Complete outdoor RFW from Wawa to Norristown. A history lesson too. 8/25/22

On this hot day I wanted to spend as much time as I could in air conditioned comfort. This trip did the trick We get to explore a newly opened portion of the system as well as cover former Pennsylvania Railroad and Reading Company trackage. This video is loaded with graphics even beyond what I would’ve thought possible. In order to provide the best video image possible I had to sacrifice narration to do it. I think you will find it most entertaining and educational!!! On some captions they appear and disappear quickly. I’m still trying to figure out this editing application but I think I’ve come a long way from where I started. 

[@d19j62]

A trip down memory lane! Thanks❤

[@briangeorge7346]

What a great morning in the garage doing chores............ yes honey I'll be right in. Thanks, so much interesting information. Cheers

[@stephensejda5213]

Awesome, informative video! That unidentified railroad bridge between Conshohocken and Norristown is the Upper Merion & Plymouth Railroad which crosses the Schuylkill River, the former RDG and PRR right-of-ways. Allen Wood Steel had plants on both sides of the river connected by the UM&P.

[@scottyerkes1867]

I've been on both lines to/from Center City Phildelphia. And when Media was PRR territory; Norristown only after SEPTA took over. I have ridden both lines as SEPTA. This review is real nostalgic. Thanks Tim😀😀💚

[@phoenixbwp]

FYI: Denver RTD commuter rail use a newer version of the rolling stock, in married pairs. The Denver Airport branch only use 4 cars at 15 minute headway. All stations are high level-wheelchair accessible. Saying the latter, keeps me from moving back East as I get older. Seeing this line has me scratching my head about "transit" for the future back East... Thank you for the time and effort of shooting ALL of your train footage, plus the history lesson! [Me: a prior rider of the North Jersey Coast Line; Bay Head to NYC]

[@Neillan]

Your videos are invaluable Tim, and it's always nice to get a history lesson along with the views. You won't learn this stuff anywhere else!

[@loocpoc]

The original routing of the West Chester line was to West Trenton. Some trains would end either in Glenside or Jenkintown.

[@jimpern]

I used to park my car on the street near the Clifton-Aldan station and take the 102 trolley and the Market-Frankford line into Center City. Then I would come back on this train. (Or, vice versa.) It was nice having two rather differnt types of rail transit that crossed at the same point.

[@tjburke19811981]

So great that you added captions to this video! Thanks for all you do

[@AA_8184_1]

Love the graphics great addition to already outstanding videos. Look forward to the line maybe getting extended back to West Chester. Would be great with growth in that area and the University students.

[@steveember8972]

Very scenic line with all the curves through the woods. Swarthmore looks like it would be a neat town to explore if the handsome old station is any indication!

[@jimpern]

When I lived in this area, the Primos station was a dump! No platforms, and the "station" was a house trailer! Look at it now (25:21)! And the Gladstone station (28:36) is adjacent to an apartment complex just off to the right. Imagine being able to live in a nice suburban apartment and being able to WALK to your commuter train!

[@USArailfan2000]

SEPTA's Regional Rail is clearly a part of the nation's Railway Network!

[@PGHammer21A]

Yes - Media and Springfield are both on US 1 - and as a result, are connected by it to each other. I have no idea whether this line goes through Springfield, but it DOES go through the same area that Paoli/Thorndale does where the two lines darn near meet before 30th Street Station (Conshohohocken east to Philadelphia County and the city of Phjiladelpha - the west shore of the Schuylkill River) - you can see the Manayunk/Norristown Line on the other side because the high tension lines that straddle it.

[@jimpern]

Cobbs Creek (34:03) is the Philadelphia city limit on this line. 49th Street (36:56) used to be a dinky little whistle stop; another station that has been vastly improved. You should show the interior of Jefferson Station on a future video; it is unusually bright and colorful for an underground station, a far cry from the dingy Suburban Station.

[@3985uprr]

Neat idea.

[@njtrailfan4508]

Cool

[@nichols15]

It would be nice if they just extended it to west Chester that would bring up the ridership to 90-100%

[@MSRTA_Productions]

It'll be a while if the people want septa to extend it more.

[@samuelbennie7690]

West Chester wants it. I actually think it will happen. The support is there. SEPTA has it in their building for future plans.

[@henryjpridejr]

This the first time I get to see a full trip on septa most people stop at 30th st

[@3985uprr]

All but the tunnel

[@3985uprr]

Interior reflectivity makes it less desirable to watch in tunnels

[@PhillyBagel]

The overhead bridge at 1:18:40 is the Upper Merion and Plymouth. It connects the former Reading main freight line across the Schuylkill to the Allen Wood steel plant. Still in use the last I knew.

[@jetfixer170]

Interlocking at 22:50 is "CANE", controlled from SEPTA's RROC in Center City Philadelphia

[@3985uprr]

Found that out later. Trying to make ones now with more accurate interlocking info

[@georgemurphy2579]

Controlled siding - -- also on Gladstone Branch - - - correction- it went to two tracks.

