Septa SL5 RFW from PHL Airport to Fox Chase. 4/10/24

We take a RFW ride from the Airport to Fox Chase showing the outdoor part of the journey. I had yet to cover in great detail the Airport Line and the Fox Chase Line. This train allowed me to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Of course I would never do that but you get the cliche here. Detailed with narration and graphics identifying all stations, interlockings, passing trains, and restricting signals. As you can tell, these RFW rides are very helpful to train crews learning the PC’s (physical characteristics). (At 8:22, we pass under Island Avenue. That was once a level crossing. It has since been replaced by that overpass.)

[@stephenrichmond917]

I'm a native of Olney (Ah-lin-ee), but we emigrated to South Jersey when I was 5. The 47 trolley once ran along 5th Street, close to our house. As a teenager, I occasionally rode to Olney Station, on an RDC or on a green MU, to visit my grandmother, who lived 2 squares away from our house. Between Olney and Lawndale was Crescentville Station, where only one train per day would stop. I don't recognize the current Olney Station at all.

[@nolantherailfan5048]

You're like a celebrity on these trains

[@3985uprr]

All of a sudden!!

[@nolantherailfan5048]

Did you know septa will soon be expanding service on the Thorndale line to coatesville. Along with the opening of a new Amtrak station in town. You should go to coatesville and railfan

[@Oldgustav]

At 7:37 he refers to the railroad crossing. Going back about 50+ years ago, there were crossings at 87th St, 86th street, 84th St., Island road, 77th st, 70th St. I think one more at 61st Street. I lived down in that part of Philly and I remember listening to the train horns as they approached each one.

[@mygins5820]

Arnold sounds like a real legend and extra points for him knowing Bill 😂 It must be really validating to get positive feedback from railroad employes

[@bigdaddyl-rob7445]

Another great RFW Septa ride, RRHG! I love when you come to my hometown Philly and RFW on the Regional Rails and PATCO and "EL" trains! The commentary is great and the historic station info is vidal (aka the former Nicetown , Tioga and Logan stations were around when I was growing up in the 1960's and used them frequently)!

[@3985uprr]

I’ve seen them too in my younger days. I always love coming to Philadelphia.

[@bigdaddyl-rob7445]

@@3985uprr any chance of you doing a RFW or at least covering the Franklin Square Station/PATCO reopening when it does open? Another question is will you be able to do a tour of Grand Central Terminal in the future?

[@3985uprr]

@@bigdaddyl-rob7445 I would do another Patco ride when it opens. Grand Central terminal tour is possible there a lot of things I’m thinking about doing.

[@bigdaddyl-rob7445]

@@3985uprr looking forward to it!!

[@MelvinVonMTodd]

I love the convo of the train signals!!

[@ronaryel6445]

The reason for abandoning the route to Newtown from Fox Chase was that SEPTA decided to reduce operating and maintenance expenses by running only an electric operation except for a few diesel locomotives intended to rescue a stuck train. Thus, the diesel line was eliminated. With more frequent electric service, the ridership likely would have increased.

[@LEODIXON-nq6fy]

Hello, enjoy all your videos, in your Fox Chase video I wanted to add Levick St. bridge which is immediately after the Lawndale station to your OHB information.

[@3985uprr]

I don’t know how I missed that one. I think the information I’ve already posted should be helpful for some viewer or railroad qualifier. Thanks

[@Mahees_230]

Could you do a narrated RFW video from Wassaic to Brewster North please? Also a video from the Baltimore Amtrak station. Love your videos.

[@3985uprr]

It’s hard to get those on non-M3 trains. I’ll get to Baltimore one of these days.

[@rickschell7874]

You are correct. Island road had a level crossing. A freight line ran in the area. Was called hog island. I think the line ran to Chester. When they were building I 95 , the Philadelphia airport expanded. The shifted Island road over. Changed it to 6 lanes and built the bridge over the tracks. The line runs on some of the old freight line. The route 36 trolley ends at a loop by the old Island road. A little past the loop you can see where rails are.

[@loocpoc]

You were in my neck of the woods. One of my kids goes to school up the street from Fox Chase station. At the 30:00 mark when you see the school on the right hand side, I used to coach baseball there. I'm now an umpire for the officiating league. It looks like Septa finally moved the blueliner and the boxcar further up. Follow the old Reading cutoff for about 5 miles and you'll be around my house. I guess you noticed the work they're doing on the other side of Rhawn St? They're extending the Newtown bike trail to Fox Chase. Septa did away with the Newtown portion of the line because of the accident January 2nd 1982. It was easier to bustitute the line than run RDC's. It also coincided with Septa's not wanting to use diesel trains

[@Nurvington]

31:28 on the left rising above 240 Roberts Avenue stands the former roof mounted water tank owned by the Vick Chemical Co. aka Vick’s. Historic photos show it was shaped and painted to resemble a Vapor Rub bottle. The company moved many years back but the rusty structure remains.

[@3985uprr]

I definitely would like to do a head end ride out to Coatesville

[@tonymento7460]

FYI SEPTA canceled the contract with CRRC for 45 double deck cars that were order in 2017 the 3 test cars they have now need to be repaired do to major problems doors a/c wheels and so on

[@Adamdaj]

Hello Mr. Tim, if you get the opportunity to meet SEPTA's first Female Engineer Jackie Pettyjohn, tell Jackie Adam Huffnagle said Hello. Take Care Mr. Tim

[@3985uprr]

I may have seen her already, but didn’t know it was her. Yes

[@williamhunter5549]

She was my neighbor in West Philly back in the 70s. Jackie!❤

[@OldsVistaCruiser]

I think that 84th St. was your grade crossing, judging by the profile of the bridge. I travel that way when I pick up MCMM from his house.

[@LIL_KVNG21]

That's where I live Olney

[@Leonard_Wilson]

Excellent video Timothy Duncan

[@3985uprr]

Duncan?

[@nolantherailfan5048]

@@3985uprrdid you know that the thorndale line is about to be expanded to coatesville in 2025

[@trainsmachineryldegmtrains3509]

Great clip 👍😉

[@scottyerkes1867]

Nice ride. 💚🖖🖖

[@Touchybanana]

SEPTA cancelled their CRRC multilevel railcar order if you didn't know yet.

[@3985uprr]

I heard.

[@ilovelolsurprise3419]

Why’d they cancel? The Silverliner IVs suck and they’re so outdated

[@dirkmontgomery5983]

If you walk to Huntington pike go down to Sylvania Ave turn right go to montgomery Ave there's the Rockledge model rr club check it out second Saturday of every month un less they add something

[@3985uprr]

Heard about that.

[@RichardNickels-ot6iq]

Awesome 😎🆒

[@dirkmontgomery5983]

70th street was one too

[@Nurvington]

29:03 wondering what kind of equipment would climb or decent on the now disconnected track on the right. 😮

[@3985uprr]

Hasn’t been used in years, but it looks pretty steep

[@dirkmontgomery5983]

The rail road crossing was island Ave I think there was one at 84th street too

[@3985uprr]

I only seem to remember one crossing

[@JoeyLovesTrains]

36:22 looks like that catenary suport is missing

[@evangouldtransit]

interesting how Lawndale has two platforms

[@3985uprr]

That was the old outbound platform but when they rationalized the line to single track, that platform became redundant and it’s now a fenced walkway.

[@RebekahEhrlich]

What a slow ride.

[@dogfather58]

Y are u goimg so slow ?

[@3985uprr]

There are slow speeds on part of the ride

[@Kalila2405]

The signals on the track informed that they had to reduce speed