Riding the Broad Street Subway Line in Philadelphia

Riding the Broad Street Subway Line in Philadelphia | Old Trains with Strange Signs

Рет қаралды 27,725

2 жыл бұрын

Happy Easter!
In today’s video we’re riding one of the SEPTA subway lines in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Broad Street Line, colored orange, opened in 1928. The current trains have been running since 1982 and feature a very unique set of destination indicators. The line also has express services and a branch service, and overall it is just a very interesting line with a lot of unique features.
Tune in on Wednesday for a trip report on the Market-Frankford Line and the Subway-Surface Trolleys.
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Пікірлер: 74

@adolforosado 6 ай бұрын

In 1961, my family lived by Fern Rock. I took the Broad Street line to downtown daily to school. I was 8 years old. Subway cars were very different. Seats were cushioned, there was wood. People were not littering or being mean to kids, there was a front window and a conductor booth always open to conversation and learning. It was a different world.

@thefateofslate9095 Жыл бұрын

Gonna be absolutely crushed when they do decide to scrap the Kawasaki B-IVs. I really like those trains and their Westinghouse horns

@redarrow5591 Жыл бұрын

They're going to be around for a while yet..... The ADTRANZ M-4s is a much higher priority as they are rolling deathtraps.

@1stwonder788 Жыл бұрын

@@redarrow5591We got those cars in 1999 and they’re already showing age meanwhile we got the B-4s back in 1981-2😂

@Razorgeist 3 ай бұрын

Says allot about kawasaki's craftmanship.

@AG7-MTM 2 ай бұрын

I honestly won't care when that happens. I admit modern, futuristic-looking trains suit me better in most cases.

@redarrow5591 2 жыл бұрын

Two more ownership notes: the Market Frankford Line has triple ownership: SEPTA has original ownership from 69th Street to 2nd Street, while the City of Philadelphia has from Bridge Street Yard (Frankford Terminal inclusive) to just south of Girard station. The bit in the middle is owned by PennDOT as it was part of the original construction of I-95 in the 70's, and included the diversion, demolition and reconstruction of the 1922 elevated and the replacement of the 1906 Eastern subway portal. The other oddity involves the Railroad Division. During the acquisition of the Silverliner-V's, the state of Delaware paid for four of the MUs as part of the ongoing commitment to provide rail travel to Delaware (SEPTA officially ends service at Marcus Hook; any train PAST that station operates for DART First State). The purchase of those cars ensures at least ONE Newark train is equipped with -Vs and the main express run is equipped with Push-Pull equipment.

@Thom-TRA 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the awesome info! I can’t wait to go back and try out more of the services

@pnojazz 5 ай бұрын

I lived in Philly for 3 years from 1975. At that time the trains were much much older! These trains look very modern by comparison, trust me!!!😂

@DannyManny98 Жыл бұрын

Fact: The final extension opened in the 1970s with 2 stations

@stephanhollinger64 Жыл бұрын

Damn my hometown city Philly Philly damn I miss it i wish it wasnt so dangerous but damn I used to run from Broad and Pattison back to Fern Rock and everywhere in between all my life fun times, unfortunately things change.

@mcrochip Жыл бұрын

Something interesting to see on the BSL is in the Fern Rock station loop - the trains don't reverse there, they go fully around the maintenance yard. The last time I was there, multiple generations of old BSL trains were visible in the yard (I think the ones they use in your video are the 3rd generation/set).

@Thom-TRA Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip!

@Razorgeist Ай бұрын

Yeah its a neat site. Plus it also has the regional rail stop so you can get a look at those trains too.

@Blktxdom2004 10 ай бұрын

Old, gross, and in need of repair is an understatement... It has been nearly 40 years since I rode this line...and from your report, A LOT has changed! The trains you are on replaced an ANCIENT train that kept catching fire due to antiquated technology and electricity. SEPTA ordered these trains in the 1980s to phase out the 'Electric flame traps' that posed a risk to passengers since the inception.

@F40PH-2CAT 9 ай бұрын

It was so bad that in the 70s they suspended all express service cuz there weren't enough usable cars. There's nothing wrong with the current fleet. Good maintenance and a stainless steel body will keep them in service for well over 50 years. PATCO recently overhauled their fleet of cars which are 13 years older than these.

