I am not a trolley buff as my deceased brother-in-law, Warren Friel was but because I grew up in West Oak Lane I remember the #6 trolley very well from Olney Avenue to Willow Grove when it traveled there in my younger days. It took me to the subway and beyond. One of my friends' father was a trolley driver on the #6 and I saw him many times going & coming from Cardinal Dougherty High School. We didn't own a car until my Junior Year in High School so we always rode the trolleys, buses & subways where ever we went including South Philly and to the North Philly RR station that either took us to Atlantic city or Trenton, NJ. Great Neighborhood & FOND MEMORIES!!!! If anyone has anymore films on the #6 trolley please post them. Thanks; Rich

I could imagine the heartbreak the cinematographer must have felt when he was taking these "farewell" films of trolleys that were soon to disappear.

amazing footage, Philadelphia city streets and neighborhoods were so orderly,the streetcars took you right to your front door. these films sadden me, you see how our city has deteriorated.

Philadelphia had an amazing network of steetcars

Many of these former Philadelphia treasures are now in San Francisco and still in use.

They still use the old school trolleys on the route 15 girard av line

My father drove the 23 for over 20yrs. He started when it was PRT. Thanks great doc !!

It's a heartbreaker seeing all these electric streetcar lines operating shortly before they were converted to diesel bus--when many of the rolling stock were relatively new PCC models.

My dad drove these, I wish I could see their faces. Wouldn't surprise me if he was captured in your footage. Thank you for sharing. He switched to the buses in the 60's. I remember being at the Callowhill Depot with him.

great film of the PPC trolleys in my city Philadelphia. in 1957 I was a young kid I would stand on the corner of 10th and Erie watch the trolleys go down 10thst to the trolley barn. I would get excited to the sparks on the trolley wires and hear noisy PPC Air cars rumbling down the street . A fantastic time in my life . Wonderful memories.

They'll come back. They're so beautiful and graceful

It's pretty cool to see the Keswick Village in the early 50s. It looks very similar to today

50 and 47 ran north-south, 60 ran east-west on Allegheny Avenue. Most of these still exist as bus routes with the same number.

thanks, a great clip of the 6 car. in retrospect it was a trip through geography and culture ..boarding at broad and olney, riding to the then upscale extra wide ogontz ave to city line, continue on the rapid trolley only, right of way to glenside through the forest, emerging at the alpine like glenside then culminating at the great willow grove park. .what a day for judge Arthur k and I...ken...miami

Absolutely an A+++! It's NOT only been a long time since I've been impressed with Septa/PTC related videos... THIS IS A TOP-LEVEL record for favorites! I remember the 6, 23, 50, 53, 56, Trollys' and the 29 & 79 Trackless-trolly lines... There is STILL hope for the 23 and the 29 & 79. DAMN SEPTA! COMMON SENSE?

I used to ride the 23 to school in the 1970s. It was the longest "street car" line in the world.

Yep. Apparently, Philadelphia was home to a massive system of streetcars. They ran all over the city. I think it was during the 50s that they started to drop off.

Thank You for posting. I LOVE old documentaries

I drove the #17 when it went to bus.The fun part was going around City Hall east bound at wanamakers & you couldnt see the right side of the bus due to passengers standing over the do not stand line.

Wow does this bring back memories. I used to like riding in the older trollies when they were brought on-line usually in the late afternoon when the schools and work let out along the Sharon Hill line...the wood seats didn't bother me at all.

I remember riding that Standard 52 double-ender to the end of the line at Wagner Jr. HS.

Those were the days

my bro, rip, drove the 23 car

I never knew there were that many trolley lines in Philadelphia. But I do remember routes 6, 15, 20? Im not sure about route 20, 23, 47, 50, 56, & 60

Прелепи пцц трамваји. Надам се да ћу доживети да се поново возим у њима. Задњи пут је било 1984 на 1985 године in Beldrade !

I'm having a massive Homesick attack.

Have you ever thought about getting this film restored to get the haze out and have it be sharp and clear?

I wish someone has some videos of Chicago streetcars

looking for more shots of the 15 on girard ave in the early 50s, specifically the route between broad street & frankford ave

I grew up near the 42 and the 46 cars

nice clips, but it is Chelten Ave, not Chelton

I miss the streetcar too, but if you look at this footage you realize that its not much different from a bus route and buses are cheaper to operate.

2:55 "Route 6 Ogontz Ave. above City Line" is now Rt. 309 Expressway?

Just curious...why is Chelten Avenue shown as Chelton?

you skipped the 36 route :( lol

Does anyone have any idea of what the huge building on 17th street between Indiana & Cambria was?

NOW THAT'S OLD.

Aren't the Philly Greenland trolleys used mta cars

The truth don't stop

buses are cheaper to operate...the avg bus will burn twice its new value in one year...it will contribute god only knows how many tons of diesel emissions contributing to environmental and health cost....no way a diesel bus cost less than a efficient electric trolley..

This is not the 50s, it's late 1940s.

Richard Caputo I knew your brother in law Warren Friel

When Philadelphia was beautiful.