Septa Hyundai-Rotem SL5 RFW on train

I was very fortunate to ride this train.  I was only planning on riding this train from Wawa to 30th St., but enroute I heard something strange. I was advised by a Septa source that that particular car was involved in a tree accident and the original horn was damaged. It was replaced with what sounds like a Canadian tuned K3L horn. I never heard anything like it on that equipment. I also had a super clean window which allowed for a great view up. All stations, interlockings, overhead bridges and some under grade bridges, passing trains, and railroad crossings are identified. It was one of my best SL5 rides and there have been many. Listen to that horn! It will send chills up your spine. (At very beginning I say the SL5 was built by Kawasaki. It’s actually Hyundai-Rotem. Shame on me!!!!)

[@bgcurses2337]

Haha I was the engineer for that train. Nice meeting you man. Very cool guy.

[@3985uprr]

You are a good honker with that new horn. Good meeting you too.

[@ExpressRailfan]

​@@3985uprrI sent you a Norristown Line video yesterday. It also involves a Silverliner 5 train. Go watch it.

[@jimpern]

When I lived in Clifton Heights, I used to park my car on the street just south of the Clifton-Aldan station and take the 102 trolley into the city, then come back out on this train. I always envied the people who lived in the Gladstone apartments and could WALK to their train station!

[@michaelbaldassarre838]

Great to dee you again in my stomping grounds, Can't count how many times I've ridden this this train. My home station is Lansdowne. Your knowledge of the rail systems around the country is as outstanding. Thaanks for another great video!

[@rainbowbill531]

Rode those old Budd cars, going from the Frankford section, [Bridge & Pratt street] to 15th & Market. No Air conditiioning back in those days.Appreciate your insight on all the podcasts. Very insightful. Brings back good memories of growing up in Philly.

[@3985uprr]

Thanks. Leave it to a native Long Islander to create memories of Philadelphia.

[@rainbowbill531]

@@3985uprr Philly people appreciate passionate fans, me growing up to see the Concrete Charlie days, am blessed. This game is F_______ Over

[@OldsVistaCruiser]

Fun fact: Before the Great Train Wreck of 1856, Ambler was known as Wissahickon. It was renamed for Mary Ambler, a Quaker woman who came to the aid of the wreck.

[@alanlesitsky1300]

Love that horn! It has a plush sound - just like the Philadelphia Orchestra.

[@albertcarello619]

@alanlesitsky1300: That horn sounds just like trains in Colorado built by Hyundai -Rotem. There's no bells on these trains though unlike the ones in Colorado.

[@Gilstrains]

I always enjoy your videos👍

[@roberttapken1139]

Nice video. Those trains are SLOW. Stations are so close like the old IRT lines in Manhattan. 14st, 18 st, 23 st, 28 st, you get it.

[@johnchambers8528]

The stations are in many cases relatively close to each other and that is why the private railroads went with electric MU cars as soon as it was practical versus the old steam engine trains. They accelerated faster between stations. However I have noticed riding SEPTA in many cases they seem to run slow in some areas where they could run faster. They do run express trains on some lines including the WA WA line during rush hours that bypass some of the smaller less used stations to speed up service for the longer rides.

[@bryantsanders6869]

Awesome cab view loved the video

[@briangriffith2394]

Thanks for the ride my friend

[@dirkmontgomery5983]

There was talk the other about gitting trains back to Pottstown reading again on the news the other day

[@carltonkeys6205]

Once again not going to happen 😮

[@Nurvington]

Great video, new scenery for me! I’ll have to take a trip down to PHL again and ride these lines. Great work!!

[@albertcarello619]

I sure like the K3LA HORNS TOO! I would sure like the Light Rail Trolleys and systems to use these Horns.

[@scottyerkes1867]

Awesome ride. I've only been to Media on the old PRR tracks; and Norristown on the old Reading tracks. Thanks Tim💚💚👌👌

[@dirkmontgomery5983]

Claymont station is working now

[@PikalaxALT]

20:43 "This is a wheelchair accessible station" *stops short of the mini-high*

[@johnchambers8528]

Thanks for another great video. I live near the old PRR WaWa line in Lansdowne and used the train from that station many times. I have ocassionaly ridden the ex Reading Norristown line and even rode the old RDC’S to Reading and Pottsville. You were lucky to get the car you rode with the nice clean glass and also enjoyed that unique horn.

