SEPTA Red Arrow Trolley Cars 69th Street Terminal 1980-81

[eskigee]

I remember riding the center-entrance cars in from Aldan, where I grew up. Then the Brill-Liners, the Brill Master Units, and the new St Louis(I think)cars that were introduced in 1949. The St Louis cars were the first air conditioned units on the Red Arrow Line, I believe. I could ride in to 69th Street, see a movie, and ride back for about fifty cents. Times change; I wouldn't put a child out there now without an armed guard.

[bruce8420]

I was riding Red Arrow trollies long enough that I had a ride on a Center Door Brill once when I was about 2 or 3 around 1952 ('51?). I'm 63 now and still remember climbing into the car through a door in the center. Of course, I was with my mom and we were probably going to 69th street. Thanks for keeping the memories alive through these clips. BTW, is the subway-elevated between 69th St. and Frankford still in existance? I've ridden that numerous times, also when I lived in Northeast Philly.

[imanacer]

Thanks for posting this, hoteldennis, I remember these classic machines. I began riding the 101 and 102 in the early 80's, right around the time they brought in the Suzuki things they're still using. So, sadly, though I'm a trolley jolly, I have no memories riding these Brill Beauties. And I still refer to the current one s as the "new trolleys".

[riddick3476]

seeing that septa bus really blew my mind, yo. same design as the kinda bus i seen when i was little, except, that wasn't that kind. cause this kind they showed on here, i wasn't alive when when those kinds were around, but the newer ones that was out in the '90s

[adelgado75]

How did Philly survive the 'histeria' to dismantle all of its trolley lines in favor of buses?

[boazrg]

@adelgado75 The downtown subway saved the Philly streetcars, just like the Green Line subways in Boston saved the remaining Boston streetcar operations.

[nyshortline]

Great vid. But one edit you may want to consider: I realize many sources refer to the Red Arrow "80" cars as Master Units. But after reading the J.G. Brill book by Debra Brill I learned otherwise. Brill built only 78 Master Units and could be broken down like this: 20 cars each for Porto Allegre Brazil, Lima Peru, and Lynchburg Virginia, 13 for Youngstown OH, 3 for Yakima WA, and 2 demos. The Red Arrow "80" cars were among hundreds of cars that were based on Master Unit but were not Master Units