@maxwellsartor7753 3 ай бұрын

I need to take this train get from work and this video was very useful. Didn’t know the lights signified routes

@Thom-TRA 3 ай бұрын

Glad it helped. Good luck with your job!

@phillydisco 2 ай бұрын

The subway reminds me of the trains we used to have in the 90s. They are in good condition too.

@simonsv9449 Жыл бұрын

That subway station looked like philly rebuilt a parking garage to a subway station.

@redarrow5591 2 жыл бұрын

The Broad Street Line while operated and maintained by SEPTA, is owned by the City of Philadelphia (hence why you see the City seal on all the cars); the anomaly here is that the Broad-Ridge Spur is owned by the Delaware River Port Authority as the original Ben Franklin Bridge Service to Camden was operated out of Fern Rock. In 1969 when PATCO first started, the 26 BII "Bridge" cars was transferred to PATCO to start their service; 23 of the 26 was returned to Broad Street after the newly built Budd cars arrived. Also the Broad Street also boasts the fastest subway in the country with tracks 2 and 3 good for 70mph running between Girard and Olney (they struggle to get past 65 these days due to their age..... But a fresh overhaul on a two car spur set is something to behold).

@Thom-TRA 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, I had no idea the ownership was split like that! So the line over the bridge used to be connected to the Broad-Ridge Spur?

@calinahernandez6775 2 жыл бұрын

@@Thom-TRA Yes if you sit in the front of the Ridge avenue spur train as it leaves Chinatown enroute to 8th and market, while the train turns right you will see foundation where there was a switch track for the train to go left for the bridge line as well as the original 8th street station (now PATCO 8th st station)

@homeoftek5844 Жыл бұрын

@@calinahernandez6775 that explains why Fairmount has 2 different stops in the same location. I've noticed that the Fairmount station under the local and regular express tunnel looks cluttered, indicating that originally more trains were finna run through there. But instead, the 8th and Market express train stops at Fairmount under a different tunnel before it hits Chinatown going Southbound or Girard going Northbound

@jdub7775 Жыл бұрын

@@homeoftek5844wow, that's very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

@homeoftek5844 Жыл бұрын

@@jdub7775 you're welcome, my friend. Proud Philly native here 👊

@29downtheline 2 ай бұрын

The Broad Street Line has some of my favorite destination signboards I’ve seen on trains. They’re a little impractical for reading the train’s routing as it pulls into the station, but I love the analog design. I visited Ellsworth-Federal on a trip to Philly not too long ago, and love the designs of the staircase entrances there.

@Thom-TRA 2 ай бұрын

I like them too!

@kevinhoward9593 Жыл бұрын

One thing i dont think you know is that the Broad Street cars are owned by the city, and leased SEPTA.

@shirleenholmes9781 7 ай бұрын

I miss her so much.. Philly 1 love

@dennisforner6090 2 жыл бұрын

Another interesting & informative upload, as always. I have not been back to Philadelphia in a long time, however, I do recall it had many charming older-style buildings. Happy Easter to you & your family Thom. Thank you for sharing, it brought back many fond memories of my time in this interesting & historic city.

@Thom-TRA 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Easter to you too! Here’s to hoping that you may make some new memories soon :)

@luislaplume8261 Жыл бұрын

So did my old hometown of NYC which had lost many old time buildings and both cities nearly resembled each other in architecture and it subway trains and buses.

@MichaelCook-bw4mr 2 жыл бұрын

So cool! You guys did such a great job!! You always do 🙂

@Thom-TRA 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Your appreciation means a lot!!

@Mason-fc8gk Жыл бұрын

Welcome to Philly

@realityblooms Жыл бұрын

Great vid, thanks.

@Thom-TRA Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@officialmcdeath 4 ай бұрын

Fascinating light show on those units - only other place I've seen such a thing is on London Underground, specifically on CO/CP, R and 1938 stock, mainly put in place to allow signalling staff to route trains correctly through junctions \m/

@danielueblacker9118 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing intro Happy Easter. Stay on "track".

@Thom-TRA 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Easter to you too!