[@albertcarello619]

The station "WA WA" sure sounds like a great place to quench your thirst!

[@Jimmiemlodzinski-ki1pn]

Love the septa silver liner 5s then the 4s Decepticon 5s have those Decepticon 5s have Decepticon 5s have those nice ralphin windows Decepticon 5s have those nice ralph Those paint schemes and that pick up speed of 3.23Those paint schemes and that pick up speed of 3.23 like you said and I just love hearing those K3LA horns I actually have a house I'm not too far from woodburn you could hear those KLA horns those are the best kind of train horns that you can hear of

[@theidiotwithinternet]

You know what I bet that horn is a raised letter K3L with a 480HZ certified 3 bell!

[@3985uprr]

It sounds good whatever it is but definitely in the K3L family

[@raycooney7632]

Glad you like our SL5s! I like’’em too. As a former Long Islander I’ve got to get up to LI to ride8 the new GCT line and the exciting new triple track!

[@3985uprr]

The triple track is awesome and I love Grand Central

[@OldsVistaCruiser]

The horn reminds me of the train in the movie, "Silver Streak." That movie used a Canadian train!

[@loocpoc]

After leaving Wawa, the line follows a portion of the old Pennsylvania RR line which went to Chester. It's currently a part of the Chester Creek trail.

[@MattyC62185]

Denver RTD also has these. But I think one difference is they have luggage rocks on them and an E-Bell on theirs

[@evangouldtransit]

and full width cab.

[@hughmnyks]

Got a nasty shock when I read a Korea Times story saying Septa’s Hyundai-Rotem train operations had been stopped (didn’t notice at first that it was from 2017). Good to see they’re still in service. Nice video and another nice horn! Seriously not intending insult anyone, but why is this train so slow? Thanks for a very interesting journey!

[@3985uprr]

The stops are kind of close together

[@moeboggie]

They should’ve been Kawasaki’s as you mentioned in the video, however due to septa’s shady practices, Hyundai-Rotem built them.

[@wildbillfold]

Hyundai-Rotem probably submitted the lowest bid during contract negotiations. Can't be too bad though. RTD-Denver also has a version of the Silverliner V.

[@moeboggie]

@@wildbillfoldthey were the lowest bidders as was CRCC for the bi-levels. This is Septa’s requirements. Unfortunately, buy cheap and you get cheap quality. Denver’s equipment is in much better shape. Not sure if it’s because their infrastructure is new, they have better maintenance or because they aren’t used as heavily as Septa’s.

[@CrabMan2539]

55:12 I remember visiting Philadelphia this past summer (or spring, can't recall exactly but I remember it was 90 something degrees that day. Also it was the day the I-95 bridge collapsed) and taking SEPTA to this station to try Dalessandro's cheesesteaks since it appeared to be the closest station (though it seemed like a dead heat between that station and another one northwards). We didn't know the bus system and were too lazy to research it so we walked there, and if you know anything about that area, it's about a mile away..... uphill. The ENTIRE journey was uphill in 90 something degree weather. It was worth it though. I tried Pat's and Geno's several years ago but heard that Dalessandro's was also one of the greats. Definitely exceeded my expectations.

[@johnchambers8528]

Almost any good neighborhood Pizza/sandwich shop does better cheese steaks than Pat’s or Gino’s. The only reason they are so famous is because they are open 24 hours a day and are close to the sports and entertainment venues in south Philadelphia. So many sports or entertainment stars have visited them. Ask any local Philadelphian and you will most likely find a better steak sandwich location. The one you mentioned is one of the better shops in the city for a steak sandwich.

[@zazaranger5]

@@johnchambers8528 believe me, Pat’s and Geno’s are over priced tourist traps and they both SUCK!

[@3985uprr]

I recall riding non a/c Broad Street Subway cars in 95 degree heat after going to the Vet and roasting

[@gerryphilly53]

I find it interesting that the signals on the Media/Wawa branch, which was originally a Pennsylvania Railroad line, have been converted by SEPTA to the Reading-style ones.