[@kevinhoward9593]

54:27 well technically the line was built by the Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown RR.

[@yasnac7576]

As you start moving right where that first signal is used to be the cutoff for the octorara line through Southern Chester County. Also it's pronounced Len-eye... Lenni

[@competesmith]

Got a question for you, sir. First of all, thank you for these - they are EXCELLENT. My question: Would you say that these trains are going slower than they should be?

[@3985uprr]

I zoomed the camera somewhat, so it gives the illusion of the train going slower

[@chrishowell4845]

Kind of a bit off subject here, but since WAWA was mentioned, we`re gonna get WAWA stores in North Carolina

[@nelsonjohnsonn562]

I have seen a few of your great videos. I so much wanted to compliment you on all you do. thanks so much and you really do have a great speaking voice. Oh can I ask what kind of camera/camcorder you are using?

[@3985uprr]

iPhone 12 Pro

[@christophercox9311]

IF the Schuylkill Valley extension were yo ever get off the ground connecting Norristown to Reading, is Elm Street the connecting point? I cannot see the tracks going beyond this Station. OR, does it follow the NS trackage after the Norristown Transportation Center, cutting off 6th Street and Elm Street?

[@budbundy5021]

Cool video. I didn't know they reopened the wawa line. That line was closed for years as far as I can remember. When did they reopen it?

[@3985uprr]

Summer 2022

[@IcelanderUSer]

They really must renovate the upper level at 30th st.

[@IcelanderUSer]

Trains go so slow just like nyc subway did 35 years ago, before they replaced the worn out track.

[@lonsworth]

The pace of these winding train routes in PA much slower & time consuming than your LIRR videos..Straighter routes??

[@georgemurphy2579]

NORAC - My timetable and rules book did not contain "flashing green" over red. The only flashing green indications were in "Limited Clear" or "Approach Limited" aspects.

[@henryjpridejr]

Might be in septa special instructions if you are an employee norac is a general rule book for the northeast region every railroad inthat region has special instructions for specific territories

[@3985uprr]

On Septa much of their system especially on the non Amtrak routes use that indication for obey cab signal indication other than home signals.

[@jetfixer170]

According to a 1993 NORAC signal card, rule 281a is a flashing green over red and called "Cab Speed"

[@Robbi496]

I wonder how many MP54;s trod these rails before the Silverliners???

[@3985uprr]

They had almost 500 on the PRR.

[@3985uprr]

Not playing. It may start later otherwise I’ll download it again

[@Spaceshotx7]

I wonder why on all septa trains, they rope off the first 2 rows?

[@3985uprr]

They started that when the pandemic began but now that it’s more or less in the rearview mirror, they really havent eased up on that policy. They always roped off the first row as a safety precaution at grade crossings. Often they use that area the store equipment for the employees.

[@ilovelolsurprise3419]

@@3985uprrhas that changed now the pandemics over?

[@steve-o981]

I think that may be D.B. Cooper with the shades and black hat in the reflection sitting behind you in the tunnel just before the upper 30th St. Station.

[@3985uprr]

Who is that?

[@Yaseung]

@@3985uprr he was a guy who performed a hostage crisis on a plane in 1960s that parachuted out of plane as a mode of escape and to this day, his criminal case hasnt been solved as to where he is now.

[@3985uprr]

@@Yaseung I wonder if that really was him??

[@Yaseung]

@@3985uprr on the Doylestown line today. Just saw SEPTA ACS-64 pull a set of Silverliner Vs into fern rock. Pretty interesting.

[@ExpressRailfan]

​@@3985uprr54:59 That station is 2 blocks away from my house.

[@PGHammer21A]

I never rode this line - ever. Not even when it was the Wsest Chester Line - despite going to school in Williamstown Township - up PA 452 from Media; PA 452 crosses Paoli Pike before it does the same in West Paoli with US 30 between Paoli Memorial and the SEPTA Paoli Station. (Media is one of those towns I went to primarily to shop - the others are Exton, Malvern, King of Prussia, and Springfield - and I went to none of them by rail - despite all except King of Prussia being rail-accessible.)

[@mygins5820]

How do you know which trains have which engines?

[@3985uprr]

Septa website shows car numbers.

[@stevedefilippis2327]

Is it me or do Septa train run slow as hell?

[@3985uprr]

It’s exaggerated because I had to zoom a little to get the shot.

[@georgemurphy2579]

Not a lot of whistle blowing on this train - even though Rule 19 is required when entering a station platform, and, a "W" sign is seen at Wallingford.

[@hornshowrailfan2554]

W was for that road crossing. Not the PDX.

[@nycres]

NORAC rule 19 has no such requirement. There may be individual member railroads who have made it a rule themselves, but SEPTA is not one of them.