Urban Exploration - ABANDONED - Trolley Streetcar Graveyard

[@strassenbahntk]

A truly impressive collection. The PCC was indeed a milestone in urban rail vehicle construction, built to keep up with the then increasing dynamic and comfort of the car. It hurts to see these being in such bad condition. Thanks a lot for filming and posting!

[@AbandonedSteve]

+Manni Schneiderbauer Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

You should be happy they aren't scrapped.

[@404HandleNotFound]

Poor things, ravaged by time like that. :'( You can just imagine all the memories and life stories that took place back in the day when they were operational.

[@davidmaslow7473]

I drove a city bus for 19 years and something like this is Heaven to me!

[@AbandonedSteve]

+David Maslow Yea it was a awesome place to walk around

[@woooster17]

Left long enough, nature reclaims her own.. Fascinating videos, thanks for making & uploading.

[@AbandonedSteve]

+waynester71 Thanks so much for watching!

[@gregsmith8854]

Boston Still uses this older model car occasionally when the Japanese trolleys they bought in the late 70s early 80s break down. The old ones ride smooth because they don't bend in the middle. The Pennsylvania cars are awesome! I dig the extra row of windows

[@danieljohnson7171]

The Boston ones are orange and are interesting to ride on

[@myfeeling4you]

So sad, a lot of history here, all the memories about these trolley/trams and what people can remember riding them

[@58bigjim]

This is a really awesome Steve! I never knew this great memory was still present my friend... A great find! Thank you for allowing our eyes to see it my friend! AWESOME!

[@AbandonedSteve]

Thank You so much James. Glad you enjoyed it

Congratulations Buddy !! You have found a fantastic location this time ! I never saw a video like this before !!

[@AbandonedSteve]

sergio peres i know i was so happy to be able to shoot this place. Thanks for watching

[@VerticalMixStudios]

Awesome! I am loving watching all of your videos. Thanks and I look forward to more.

[@AbandonedSteve]

***** Thank You. Glad you enjoy the videos

[@antem1983]

thanks for sharing this is a streetcar aficionado's dream

[@markjeffels3327]

I would love a few of those street cars to restore and make a killer restaurant!

[@TikiTrex]

What a great find this was! Very interesting, and great video as always, Steve! Thanks for bringing us along. Love the "This vehicle makes frequent stops". I guess it's made its final stop now.

[@AbandonedSteve]

***** Thanks Tiki. Hah yep it made it final stop for good. There no way they are getting it out of there any time soon

[@libertubey2199]

The Philly area is on full display here. The two "Bicentennial" trolleys were originally 1946 Kansas City PCCs that were obtained by PTC (SEPTA 's predecessor) in the late 1950's and repainted by SEPTA to celebrate the 1976 Bicentennial. In its "Bicentennial" scheme, they rode primarily the Route 50 line until 1980, when SEPTA made this into a permanent bus line. These trolleys then went to serve the Route 23 line afterwards and were removed from service in 1982-83. The Norristown High-Speed Line trains are actually ex-CTA trains from Chicago. Purchased by SEPTA in 1987, they replaced the Bullet cars that ran the line and themselves were replaced by the then-new N-5 cars in 1992. The final car decked in red, white and blue are from PTC's postwar order from 1947-48. Originally green, cream and silver and serving only the Route 23, over the years they eventually started serving the other trolley lines. They went through various colors, most notably SEPTA's "Gulf Oil" color scheme (orange, white and blue) in the mid-1980's and the 1979-85 red, white and blue scheme seen in the video. In this scheme, they ran the Route 6 and 53 lines until 1986 when SEPTA decided to make them permanent bus routes and on the 15, 23 and 56 lines until 1992 when SEPTA made them "temporary" bus routes. Only the Route 15 became a trolley line again in 2005 with 18 of the surviving 1947-48 cars, completely refurbished and modernized, and restored to the original green, cream and silver colors.

[@FreshLyte]

Those old advertisements are incredibly cool.

[@AbandonedSteve]

ThunderForce something i enjoy to see. Show you how far back they have gone

[@bxx32]

Stunning. All I can say is WOW. Beautiful place man. Your videos consistently get better and better. I can see why this ranks as one of your favorite locations.

[@AbandonedSteve]

AbandonedExplorationAdventure Thanks Ben. Really appreciate hearing that from you. Yes this is my all time favorite so far

[@ginamaria2579]

Awesome, thanks for the tour, really enjoyed the video & photos !