[@3985uprr]

Amtrak lines still use position lights. The signals on Septa owned tracks have been standardized with color lights.

[@j.deangelojr.4894]

I heard some talk that there might be a reinstatement of a route to Allentown paralleling the PA Turnpike Northeastern Extension.

[@carltonkeys6205]

Not going to happen 😅

[@rwboa22]

The SL-5 cars are products of Hyundai-Rotem, not Kawasaki (Subway-Surface, Media-Sharon Hill, and Broad Street Subway cars are Kawasaki). As for the Williamson School station building, SEPTA should allow the Williamson College of Trades (when I was growing up in Aston, which is right next to Wawa and Lenni, it was called Williamson Free School; tuition is free for those who get accepted there, although I attended Pennsylvania Institute of Technology near the Moylan-Rose Valley Station) to restore that building as a way to apply what they're learning there (which includes carpentry).

[@3985uprr]

That was a faux pas on calling the SL5’s Kawasaki’s. I should’ve known better riding around on those things so much.

[@MelvinVonMTodd]

Love this!! Do you have a video from Warminster to downtown? I know the other ones are to Warminster.

[@3985uprr]

No I don’t. I have to be mindful of sun angles when I do these

[@paulbowler2760]

The ""medium clear"" signal on the inbound approach to Elwyn is a ""diverging clear"" signal on both UP and BNSF - which description better describes what is about to happen!

[@3985uprr]

The reduced aspect signals on the LIRR are even worse. They tell crews nothing of what is further ahead. At least the “medium clear” tells you how fast to go to safely negotiate the crossover

[@egbutler114]

Nothing beats the Silverliner IV's!!!

[@3985uprr]

You’re breaking my heart 😫😩😫😡😫

[@pauliec2193]

I love Kawasaki their products have been very good to Philadelphia the Hyundai-Rotem… not so much

[@3985uprr]

Hyundai Rotem isn’t much for building railroad equipment. I do enjoy these cars very much, though as long as are were around, which probably won’t be as long as the GE’s

[@jbreezy101]

HR wasn’t too helpful when the Vs had to be pulled

[@3985uprr]

@@jbreezy101 Admittedly they aren’t the best quality rail equipment but I’ll enjoy them as long as I can

[@Leonard_Wilson]

I really like the Silverliner V. The only problem is that it’s a luck of the draw. You don’t know which run will use a Silverliner V. And SEPTA isn’t as frequent as the NYC area commuter railroads.

[@3985uprr]

You can check the septa website real time and it will tell you what cars are on the train. Look for 700’s and 800’s

[@christophercancel934]

Was there an actual school by the station called Williamson School?

[@3985uprr]

Nearby

[@KofCFrank06511]

These stations seem very close to each other. I bet that if they had a 10 car set, they can stop at 2 stations at once

[@3985uprr]

Probably

[@pauliec2193]

Are they definitely Kawasaki I thought they were Hyundai-Rotem?

[@3985uprr]

Did I say that? Geez. I shud know better since I’m always bragging about them

[@agitohd]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@3985uprr I can understand you, since Kawasaki was actually the other bidder for the Silverliner V procurement, and SEPTA wanted to choose them in 2005 because of their experience with the MTA, but Rotem promised a plant in Philly area, and that changed the mind of SEPTA, as that was supposed to bring in the economy to the area. Shame they lost contracts for BART (It was 2 billion dollars, much more expensive than Alstom's and Bombardier's, the latter of which succeeded), MBTA’s Red/Orange Lines (their designs looked modern, but CRRC promised to reactivate old shotgun plant in Springfield to make trains, and it worked at first), Montreal REM (since the company wasn’t very trusted in Canada, and Alstom showed better project), first order for LA Metro HR4000 trains (CRRC's bid was cheaper), and even SEPTA bilevel trains (again, CRRC beat them by price). But it seems that they are getting back on track after winning order on Edmonton LRT trams and winning order to supplement the missing the LA subway trains, dubbed as HR5000, placed the bid for California High Speed Rail trains and bids for the new Market Frankford Line. Hopefully they will win in those two contracts.

