This SEPTA Line Became a Tourist Railroad

[@brdougie]

I absolutely think SEPTA could benefit from adding historical information to the timetables..that's a great idea

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

Historically they wouldn't have, since adding text means adding clutter and/or paper to their timetables. But nowadays most people who see their schedules probably just download a PDF, so it would probably be no issue to add a page with historical and/or tourist information. People printing the PDF can just print the first page.

[@robertmoir5695]

I guess so yeah Steven Walker

[@CaseysTrains]

There's actual demand too from West Chester to reextend SEPTA service back there. SEPTA is actually interested as well hence why they restore the Bridge over Baltimore Pike and held meetings with West Chester and Cheney University about potential interest. However, I don't expect any sort of service revival until Middletown Station proves itself. That can take years.

[@de-fault_de-fault]

NJ Transit took the baby step 20 years ago to assign each line an icon that tells you something about its history or geography, but that’s about as far as it went. I think taking it that one step further would be a great outreach opportunity for basically any regional rail system.

[@thepozfromoz5166]

West Chester railroad should refurbish the abandoned part of the line and lengthen there's! That would be cool

[@Ih8kone]

SEPTA still owns the tracks all the way to West Chester.

[@flyerbob124]

I grew up in WC and remember when the Pennsylvania Railroad operated that line. Used to be a station building right next to Market street. I also remember trolley service from 69th street in Philly the ran right down Gay stopping at High Street then returning to 69th street station.

[@ericrobinson3995]

Man, I'm a train geek so I am definitely gonna ride that WC line! I never knew they were running trains on it!

[@MrBnsftrain]

It would be cool if the West Chester could run to Media station so you can take the train to ride a train!

[@PGHammer21A]

"Cheap" operations. I used to go to school in this area - and even my school knew nit about the West Chester Line - despite it passing within ten miles of our campus in Williamstown Township -:and the line existed in 1979!

[@PGHammer21A]

It is not alone a SEPTA problem; MARC has the issues expanding rail operations into Southern Maryland along existing rail lines - look at the CSX Pope's Creek Subdivision, which runs from Bowie to Morgantown. Double-track it, electrify if needed, even add a fill-in power plant in Glasva for when Morgantown is forced to shutter due to age.

[@moishglukovsky]

The station at Glen Mills is a beauty, isn't it?

[@DanCohoon]

I grew up there. Spent most of my youth walking up to the Miller's Store on the Train Tracks.

[@kevinhoward9593]

A good part of the tracks were laid in I think 1923.

[@FalconsEye58094]

great video, I'll have to look into a lot of these myself, SEPTA has great bones but its not being used to its full potential

[@timosha21]

I'm a train and I approve this video... Choo choo!

[@ericrobinson3995]

Imagine how easy it would be to travel to/from WC on the train! No more driving or riding the bus! Plenty of people out there and WC students can get into the city easy!

[@stephenlaarkamp7344]

I've hiked along the abandoned portion of the line between Glen Mills and Wawa/Middletown, and around when Wawa station opened, I saw SEPTA crews restoring the tracks to operating condition, and the idea seems to be to run battery rail cars as a pilot program to test the waters of demand on the route, and if this shuttle service from Wawa to West Chester is successful, then we might see SEPTA restore the catinary wires and run regular service there. It's looking pretty hopeful, especially since West Chester's borough council pledged their support to the effort. Be great if they can keep the West Chester tourist trains when it happens, but we'll see.

[@ClassyWhale]

It sounds like the battery cars would run weekdays and WCRR would run Sundays

[@stephenlaarkamp7344]

@@ClassyWhale I've been hearing conflicting reports, some saying it's possible, but others saying it would be hard to manage. I personally fall into the former category, but we'll just have to see.

[@evanstauffer4470]

Historically, the quarry at Glen Mills shipped ballast by rail to Amtrak. Their link to the general railroad system of transportation was broken when SEPTA took the track out of service from Elwyn to Wawa to reconstruct the line. The repairs you witnessed to the out-of-service segment between Wawa and Glen Mills may have been to re-establish freight service between the quarry and the outside world.

[@ReadingAreaRailfan]

I volunteered here, As of now, Septa isn't going to run to West Chester, there was talk about it but I don't think it's going to happen.

[@BoxcarJerry]

Nice take on both Railroads WCRR is a nice ride with some fun special events through out the year . You should include a web link to them for people that may want to explore what they have to offer . I never thought of Septa being an Excursion RR but in a way they are since they pass through and use some beautiful old stations . I don't know if you're aware Septa will be continuing past Elwyn into Wawa Pa . They are building a new station and storage yard near by . Who know one day it might continue into West Chester ! Thanks for the ride .

