Author: van2025ko

Route 15 is running buses indefinately.  The problem this time arose on Friday when a disabled PCC II was towed to 2336.  The torque arm on 2336 came lose and derailed the car.  SEPTA has pulled all PCC IIs out of service and at least all but two are now at Elmwood for inspections on the torque arms.  It appears as though SEPTA does not want this to happen again.  Route 15 is primarily running with Ikaruses on loan to Callowhill from other depots such as 5069 (Comly) and 5130 (Comly). This substitution will continue until repairs are completed on the PCC II fleet.

A large water main break at 3rd Street and Girard Avenues in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia has disrupted trolley service on Route 15.  This is the second time in several months this particular 30" diameter water main has broken in this area (last time was at 4th and Girard).  Water was everywhere flooding several blocks in the area.  Until repairs are made, Route 15 will be running bus service.  Whether the bus service is full route or trolleys are running as far as Girard College with buses east of there is unknown (more than likely full route).  At least three PCC II trolleys were reported to be stranded east of the water main break.  According to Chuck Green, these operators were being driven back to Callowhill by a supervisor.  It is unknown what will happen to these trolleys as to whether they will stay at Madison Loop until the line is restored or if they will be trucked back to Callowhill.  Stay tuned for updates.

Several New Flyers based out of Comly are currenty out of service for corrosion problems.  The buses are 5471, 5481, 5489, 5542, 5543, and 5545.  It is unknown as to where the corrosion came from but these buses were out of service as of yesterday and today.  More to follow as information becomes available.

5617 (Midvale) is the first 2003 New Flyer D40LF to enter the overhaul process.  5617 went into VOH on the 18th of December and will be in for 60 days.  The overhaul of the 5500 series New Flyers and the light overhaul of some of the American Ikarus fleet is progessing as well.  Over half of the 5500 series New Flyers have been overhauled as of today.

With special thanks to our members, there have been a total of 4 videos/sounds that has been uploaded to the site within the past week. The most recent video, is the taping from 30th street station to 15th street station. Like the others, it’s an extremely fascinating video.

Back in August, Southern 5368 went in for overhaul.  This bus became the prototype for the second overhaul of the 1996-97 American Ikarus 416 overhauls.  Buses in this program are receiving a Light OverHaul (LOH).  Most likely this means a freshening up since these buses will start to be phased out beginning in 2009.  Thus far one 5200 series Ikarus (5300) and several 5300s from Red Arrow (5313, 5314), Frontier (5327, 5328, 5335), Frankford (5344), and Southern (5368, 5382, 5395) have been in or are going through this program.  Expect mostly 5300s and some 5200s to be involved in this overhaul.  Since these overhauls are going on, the overhaul of 5500s out of Red Arrow has slowed down.  Currently only 5594 is known to be in overhaul.

Finally, route 20 will be extended to Bensalem to serve the Philadelphia Race Park Casino.  This extension will happen through a special route 20 shuttle, running between Franklin Mills Mall to the Race Park from tomorrow, December 17, to February 10, 2007.  Then, this shuttle will be discontinued, and the new route 50 will start service on February 11, 2007, running through service from Frankford TC to the Race Park via Franklin Mills Mall.

Brandon, a PTV manager, has made a recording of  NJT’s #4201, the  Millennium RTS bus. This bus is powered by the Caterpillar C9 280HP engine with the ZF Ecomat 6 speed transmission.

Check it out..
http://philadelphiatransitvehicles.cjb.net/mutimedia/displayimage.php?album=73&pos=0
Also, Jayayess1190, a forum member has a few videos posted in the gallery as well.

Yesterday, the SEPTA board approved the use of capital budget funds to fill in the 36 million dollar defeceit in the operating budget.  Among the capital programs affected include the renovation of several Broad Street line stations like Girard.  Also receiving cuts in funds is the bus replacement program.  No new buses until 2009.  That means the American Ikarus buses which were scheduled to be replaced in 2008 will have to hang on for another year or so.  Several Regional Rail station improvements are also affected by the shifting of funds from the capital to the operating budget.  Also delayed will be the improvement of the fare collection system which was “state of the art” when SEPTA introduced it in the mid 1990s and now obsolete to other large TAs and even some smaller ones within PA.  This includes replacing tokens with fare debit cards similar to New York City MTA’s Metrocard program.  This means no service cuts or fare hikes for the time being.  Fare hikes and service cuts may be presented beginning in the summer.  If SEPTA were to just raise fares now, by the time it was implemeneted, it would take way too long since they need to put together a proposal, announce public hearings at least 1 month in advance, hold hearings, gather information from the hearings, have the board approve it, then make plans for implementation.  The flexing of highway funds which Rendell diverted in 2004 run out at the end of the year. 

NJT's new Comet VI Bombardier "Multilevel" cars are now in revenue service.  Train #3844 on the Northeast Corridor route debuted this equipment.  The train departed (regular service) at high noon today from Trenton, NJ.  The train operated to New York Penn in all local service except for skipping North Elizabeth.  The train deadheaded back to Trenton from NYP to carry the brass that was on the train.  A forum member rode the train and gave a thumbs up from his ride on the upper level.  The cars were pulled by ALP-46 4627 and cars 7504, 7506, restroom trailer 7202, 7505, 7503, and cab car  (with restroom) 7002.  New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine (D) and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D) were supposed to ride the train however they were a no show possibly due to a state worker and teacher rally at the capitol.