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the public want a northern route chosen that would probably involve use of the Am- trak bridge across Trail Creek. My own feel- ing is that continuing the current route, but making the area along the tracks into a boulevard with landscaping might be the best and most effective route. This will take some time to resolve. Meanwhile, the 300 se- ries cars, (the bilevel gallery cars) are still suffering some electrical problems. One thing is evident from the patronage


figures. The economy is very slowly gaining traction as ridership on rush-hour trains ex- pands at a glacial pace. Thanks to Carl Edd for the information.


DVD


Flashes The new EXPOSITION LINE light rail ser- vice in Los Angeles began test runs in the spring of 2011. The first phase of line con- struction will eventually reach Culver City in the downtown area near the Kirk Douglas Theater. The was some concern that con- struction would only go as far west as La Cienega Boulevard, about seven-tenths of a mile short of downtown. Come 2012 hope is that downtown will be reached and service should begin on the first phase by 2012. Thanks to Douglas I. Duncan for the news. Does any reader remember a photograph


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that appeared in RAILROAD MAGAZINE some years ago showing a BIRNEY CAR with a hole in its front end for an automobile radi- ator so the car could be propelled by a gaso- line engine? The information is desired by David F. Cosgrove who lost his magazine col- lection. If some good person knows when that picture appeared, please drop a postcard and I’ll inform Mr. Cosgrove. Thank you. LONG ISLAND’S shape resembles a fish


swimming west. The fishtail is the fork at the east end of the island, with Greenport at the north fork and Montauk at the south. To save money, service has been cut way back on the north fork. A regular Montauk service re- mains. Thanks to Tim Moriarty for the news. To pay for new commuter rail cars and to


conduct repairs on the dilapidated Wayne Junction station, SEPTA, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, is borrowing $250 million. The transit author- ity has not needed to borrow funds for about a dozen years. SEPTA hopes to repay the money over a 25-year period. David Harris and Fred Cole supplied the news. The Washington Post is warning readers


that Republican plans to gut federal spend- ing on transit and Washington’s METRO- POLITAN AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY will lead to drastic service cuts and major reduction of repair and re- furbishment will be necessary. It is not a pretty picture. Thanks to Brian Wilcox and David Harris for the news. David Harris reports that plans are afoot


to extend SEPTA commuter service from Lansdale to Hatfield, Souderton, Telford, Pennridge, and perhaps on to Perkasie and Quakertown. That sounds like a resurrec- tion of the Lehigh Valley Transit Liberty Limited route, but it would really be a re- suscitation of the old Reading Company line to Bethlehem. If this project proceeds, it would improve transportation options for people in upper Montgomery and Bucks counties. As if often the case, the big diffi- culty in carrying out the plans is paying for it. Pennsylvania is not overflowing with money thee days, and the U.S. Congress seems bent on not spending any.


52 MARCH 2012 • RAILFAN.COM


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