[@AbandonedSteve]

Gina Diefenbach Thanks Gina

[@oldschoolbbass]

Thanks for sharing Steve I really enjoy the places and things that you explore . A lot of decaying History. Great memories of times past.

[@AbandonedSteve]

oldschoolbbass Your welcome. Glad you enjoy the video

[@lcar4000]

Amazing video. Numerous PCC cars have been refurbished and are running in Kenosha Wisconsin, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, among other places.

[@TheEline2733]

OMG! Trolley heaven!!

[@MikeJones-zy1hn]

This is Ed Metka's Vintage Electric StreetCar Company. Very cool!

[@jonelschannel3670]

Thank You for this video Steve. I haven't viewed all your R.R. related videos yet and am looking forward to seeing them. It was very interesting to see the SEPTA trollies and the trolleybus.. My father worked for C&LE in Ohio in the late 1930's driving Interurban trains between Springfield and Lima, and his brother drove trolleybuses in Dayton, so this video really touched me. Wisely Dayton, like Philadelphia kept their trolleybus service, and even preserved a couple.

[@AbandonedSteve]

jonel's channel Thanks Jonel. Yea they had quite a few Philadelphia trolleys there. Even had a subway car.

[@ranaabuhijleh9487]

Another amazing video!!!

[@AbandonedSteve]

rana abuhijleh Thanks You. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cwb0051]

Wow.. so cool, never saw anything like it..Thanks for All your Hard work in getting these..Stay Safe..

[@AbandonedSteve]

cwb0051 Thanks. It was an awesome place for sure

[@dr.strange1300]

This video is so soothing to watch

[@AbandonedSteve]

Thank You

[@wandererpyepoudre744]

this is a treat seeing trolleys i used to take one to go to school

[@MHBoulton]

Thank you for the respect and reverence for these abandonef artifacts of North American culture. I wonder what archeologists will say in 100 to 200 years time.

[@kronvlat]

That guy has an awesome collection. Just to think of how many people rode in those, your so lucky to have gotten the opportunity to explore.

[@AbandonedSteve]

kronvlat I know haha. I had a great time there. Spent 4.5 hrs there

[@davidfrobel7582]

remember riding on ones like that in philly in the 80s,,,nice video

[@AbandonedSteve]

David Frobel Thanks!

[@DeliriousCanadian]

these are soo cool! I would most definitely try to buy them and re-purpose them. But thats just me. lol

[@hokiebabe]

My Grandfather spent most of his career at the Budd Corporation in Philadelphia, PA. He was a machinist. He helped make these trolley cars. I was once in San Francisco riding an old, refurbished trolley. There was a sign that said it was from Philadelphia, PA and was in service in the 60s. I felt so close to Pop Pop at that moment. I get the same feeling now. Thanks!

[@AbandonedSteve]

Judy Bay wow that is awesome. Thanks for sharing that info about your father

[@hokiebabe]

Abandoned Steve You are very welcome. Pop Pop was an interesting guy. If they needed a part to do a job he could design and build it. He never missed a day of work other then when he buried my Grandmother. He was an Old World kind of guy.

[@masonmethot3186]

I would love to visit that place! Looks amazing!

[@davandstudios]

We still got these running in San Francisco up and down Market street to the wharf and back. The F line. All restored. Beautiful pieces of history.

[@AbandonedSteve]

Urban Deployment yes they are and it great to hear other places still run them. I know philly still runs 18 PCCs

[@abandonedsc4261]

Very Nicely done Abandoned Steve! They sure had a lot of old cars.

[@jasonphillips2593]

👍👌📷📹awesome video Abandoned Steve

[@AbandonedSteve]

AbandonedSC Thanks Jason. Awesome place

[@AbandonedSteve]

Jason Phillips Thanks Jason

[@jamesalt2575]

cool video creeps me out. saw a thing on tv where they are trying to restore some of the old cars and put them back in service

[@SBrown-ov9lz]

Boston's T (mbta) green line, operated these old trolleys into the mid seventies. I also see Pennsylvania trolleys here too. Brings back memories.

[@Anon21486]

+Steve Brown I believe Boston still has these running but they are on the Ashmont-Mattapan line.

[@SBrown-ov9lz]

Really?...Wow, the last time I saw one was back in the seventies in downtown Boston. I haven't lived in Massachusetts in many many years...but would have guessed all were fazed out long ago!

[@Anon21486]

Actually checked after I wrote the comment. Yes, they still use them on the Ashmont-Mattapan line. I've read that the new trolleys are too heavy for the bridges along the line so they kept these trains. You can check them out on KZbin.

