J G Brill Master Unit Car #80 at Scranton, PA. 8-5-09.
Today’s post features more classic traction photographs by guest contributor Kenneth Gear. This is the third installment in a virtual career retrospective, covering 40 years of railfanning.
Ken has long been a friend of this blog. He has contributed greatly to our understanding of the Railroad Record Club of Hawkins, Wisconisn, and it is thanks largely to him that we have been able to share all 40 RRC LPs with you, digitally remastered on CDs and sounding better than ever.
We thank Ken for that, and for sharing these great images with our readers.
Click on these links to see Part 1 and Part 2 in this series.
-David Sadowski
Metra/ICG Highliners
Photo 1. RTA/ ICG Highliner MU trains pass near the Randolph Street Terminal, Chicago, IL. 6-23-82.
RTA/ ICG Highliner #407 near the Randolph Street Terminal, Chicago, IL. 6-23-82.
Metra Electric Highliner #224 at the Vermont Avenue Station, Blue Island IL 3-25-03.
Canadian National Box Cab
CN Box cabs #6714, # 6715, & #6722 at Montreal, Que. 6-14-85.
CN Box cabs #6714, # 6715, & #6722 at Montreal, Que. 6-14-85.
CN Box cabs 6710 & 6711 at Montreal photographed from the Amtrak MONTREALER approaching Central Station.
EX-NYNH&H 4400 “Washboard” MU
Ex-NH 4400 “Washboard” MUs in the dead line at New Haven, CT on March17, 1984 awaiting scrapping.
National Capitol Trolley Museum
Third Avenue Railway System car 678 still wears her bicentennial paint scheme as she sits outside the car barn at the National Capital Trolley Museum in May of 1989. The car has since been repainted in the TARS color scheme of red and white.
DC Transit PCC #1101, 8-5-89.
DC Transit PCC #1101, 8-5-89.
Electric City Trolley Museum
J G Brill Master Unit Car #80 at Scranton, PA. 8-5-09.
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
Pittsburgh Railways DE City Low-floor car #4398 at Washington, PA. 9-27-13.
Pittsburgh Railways DE City Low-floor car #4398 at Washington, PA. 9-27-13.
Conrail
Conrail E-33 #4602 leads a long freight through the Metropark station at Iselin, NJ. 8-14-78. From my very first roll of color slide film.
Conrail E-44 #4430 leads a westbound train at the Metropark station, Iselin, NJ. From my very first roll of 35mm slide film.
Conrail sold E-44 #4464 to NJ Transit in 1983 for use as work train power. The locomotive never turned a wheel for NJT and it is shown here at the Ex-CNJ yard at Elizabethport, NJ. 5-25-83.
Conrail sold E-44 #4464 to NJ Transit in 1983 for use as work train power. The locomotive never turned a wheel for NJT and it is shown here at the Ex-CNJ yard at Elizabethport, NJ. 5-25-83.
Odds and Ends: Miscellaneous Traction:
New Orleans Streetcar
In 1982 I was in New Orleans, LA making an overnight connection between Amtrak’s CRESENT and the SUNSET LIMITED. In the general vicinity of the Amtrak station I took several photos of the streetcars. All of the streetcar photos were taken in the vicinity of Lee Circle.
All of these cars were built by Perley Thomas in 1924.
Car #904 New Orleans, LA. 6-1-82.
Car #904 New Orleans, LA. 6-1-82.
Car #911.
Car #923.
Car #953.
Car 968.
Car 968.
Car #971.
New York City Transit Authority
R-36
I wanted to include this photo in spite of the fact that the subject is Amtrak SSB-1200 #550 at Q Tower at Sunnyside, Queens, New York. I hope it will be of interest to traction fans because of the IRT subway train of NYCTA R-36 “Redbirds” passing overhead in the background. 6-20-87.
R-42
A “W” train of R-42 cars near the Ditmers Boulevard station in Astoria Queens, New York, 4-19-05.
A “W” train of R-42 cars near the Ditmers Boulevard station in Astoria Queens, New York, 4-19-05.
R-21
The NYCTA Car Repair yard at 207th Street in New York as seen from a boat in the Harlem River in 1986. Visible just behind the fence are two R-21 garbage motors. These cars were tasked with the removal of trash from the subway. The two shown here G7208 and G7206 have both been retired and most likely scrapped.
Apparently retired and not too far from being scrapped is R-21 #7086 at the 207th Street Car Repair yard.
R-38
Retired R-38s #4002 & #4003 at the 207th Street Car Repair yard.
R-32A
Starting in 1988 and continuing to 1990, NYCTA sent most of the R-32 cars to Morrison Knudsen at Hornell, NY for overhaul. Conrail brought the rebuilt cars loaded onto flat cars down the River Line to Greenville yard in Jersey City, New Jersey. From there the New York Cross Harbor Railroad car floated them back to New York City. On February 13, 1990 several of the rebuilt R-32a cars, including #3613 head out, were sitting in Greenville yard awaiting a boat ride home.
