SEPTA Route 34 Subway Surface Trolley, Full Ride Operator's POV

Filmed 4-14-22. Special thanks to Bill for letting me film this!
Audio has been removed.
Classy Whale - at-least-weekly adventures, featuring trains and more!

[@davidconnell1959]

When I was a kid in Darby (early 1960s), this was the line we took to go to Wanamaker’s for the Christmas show. My grandmother worked at the store. You could stand at the front window and get this view all the way. This will always make me think of grandmom, Santa, lights and music, the excitement of being on a trolley in the dark underground - knowing when it went downhill the river was overhead - with just the lights whizzing by.

[@ericrobinson3995]

Wanamaker's light show and toy department (with a monorail that went around the department!) was like revolutionary to me! As a kid, I knew where I wanted to work!!!

[@AA_8184_1]

The operator POV videos dare amazing. Love to see what I’ve missed form ridding these lines as a passenger!

[@djkylelarue]

At 27:52, typical Philly sh*t. LOL! I grew up in West Philly riding the 10 trolley. Nothing more aggravating than drivers double-parking and blocking the tracks. Nice POV into the tunnel and back out to SW Philly. 👍🏼

[@albertcarello619]

@djklelarue: That's sure aggravating when people double Park blocking traffic. The motorman should repeatedly sound his horn and also call 911 on his cell phone to get these drivers ticketed.

[@54blewis]

When I was a kid it was called the “old ghetto 10” but it was and still the only trolley that goes through west philly from downtown….my stop was 45th and Lancaster..

[@ericrobinson3995]

The 10 is my 'hood trolley too--- 40th Street and Lancaster Avenue!

[@johnsmart964]

This is an excellent journey to be able to go on and the people are greatly appreciative of you providing this for us. It seems that the platforms are long enough to accommodate up to three trolleys coupled together.

The best, clearest video yet, and NO SOUND!!

[@ClassyWhale]

I didn't want to post my convos with the operator

[@mikefit3343]

3:19 Look over to the right side rail up towards the yellow light, see that 3rd rail on the inside track? That gives the trolleys support for when its making sharp turns, to keep it from veering off the tracks. ( Incase anyone wanted to know)

[@Shinycelebi]

The video really should have had sound.

[@albertcarello619]

@Shinycelebi: I was really going to really complain to VERIZON about having no sound. Verizon service can be quite bad and unreliable.

[@Bigrizz-on6jp]

12:10 A week ago, when i decided to walk the tracks from 15th and market to 13th st station ( taking pictures and videos of the tunnels and trolley's) i noticed a homeless person encampment right infront of that black cannister seen here but there wasn't anyone occupying it at the time. It had an old dusty blanket, a target bag filled with empty chip bags, soda cans, and several used syringes 💉 with a school back pack next to it. Out of respect i didn't check to see what was inside it. Its none of my business so i continued on my journey. (You gotta be a low life to steal from those who are less fortunate than you). One of the other main reasons why i wanted to explore the tunnel on foot is the section right here at 14:10 ( The leftside tunnel). Everytime i ride pass this area I'm drawn to this path that goes up a hill and into pitch black darkness ( It's quite eery without a 🔦 so i wouldn't recommend going up in there without it) and for year's i used to believe it was an old station or some unfinished construction project for trolley's to switch track's onto 13th st leading up towards 15th st. To my discovery? I found several different homeless encampments ontop of the hill so there are people who frequent this area as a living space; further back more i recorded a mountain of hefty bag's filled with garbage that's been piled for who knows how long. Sense than my curiosity has been quenched lol.

[@shadzmotionless6841]

There’s no sound

[@Wewwers]

just eliminate parking on the side of the road where there's any trolly right-of-way and put a permanent barricade between the two so cars don't drive on the tracks, problem solved.

[@albertcarello619]

@Wewwers: On the Media Line State Street doesn't seem quite wide enough to support double tracking. The only way that can happen is not to allow parking on one side of the street and then maybe a second track can be added. The Media Trolley Line is more than busy enough to need two tracks throughout it's entire line.

No sound?

[@albertcarello619]

What no sound!!??? Or is something wrong with my phone!!!!? I'll have to really complain to VERIZON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It seems like VERIZON is having constant service issues that have to be addressed !

[@ClassyWhale]

I posted without sound, your phone is fine!

[@albertcarello619]

@@ClassyWhale Otherwise I'd have really gripe to Verizon which has had forever issues.

[@albertcarello619]

@@ClassyWhale Thank You!!!

[@albertcarello619]

No sound. I was going to complain loudly to VERIZON!

[@ClassyWhale]

It's in the description bro

[@albertcarello619]

I thought my phone was on the fritz because of no sound. Verizon Customer Service is unreliable and can't solve anything at all! I sure do feel like calling them and have to wait over 2 hours to reach a representative in the Philippines or some other foreign countries. Even many of my phone calls I try to make get muted and I have to go out and find a payphone or borrow my neighbor's landline!!!

[@teddawg327]

My brother drove 23 car. PCC car

[@ClassyWhale]

oh wow! I met a gentleman at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum who drove that route as well :)