[@SBrown-ov9lz]

That is amazing! I wonder now, are these the oldest running trolleys in the country?

[@Anon21486]

Going through some KZbin Vids, there are PPC's that are still operational throughout the US, many were actually old Boston trolleys.

[@justinvoelker99]

Nice I think my Trolley museum as a few from there

[@yungmula863]

I would love to come witness all these beautiful machines. Great video

[@AbandonedSteve]

Yung Mula Thank You

[@paulmcqueen3990]

just show me where the paint shed is and where i can park my snap on box and id be glad to spend acouple weekends there and volunteer my time to help restore some of them

[@rach73735]

So sad what a waist of a gawjuss property. having a afternoon of your adventures. Ty for sharing love it xx

[@AbandonedSteve]

+Rachel Hillson Thanks for watching Rachel

[@mikeifyouplease]

I wish someone would bring these back!!! I remember when I got on my first "Green Torpedo" in San Francisco in the 70's. And when I saw it lumber up Market Street, titling left and right on the track, with its single headlight beaming straight ahead...I knew then, for sure, that I was NOT in Fort Worth, Texas anymore!

[@jangubilla]

Thanks from Saudi Arabia. Your exploration fascinate me

[@AbandonedSteve]

***** welcome. Glad you enjoy my work

[@joniflanakingriffin3541]

Awesome!

[@Imagio-jw6js]

Love this~!~

[@AbandonedUK]

A really nice tour Steve, I could almost smell that unique mixture of nature & auto decay, At least one of the cars is still wearing the 1976 US Bi-Centennial colors for Philadelphia's "Birthplace of the US" year long festival. Thanks for sharing your wonderful video & fantastic stills.

[@AbandonedSteve]

Abandoned UK Thanks so much!

[@rammergramps]

such a pity it has been trashed like that what a find

[@jolovesminnis]

It reminds me of that city by Chernoyble. Great video. It's amazing how rusted they have become.

[@AbandonedSteve]

Joluvslilhorses Yea many years of the element due great damage to these things

[@inluvwith7of9]

......i drove for septa out of luzerne depot 79- 82 ... seeing some of the number i remember .i started to tear up little.......ALL the trolleys in this film severed their city to the fullest................................now may they all......" RUST IN PEACE " ...THANK YOU STEVE

[@AbandonedSteve]

+inluvwith7of9 Very cool! Thanks for watching!

[@TVShortShort]

This place is amazing!

[@AndrewSmart32]

What camera do you use? That is great quality!

[@AbandonedSteve]

Andrew Smart I use a Nikon D610 DSLR to do my filming and photography

[@AndrewSmart32]

Abandoned Steve That is one hell of a camera, looking forward to more great quality videos like this!

[@AndrewSmart32]

Abandoned Steve By the way, do you use stock lens or do you use others like a fish eye, or is that what the stock lens looks like?

[@AbandonedSteve]

bought it body only. no fish eye but I did use a 14mm wide lens for this

ha ha I´d like to know too !!?

[@DaveTibbetts]

Great video steve, i've got my camera now so hopefully i'll get some footage of some UK locations soon :) It's the guy you spoke to on facebook by the way!

[@AbandonedSteve]

David Tibbetts i remember and thank you. Looking forward to some videos

[@DaveTibbetts]

Brilliant pal! Hopefully my 70d wont let me down!

[@fredoplatel8223]

wow !! merci pour cette vidéo ...

[@richardbartolo2890]

You have to wonder why the trolley cars were not sold for scrap. Its not like they have started a Trolley museum. Which they really should have done to help preserve the past. So few care about the past, Hollywood steam rolled its glorious past over with mega housing, condo's and boring shopping malls and centers. Thanks for bringing every thing down a couple of notches.

[@davidmaslow7473]

those photos at the end are works of art in themselves!

[@AbandonedSteve]

+David Maslow Thank You David

[@UTubeGlennAR]

WoW, great find, thanks for sharing......

[@AbandonedSteve]

UTubeGlennAR Thanks for watching

[@GaryHardin]

I would hope that some of those cars were restored and put back into service. We have one here in San Diego, that was recently put back on the service route. It's cool to see it operate.

[@carryclass6807]

+Gary Hardin all it takes is money and where does that come from?

[@owrj1828]

+carryclass well it doesn't grow on trees that's for sure lol

[@JMMT7022801]

But is it anything like the streetcar system they have in San Francisco?