[@ClassyWhale]

Thanks for the comment! I was aware that a Wawa Station is being built, but I didn't include that since it was a bit tangential to the story I was trying to tell.

[@marcleslac2413]

Since septa extended to wawa i hope we see a return

[@joeynova3550]

The one section you're referring to is not abandoned it's just out of service. It is heavily overgrown but it is actually currently being reconnected to the rest of the line to Philadelphia. Hopefully it gets put back in service for the West Chester railroad to run offline excursions and equipment moves. I don't think SEPTA is going to go back to West Chester anytime soon though, the cost would be in the billions to repair the line for SEPTA usage.

[@qjtvaddict]

Nope just outfitting the septa trains with batteries would allow restoration for $100 million

[@losh330]

@@qjtvaddict That's kinda pointless for one short section of line. They should just re-electrify the line back to west Chester. It definitely wouldn't cost a billion dollars. It's only several miles in length.

[@evanstauffer4470]

@@qjtvaddict IF, and that's a BIG "IF" battery-powered rail cars prove to be reliable and not as prone to catch fire as battery powered automobiles. I'm concerned about global climate change but in the short run if one wants a reliable transportation link and not just a "demonstration" project using proven internal combustion propulsion technology (possibly using CNG or LNG) is a better way to go. Ultimately fuel cells generating electricity or overhead or third rail electrical conductors supplying power to electrically-powered rail cars will be the best system, IMHO.

[@viper2131]

The just expanded services back to Wawa station. Hoping West Chester is next, they apparently are doing a study.

[@danielwatson8136]

Septa got rid the west Chester line they created the 117 and 119 to west Chester some time ago the buses don't go there anymore

[@danielwatson8136]

Recently it was extended to Wawa a mee station parking lot

[@danielwatson8136]

New miss spell word

[@changeoflife3658]

The closest station now is wawa then elwyn

[@marcusmadsen4991]

As always nice video!

[@jackcraig4268]

But then again, this is SEPTA, a normal bus company. They abandon Newtown in 1983, just as the area began to grow. Then in 1986, they abandon West Chester, just as Chester County began to explode. They didn't want any parts of diesels (abandoning Bethlehem, Reading, and Newark, NJ), but with West Chester, they already had an ELECTRIFIED line. When SEPTA took over the Reading and Pennsylvania RRs, they went and CLOSED over 65 stations! Now they're spending ridiculous amounts of money adding only a couple of stops on the same tracks they had already owned. But it is so easy to waste the taxpayer's money.

[@robkrasinski6217]

Yes, I live near Allentown and from June 1978-Sept. 1979 Rail Diesel Cars and Push Pull FP7 train was extended from Bethlehem to Allentown. So for a short while we had Allentown to Philly service. Then it was cut back to Bethlehem again and on July 1, 1981 service was cut back to Quakertown then on July 26, 1981 the final run from Quakertown to Lansdale was made and it was all over. At the time all the commuter lines were operated by Conrail under contract with SEPTA, SEPTA took over the regional rail lines themselves in 1983 after a strike. Conrail wanted to shed commuter service and concentrate on money making freight service. SEPTA is considering electrifying the line to past Telford to a new park and ride off Rt. 309 which goes over the tracks. Two short line freight railroads run the line from Lansdale to Telford and Telford to Quakertown. I have a cousin in West Chester, he was born in Allentown, lived in Delaware two years, then Newtown, PA 1979-1992, went to West Chester U and stayed there after he graduated. He rode the West Chester Railroad with his wife, son and daughter. And Wilmington and Western and Strasburg. His parents moved from Newtown to Lancaster in June 2019 to be closer to their daughter.

[@jackcraig4268]

@@robkrasinski6217 Rob, thanks for your comments. I rode the line to Bethlehem but missed that short time frame where (thru LANTA, I think) trains then went over to Allentown..

[@robkrasinski6217]

Amtrak is planning a line from Allentown to New York with stops in Bethlehem, Easton, and in NJ. It could become a reality on or before 2035. They are ordering all these new coaches, diesels and MU trainsets to replace Amfleet 1's built in the mid 70's and Genesis P40 diesels built in the early to late 90's. Amtrak will have to run over Norfolk Southern and Conrail Shared Assets freight lines as well as a bit of NJT and then Amtrak's own tracks to reach Newark, NJ Penn Station and New York Penn Station.

[@DTD110865]

From time to time, I've wondered if the Railroad Museum of Long Island shod do this to their portion of the Main Line of the LIRR.

[@robertmoir5695]

Does SEPTA stand for Southeast Pennsylvania Transit Authority ?

[@ClassyWhale]

Yes

[@RDC2003]

WCRR forever! L septa

[@tonysamtraktrainvideos]

Well now it's Media and Wawa