Starting in 1988 and continuing to 1990, NYCTA sent most of the R-32 cars to Morrison Knudsen at Hornell, NY for overhaul. Conrail brought the rebuilt cars loaded onto flat cars down the River Line to Greenville yard in Jersey City, New Jersey. From there the New York Cross Harbor Railroad car floated them back to New York City. On February 13, 1990 several of the rebuilt R-32a cars, including #3613 head out, were sitting in Greenville yard awaiting a boat ride home.
Starting in 1988 and continuing to 1990, NYCTA sent most of the R-32 cars to Morrison Knudsen at Hornell, NY for overhaul. Conrail brought the rebuilt cars loaded onto flat cars down the River Line to Greenville yard in Jersey City, New Jersey. From there the New York Cross Harbor Railroad car floated them back to New York City. On February 13, 1990 several of the rebuilt R-32a cars, including #3613 head out, were sitting in Greenville yard awaiting a boat ride home.
Eventually NYCHR Alco S-1s 25 & 22 came across the float bridge and coupled to the flat car containing the subway cars. The immaculate Alcos then loaded the car of R-32As onto the car float for a trip across the bay to Brooklyn.
End of the line: NYCTA R-10 cars face a very bleak future at Greenville yard, Jersey City, NJ.
Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority:
R-44
R-44 cars at Great Kills, NY.
R-44 cars at the terminal in Tottenville, NY.
R-44 cars at the terminal in Tottenville, NY.
Staten Island S-1 #821 & R-44 cars at Annadale. The Alco was leading an Electric Railroaders Association “Farewell to the Alcos” fan trip on October 25, 2008.
Staten Island Railway Alco S-2 #821 & S-1 #407 make way for an approaching train of R-44 cars at Tottenville, NY in October of 2008.
R-44 car #421 in the shop at Clifton, NY.
R-33 De-Icer
SIRTOA R-33 De-Icer car #RD344 at Clifton, NY.
SIRTOA R-33 De-Icer car #RD344 at Clifton, NY.
SEPTA – City Transit Division
PCC
SEPTA Kawasaki car #9023 & PCC #2129 at the Elmwood Avenue car barn in Philadelphia, PA in January of 1992.
SEPTA PCC car #2129 at the CSX/SEPTA grade crossing at Main Street in Darby, PA.
SEPTA PCC car #2129 at the CSX/SEPTA grade crossing at Main Street in Darby, PA.
SEPTA PCC car #2129 at 49th Street & Woodland Avenue in West Philadelphia PA. This car was built by the St Louis Car Company in 1948. It is now preserved by the Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway at Colorado Springs, CO.
SEPTA Kawasaki car #9017, PCC #2129, & GM RTS bus (model T8W603) #8043 at Darby, PA in 1992.
PCC #2129 at the 80th & Eastwick loop in Philadelphia, which is the end of the Route 36. This photo was taken on January 25, 1992, the car was used on a Wilmington Chapter NRHS charter this day.
SEPTA PCC #2054 built by St Louis Car in 1941. Philadelphia, PA. 5-7-95.
SEPTA PCC #2711 at the Elmwood Depot, Philadelphia, PA.
SEPTA PCC #2728 in Philadelphia Transportation Company colors at Philadelphia, PA in 1995.
On May 7, 1995 Wilmington Chapter NRHS chartered SEPTA PCC #2799 in a Red Arrow paint scheme and PCC #2728 in the colors of the Philadelphia Transportation. The two brightly colored cars were posed side by side on Girard Avenue at 63rd Street in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Haddington.
SEPTA motor flat #W-61 & PCC #2054 at Philadelphia, PA.
Work Cars
SEPTA motor flat #W-61 at Philadelphia, PA. 1-25-92.
SEPTA crane #W-56 at Elmwood.
Motor flat # W-62 at Elmwood.
Kawasaki Streetcar
Line up of SEPTA Kawasaki cars at the Elmwood Avenue car barn in Philadelphia, PA. 1-25-92.
SEPTA Kawasaki car #9003 departs the Elmwood depot, 5-7-95.
SEPTA Kawasaki car #9023 at Philadelphia, PA.
SEPTA Kawasaki car at 49th Street & Woodland Avenue in West Philadelphia, PA in 1992.
AEM-7
SEPTA AEM-7 #2304 laying over for the weekend at Trenton, NJ. 2-9-02.
SEPTA AEM-7 #2307 at Conshohocken, PA in 1992.
Interior of the cab of SEPTA AEM-7 #2307.
SEPTA AEM-7 2307 in the yard at West Trenton NJ. It will soon power a fan trip excursion around the Philadelphia area. 3-29-92.
The Philadelphia Chapter NRHS arranged this over & under shot of SEPTA AEM-7 #2307 & P&W N-5 #451 at Norristown, PA on March 29, 1992.
AEM-7 2307 at West Trenton, NJ.