[@GaryHardin]

+JMMT7022801 Yes, our track system here in San Diego is the same as SF and supports these old cars.

[@jehugo66]

Could make a cool Sidewalk Cafe in one!

[@anthonyladuca8165]

find more abandoned stuff looks awesome

[@anthonybutlersr.4076]

I saw some streetcars that came from Philly that use to run on the old route 50. Some ex CTA cars that Septa bought to run on the Norristown line.

[@WashPCC]

Seems to be plenty of good (?) parts left for museum restorations. Seats, stanchions, glass light globes and other stuff that can be refurbished for restoration projects elsewhere. Its a shame to let it all go to waste as many of those parts get harder and harder to find.

[@llantup]

It's really sad to see the trolly designated a "historical trolly" to be rotting away.

[@76southernpride]

if the guy that owns these, was going to intend to restore them, he has a lot of work ahead of him. he has a heck of a collection. really great video, and still photos.

[@AbandonedSteve]

76southernpride He started collecting these in the 80s. I think since the 90s he had plans for them but it never happened.

[@StangQuest94]

Very nice video Steve! I also enjoyed the one where explored the ship. Nice. So, I have to ask, which one was named Desire? LOL

[@AbandonedSteve]

+StangQuest94 Thank you!

[@mrmajestic66]

Interesting footage, spooky...

[@jsplicer9]

The fact that at one time they were in a condition good enough to be driven and left here really strikes me.

[@bertskidmore5506]

They should fix these up a bit & convert them into giant dodgem cars and allow the public to come and play with them.... bet they be very popular :)

[@silverose1209]

Amazing video!

[@AbandonedSteve]

Amy Thanks so much Amy :)

[@paberty12]

These are beyond hope now, they have rusted out so bad they would not be worth fixing up. It is in Windber, PA, near Johnstown, PA. I drove the number 20 car on the Red Arrow and the CTA El cars on the Norristown High Speed Line.

[@Bellinghamster]

Both creepy and cool video These old cars were pretty stylish for their time. If they were taken care of they would probably still be running today.

[@AbandonedSteve]

BellinghamsterTrail Some places still run them. Philly has 18 of them. They been modernized to meet the new standards but still keep the old PCC look

[@MarceloBenoit-trenes]

Abandoned Steve San Francisco, Kenosha and Boston too. And there are historic operations at San Diego and museums.

[@jamesosullivan532]

There's a tiny trolley line that runs from ashmont to mattapan with trolleys EXACTLY like these, VEY cool

[@wendymcfadyen-allerby6142]

I am happy you do not tell where you are as the wrong type of person would go there but sadly some have. You should have more subs as your vlogs are so interesting. Thank you

[@lopingnoahsteam]

Abandon Steve is there anyway I can contact the owner to ask permission to go on this property ?

[@granskare]

I recall in the late 1940s that the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) began to replace its beautiful red old timers with the new green guys. There is a museum at Union, ILL I think which has trolleys and locos, etc, so if you get into north east ILL, worth a visit...I think there is a similar place in southeast WISC, Troy WI but I am not sure - I've not been there.

[@Jayf1981]

The entire creation yields to decay. Sad Creepy melancholy feeling.

[@timeslip8246]

This hurts my soul. Cool. But still tears at my heart

[@urbexgamma]

Cool explore Steve, something different then houses !!

[@AbandonedSteve]

urbexgamma Yea i try and get some other things as well. I have a few more abandoned train stuff coming up.

[@clairvoyantamnesiac9770]

Tennessee. West VA ?... no..check out the kudzu!..Austin? Boston? That is great photography of the dials on the gauges...

[@tarzanzardoz007]

Thanks!, Good Job!

[@AbandonedSteve]

tarzanzardoz007 thank you for watching

[@miriciousvespyre]

The funniest part is that the hand bars are still shiny.

[@markpalladino377]

The green and the yellow ones with the giant.T with the circle around it are from Boston ma that's the old green line trolleys that used to run in front of Boston univ. And Fenway park...

[@crystalscan2002]

thats sad that is abandoned like that

[@fury210]

Great location and video.

[@AbandonedSteve]

fury210 Thank You. Glad you enjoyed it

[@RODALCO2007]

Nice video. Did see some restored Boston units like these in San Francisco.

[@onrr1726]

PCC Cars in Kyiv, Ukraine were retired and cut up for scrap in 2010. A few of them are still running in both Odessa, and Mykolaiv, Ukraine as of 2014.