@DoubleH2279 8 ай бұрын

Fun fact: Some people in Philadelphia are proposing a subway line to be built that would split off from the Broad Street line just after Wyoming Station and continue up Roosevelt Boulevard

@Thom-TRA 8 ай бұрын

I think that would be a good development

@gemayelkeyes2167 6 ай бұрын

Actually the split would be at Erie and the flying junction already exists just after leaving/ entering Erie and is visible from the local tracks if you look out of the window on the wall side of either train.

@tardissixteen8178 Жыл бұрын

The Ridge Spur trains have the express label on the signage, which can make it more confusing if you don't pay attention.

@ThreePointOneFou 29 күн бұрын

The Broad-Ridge Spur trains do have those "8th-Market" panel lights that light up in yellow (a detail he doesn't show or mention in the video). Those and the yellow headlights he mentions are what you need to watch for.

@nysubwaydude5634 2 жыл бұрын

The side entrance door on the Broad Street Line trains looks similar to the old subway cars (r10-r33ml series) side entrance doors from here in New york

@tealmer3528 2 жыл бұрын

While the trains are different models, interestingly, the Broad Street Line trains are built to the exact same specifications as the lettered New York City subway trains.

@1stwonder788 Жыл бұрын

@@tealmer3528you can definitely tell on those and the almond joy cars

@anindrapratama 2 жыл бұрын

My uncle used to go to college in Philly and he called this subway line "papaya" for unsavoury reasons

@Thom-TRA 2 жыл бұрын

I can only imagine (and will try hard not to)… lol

@kevinsmith5288 9 ай бұрын

Brings back memories! Used to take the BSL from Fern Rock to Snyder for years.

@luislaplume8261 Жыл бұрын

The season the Broad Street subway trains are the same as the R46s in NYC.

@Symbioteicy 9 ай бұрын

Did anyone seen that 666 train at 5:00

@dawaunsmith8134 10 ай бұрын

Wow BSL…. Place where I was robbed at least 30 times

@Thom-TRA 10 ай бұрын

Sounds like you need to be a bit more aware of your surroundings…

@dawaunsmith8134 10 ай бұрын

@@Thom-TRA well I used to take it to and from middle school… something about grown men pulling a gun and knives on you, I just couldn’t see coming…

@alk61695 2 жыл бұрын

I know those trains are extremely loud.

@mcrochip Жыл бұрын

The trolleys in the City Hall loop are louder... screechy from the tight circle.

@BensOnTheRadio 9 ай бұрын

What are some spots in Philly you like to go thrifting? I’m always game to find some new spots.

@Thom-TRA 9 ай бұрын

I really liked the Philly AIDS Thrift store

@brunhildevalkyrie Жыл бұрын

you can use septa key cards on the cta to use it for free

@brunhildevalkyrie Жыл бұрын

@@blue9multimediagroup Well my sources aren't super updated

@wofat6300 6 ай бұрын

Why do they use two different rail gauges for the market and broad Street lines?

@Thom-TRA 6 ай бұрын

It has to do with history and who built each line

@jameskerner7782 Жыл бұрын

You,re not alone swiping MetroCards. Let's look at what happens with the new Omny cards which you tap.

@erikkrauss8481 2 жыл бұрын

What song is #1 song in video?

@Thom-TRA 2 жыл бұрын

It’s called “Splashing Around” by the Green Orbs. It’s in the KZfaq Audio Library!

@gregodessite Ай бұрын

Those trains seems like reaching their retirement age. Am I right? Does SEPTA plan to retire them? If yes, in return for what?

@Thom-TRA Ай бұрын

No, they’re actually retiring the newer trains on the Market Frankford Line instead. Those break down a lot, while these orange trains have been surprisingly robust and reliable.

@108doublestitches 4 ай бұрын

Divert to Philly subway system some of the $30 billion Congress is sending to Israel. So Americans can have a modern subway.

@lesterdiamonds27 3 ай бұрын

Same old ass trains when I was in highschool 30 years ago! Pathetic!!

@ThreePointOneFou 29 күн бұрын

Old they may be (I rode them when they were new, 40 years ago), but they're at least solid and reliable, unlike the MFL trains that were found to have an issue underneath that forcec the WHOLE FLEET to be modified, or the Regional Rail trains that forced SEPTA to borrow cars from MART a few years back. Like the old saying goes: if it ain't broke...