SEPTA Regional Rail:
Blueliner
SEPTA Ex-Reading Blueliner MU train on a Philadelphia Chapter NRHS special during a photo stop at Glenside, PA on June 5,1988.
SEPTA Blueliner #9128 at Wissahickon, PA. Number 9128 has been preserved by the Reading Technical and Historical Society at Hamburg, PA. According to their website this MU, Reading Class EPb was built as an 80 seat steel coach by Harlan & Hollingsworth (subsidiary of Bethlehem Steel) in 1932 and converted into a MU trailer.
SEPTA Ex-Reading class EPb Blueliner MU #9116 in 1988.
The engineer’s Controls of SEPTA Blueliner MU #9119.
Inside Blueliner MU #9114.
SEPTA Blueliners on a fan trip passing the Ex-PRR interlocking tower at Overbrook, PA on the famed Pennsy Mainline. 6-5-88.
SEPTA Blueliner #9129 at Elm Street Station in Norristown, PA in 1989.
SEPTA Blueliner #9129 at Elm Street Station in Norristown, PA in 1989.
Blueliner #9129 departs from the upper level of 30th Street Station Philadelphia, PA.
Silverliners
A train of SEPTA Silverliner IV MUs departs Cornwall Heights, PA. 1-10-10.
SEPTA Silverliner II #9004 (Ex-RDG) at the Philadelphia Airport Station in 1988.
SEPTA Silverliner III #238 on a R-1 Airport line train at the Philadelphia Airport station.
SEPTA Silverliner III #227 at West Trenton NJ. 3-29 -92. This MU was built by St Louis car in 1967.
A 3 car train of SEPTA Siverliners crossing the Delaware River at Morrisville, PA in January of 2010.
SEPTA Silverliner II #263 & Silverliner IV #182 at Lansdale, PA in April of 1993.
Silverliner IV #333 departing the upper level of 30th Street Station Philadelphia, PA in 1988.
SEPTA Silverliner IV #368 on a R-5 train arriving at the Upper Level of 30th Street Station, Philadelphia PA. 4-25-93.
Chicago Trolleys
On the Cover: Car 1747 was built between 1885 and 1893 by the Chicago City Railway, which operated lines on the South Side starting in April 1859. This is a single-truck (one set of wheels) open electric car; most likely a cable car, retrofitted with a trolley and traction motor. The man at right is conductor William Stevely Atchison (1861-1921), and this image came from his granddaughter. (Courtesy of Debbie Becker.)
Check out our new book Chicago Trolleys. Signed copies are available through our Online Store.
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Very nice collection of shots. I really appreciate the quality and variety of Mr. Gear’s work. Some clarifications/corrections on the SEPTA City Transit Division shots:
– the shot of 9023 and 2129 at Elmwood Depot is in Philadelphia (not Elmwood), PA. This applies to all of the captions for Elmwood Depot.
– 2129 was built in 1948, not 1947
– the shot of 2129 at “Island Ave. loop in Eastwick, PA” is at the 80th & Eastwick loop in Philadelphia, which is the end of the Route 36, just off Island Rd. The loop which goes by “Island Ave. loop” would be at Elmwood Ave. and Island Rd., next to the Elmwood Depot.
– the shot of 2799 and 2728 is at 63rd and Girard Ave. (not 61st) in Philadelphia. Haddington is a neighborhood designation, not a separate incorporated entity.
Again, always enjoy your blogs. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the corrections.
Thanks for the corrections and additional information. Not being a Philadelphia native nor frequent visitor, I am not very familiar with the streets. Often the photo stops on these trolley trips are very quickly decided upon and the car would be stopped and we would all pile out and start shooting. I would quickly write down any street signs I saw or scribble down a few notes and try to be as accurate as I could when putting captions on the slide mounts. Things can be so much easier now with all the “Gee Wiz” technology available today. I really appreciate your corrections and will take note of them for future reference.
Even though I am not from New Orleans I was a tour director and went there every year for the Christmas season to do tours. Your pictures all look to be right around Lee Circle. That is where the St Charles line circles twice coming and going first outbound and then inbound toward the Railroad station. Lee Circle was where a tall column with General Lee a top it stood. Don’t know if it is still there since all the Civil War monuments became out of fashion. I know the one On Canal Street was removed.
Thanks!
Thanks for the information. I know I didn’t wander far from the Amtrak station. I’d love to get back down there again someday.
I know this is primarily a rail site,but I should note a mis-identification. While there is a New Flyer D40LF numbered 8043 running for SEPTA(build in 2005), the bus seen here was a GM RTS bus(model T8W603) from1980. In addition, the views at Elmwood Depot are still within the Philadelphia City Limits. (It also applies to not so nice stuff…the 2 wrecks at Frankford Junction in 1943 and 2015 were located within Philadelphia, not at a municipality called Frankford Jct, PA…that municipality,AFAIK, has never existed, legally.)
Thanks for the corrections.