[@amasceptic]

This is sad. This is the best type of urban transporte. Governments, politicians and the industry don't like things that last. They prefer the ones that wear, rot, and need be replaced by mean of new contracts.

[@jehugo66]

Replaced by cars

[@dmikulec]

+amasceptic You are forgetting the court case after WWII where it was proved that GM, Standard Oil, and Goodyear worked together to force trolleys into junkyards. The movie "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" is a fictionalized version of what happened.

[@RedArrow73]

10:49 - No it isn't. It ran on the Norristown High Speed Line. It was ordered by CTA however, for its El system.

[@rickmastfan67]

Might want to update you description to add in Pittsburgh, PA to the list. At 4:40, that yellow one on the right is clearly a Pittsburgh trolley per the logo on the side. PATransit was the pre-curser name to the current "Port Authority of Allegheny County". If you go on Google Images and search "PATransit" you'll see what I mean about the logo.

[@bryancooper2699]

It's A shame. There intentions were nice but being kept out doors has just sealed their fate even more. The Pittsburgh car bodies are literally separating from their frames and twisting to the sides..

[@reocar1876]

Were was the trolly graveyard at? Would like to go.

[@jotacalvo]

Steve, I'm impressed if you got permission to be here. We've ridden dirt bikes to this yard, but always hear urban legend-esque stories that the owner will shoot us. So we have to sneak. It is truly sad the way the kids have vandalized these cars. I've taken my boy, but are very careful to be respectful. Now you've got me interested in just approaching the owner to ask permission. I pass this yard almost weekly during riding season. How did you even find this place, considering...?

[@MrGixxer1300r]

There is a bunch of old train car, and streetcars near Williamsport, Pa. It is not these cars, but still just as cool.

[@piratef2004]

Is there a way to contact the owner or owner about scheduling an appointment? I am amazed at the condition of the cars sitting indoors.

[@NobHillBorn]

The green "T" cars are ex-MBTA (Boston) streetcars. The car marked 20 could be an ex-SEPTA (Philadelphia) suburban car. Maybe the salvageable parts could used to restore other PCC streetcars. 1771 is ex-PATransit (Pittsburgh). Did someone buy these cars hoping to restore them but couldn't get it done? Or bought them for the scrap value?

[@AbandonedSteve]

NobHillBorn i have no clue. From what i was told. he had plans for them but not sure what happened to those plans

[@NobHillBorn]

Abandoned Steve Well, it is not easy to restore old streetcars. I have heard of a number of people who have bought old streetcars and planned to restore them only to have those plans go to pot. It takes some expertise in streetcar maintenance to know what to do and that usually comes from someone associated with a transit agency or museum.

[@18624100]

Thanks for shareing with us, what a shame people had ratted stuff from these old beauties may they rust in peace after there life time of hard work.

[@AbandonedSteve]

mr cactus Thanks for watching!

[@Trainbrain1949]

Is that shed the cars are in the place where they will be dismantled?

[@RiveryJerald]

were do you find these?

[@FM60260]

The ones with the smaller windows and flatter ceilings seem to have rotted more then the others.

[@texashsad]

Isn't that funny how we are both interested in abandoned things. I wonder what makes us that way? I live in a small town in Texas, and we have old tracks that you can still see on some streets, and old maps that tell you where tracks once were, and that just fascinates me to no end. I love anything that runs on tracks, streetcars, trolleys, light rail, subways, you name it. Even old shopping centers, old malls, and movie houses peak my interest.

[@AbandonedSteve]

+texashsad It the history that drives me to do it. I like to relive the history. Of course it in terrible shape, but I like to use my imagination to picture it still with life.

[@texashsad]

I feel exactly the same way.

[@404HandleNotFound]

+texashsad Me too. I swear I'm an old soul in the wrong era or something. LOL

[@robwillie226]

Are those L line cars?

[@kazoo-chew]

septa?...i know you want to keep the location info disclosed but would you like say its north east?

[@bernese3]

Interesting video! I have to wonder how those cars got there from various locations. Do rails connect to the site?

[@AbandonedSteve]

bernese3 There is rails or used to be

[@kazoo-chew]

thanks for the upload...you should do some work in Youngstown- Pittsburgh are lots of stuff here hell ytown has an abandoned amusement park almost two if you count geuaga lake which is close..half the cities abandoned ..hundreds of churches houses whole shopping plazas with a 21 mile long abandoned steel mill! crazy old america is gone

[@Anon21486]

Just wanted to let you know that there was a news piece about this site that was published in Sept 2015 in Boston, MA.