SEPTA’s Southern Depot has been condemned by the City of Philadelphia’s department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I). L&I condemned the building following an explosion of a boiler on Wednesday morning, March 22nd, shortly after 7 am. Three SEPTA workers performing a routine inspection were injured, two seriously burned, when the boiler exploded. Because of the condemnation, Southern’s fleet is being parked in a portion of the parking lot of Citizen’s Bank Park near 10th and Packer and the fleet is being serviced and fueled at other depots until it is safe to occupy Southern depot. The building sustained some damage from the explosion. The Citizen’s Bank Park parking Lot is under SEPTA Transit Police supervision so don’t try to go down there to get pictures or anything because you will get caught.
Since Southern is a ULSD depot, expect to see only a few Hybrids in operation due to the fact that they can only run off of ULSD #1. The 8000s are the same way but forum poster Jesse Hunley reports that 8013 was at Callowhill depot recently getting fueled. Could this mean the 8000s can take on regular diesel #2? Stay tuned for more information. It is unknown whether just the building or the entire property of Southern Depot was condemned. Depot personnel may be able to access the fueling area to fuel the ULSD buses. Southern was scheduled to have an all ULSD depot by now with all the New Flyers (Hybrids and 8000s) running off of ULSD already and the NABIs (5349-5350, 5353-5400) scheduled to be converted to run off of ULSD as well. Southern is also supposed to be the central location for the Cummins ISL parts since the 32 Hybrids and 120 8000s have Cummins ISLs as opposed to the now discontinued Detroit Diesel Series 50 that most other 40 foot buses at SEPTA operate with. Keep watch here and on our forums for more information and as to how long Southern Depot will be out of service.
Remember, baseball season is around the corner and SEPTA has until March 31st to vacate the Citizen’s Bank Park lot since the Phillies play their first game at CBP on April 1st in exhibition play and April 3rd for the season opener. If Southern Depot should be out of service longer than expected, who knows where Southern’s fleet will be stored. Best guesses would point towards the parking lot at Lincoln Financial Field or a portion of the old Philadelphia Naval Yard. It is also not known as to where the drivers are reporting to get their assignments since the Southern Depot lounge would likely be closed as well due to the condemnation. Once again, stay tuned for more on this still developing story.
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