trolleys

When the Market-Frankford subway opened in 1907 it provided two tracks for surface line streetcars to use with a loop at City Hall. Similar to Boston’s Green Line and San Francisco’s Market St Line, the subway uses pre-WW2 streetcar lines as branches. After World War 2, like in most American cities, trolleys were converted to bus lines, but in Philly there were many lines which never made the conversion. The streets of Philadelphia are lined with disused streetcar tracks but in West Philly there is still an active network; routes T1 through T5 (formerly routes 10, 11, 13, 34, and 36) use the subway and route G (formerly route 15) crosses the city along Girard Ave but does no use the subway. The original subway portal was located at 23rd St but when the Market-Frankford Subway tunnel was extended west so too was the trolley tunnel with a new portal at 36th and Ludlow Streets and another at 40th St between Baltimore and Woodland Aves.

The trolley lines have been threatened with replacement via bus or subway extension for decades, but due to a lack of funds and popularity the streetcars remain and SEPTA is studying bringing back older lines as well. New cars are being purchased with low floors to help riders in wheelchairs, and studies are being made looking at consolidating surface stops to speed up trips.

Printed on Satin finish 80# cover stock – 220 GSM. Made in the USA! Standard production time is 5 days. Allow more time for shipping.