easier to work with.

52 station caught fire early 80 s never fixed

Cynwyd is Welsh, so not being able to pronounce it is hardly surprising. Bala is also in North Wales, an interesting connection.

Interesting.

2amtrack should run express trains to reading and the south end of the service should either be Richmond or even futher south in western Virgina at Roanoak.

6:16 How did that happen? What happened to the train? Back track to 30th? End service in Cynwyd?

SEPTA was created in the 60s not 80s. 6:20 really!?!? i need to find a video on that. Amtrak has proposed Reading service.

What transit mode is best for low ridership lines and smaller destinations?

@Pensyfan19 one of your videos was featured on a railway age article

Yay

Here's my solution for the Cynwyd Line. First, insert a new station at Jefferson Street (likely named Parkside) due to the high density housing nearby. Next, extend service to Belmont Park via the Cynwyd Heritage Trail with an intermediate stop at Barmouth. Also, frequencies should be increased to an hourly service or better while also increasing the speed of trains during service (you can almost beat the train by walking 😂).

Slight correction. SEPTA, in its infinite wisdom, did away with Prof. Vuchic's R 1 through R 8 system of diametrical lines. All lines reverse now, only the Cynwyd at Suburban.

The irony is that Japan today is going through what the USA went through in the 1950s/60s

Battery trains done

I'm very slow are you for or against private trains?

The Reading and Penn Central often ran single car service on non peak service. Today SEPTA runs a Railroad like a subway line thus it's a glorified subway system now

We going to get MARC next??

Septa

Wynnefield is pronounced win field

Electrified Newtown service will never happen. It's too much easier and faster to run buses down I-295 (formerly I-95) to Cornwells Heights on the Trenton Line. And why in the world would anyone propose extending Newtown rail to NYC via highway medians to West Trenton? Even if new NYC service were feasible, how would that be better than extending the West Trenton Line itself?

any line could be fixed if you throw some steam engines on it...😉 Edit: how...because everyone likes steam engines

Cheaper solution: make bus