[@ConstContact]

Thank You for your quick reply…… regarding the additional rail on the inside of travelling rails…. Thank you so much for your explanation. It’s a very nice crowd You have..!!! A few people have responded, as well !! Thank you again, David Toronto I was being a bit facetious when I ended one of my last text messages stating David from Canuckistan…. I’ve heard you speak of a couple of your experiences in Toronto. I was brought up in the 60s so I had an opportunity to see lots of different rollingstock two blocks away from my home basically at the foot of Spadina….. you could see the C N, and then Via rail turbo and 10 minutes later, you could see a massive CP or CN steam engine as well as much much more rollingstock for freight and passenger service. Unfortunately, a lot of the trackage has been taken up/put underground and it’s pretty much generic now it’s either a go, train

[@evangouldtransit]

1:08:18 that's interesting that it changes to Pennsy poles here

[@evangouldtransit]

also 1:16:33 i bet that clear signal on the left was for an NS train

[@3985uprr]

Pennsy style to the right. Reading to the left

[@BrandonKasperowicz]

Hey great videos just curious if the car number is 727 or 728

[@3985uprr]

727. I’ll never forget that car #.

[@joec4871]

Where is this train getting power from, overhead?

[@imminentrueage6400]

Hopefully Hyundai didn't cheap out on immobilizers for these things either.

[@albertcarello619]

These horns sound like the Hyundai Rotem trains in Colorado on the trains in Denver.

[@OldsVistaCruiser]

That's because they are the same cars.

[@albertcarello619]

@@OldsVistaCruiser No doubt at all about that.

[@MsNeeci]

Hi. What does ohb stand for? ( thanks)

[@3985uprr]

Overhead bridge

[@MsNeeci]

@@3985uprr Thanks Mr. Tim and Happy Holidays to you and ur family🎄

[@3985uprr]

@@MsNeecisame to you

[@AbrahamRivera79]

@@3985uprrMay I ask what the “g” in “ugb” stands for? Under g______ bridge?

[@3985uprr]

Undergrade bridge

[@ConstContact]

Hello hello…. thank you so much for your videos. They are both entertaining and educational… at the very beginning of the video, excluding your introduction a couple of pieces of rail with 45° angles on the ends of Track Sections. I was curious whether you would be able to identify these components…..? Thank You…! David In Canuckistan….!

[@3985uprr]

They guard against derails. They help keep the train within the gauge more or less

[@stevemill4434]

Did you ever do a video of the signal lights what each one means blinking green I know what steady green means

[@3985uprr]

No I haven’t

[@ConstContact]

Shorter width spaced track contained within the 4’ 8 1/2” standard

[@ConstContact]

Hello again I had a question/comment on another video with regards to occasional smaller sections of track which are spaced tighter than the 4 foot 8 1/2 inches with these occasional small sections of what appears to be track between the existing rails the sections appear to be roughly 20 feet long and come together at either end (both ends) if someone knows what the purpose is, it would be appreciated…! These smaller sections of what appears to be track is present in this video at approximately the nine minute and 20 seconds into this video as well…!

[@johnchambers8528]

I did not go back to the time you mentioned but if the rails are located on a bridge portion of the route they are placed there to help prevent a train from going off the bridge if there would happen to be a derailment. The wheels of the train would hit these rails inside the running rails and help guide the wheels straight and prevent the car from going off the bridge. It would not always work, especially if the train was going fast but did provide some protection from a major crash.

[@ConstContact]

@@johnchambers8528 Hello John Thank you for getting back to me so quickly ! Your comments with regards to the smaller two pieces of what appear to be rail mounted on the inside of the running tracks. Your explanation makes total sense !! however, I have seen these smaller sections on grade as well, not only located over bridges…. Thank You again for your response!

[@ConstContact]

Can I ask a question I am not located in the US per se however, I am located in Toronto just north east of Buffalo… for anyone who is not quite familiar with geography. I was curious whether President Biden or better known as Amtrak. JOE has made a difference as far as support and commitment towards passenger rail service now and in the future…..?

[@3985uprr]

He has made a difference. He has appropriated funds for massive NE Corridor infrastructure improvements as well as high speed rail between LA and Las Vegas. I am quite familiar with Toronto. I have been there many times and would like to go there again. I am also a frustrated Maple Leafs fan.