ww.RonRailPictures.com PHILADELPHIA MEMORIES
VOLUME THREE - THE RED ARROW TROLLEYS
The story of a surviving suburban trolley system from the 1950's to today. Includes Routes 101 - 102 - 103 and 104. As seen through the Super-8 lens of Gary Grahl, a look back at the marvelous Brill, St. Louis and Kawasaki rail cars through Delaware County to West Chester, Ardmore, Sharon Hill and Media. 126 Minutes ONLY $29.95
VOLUME TWO - SUBWAY AND SURFACE LINES
Philadelphia SEPTA City Transit: Juniper St to 40th St subway lines through Woodland and Chester Ave surface lines and more. 1970’s PCC Cars through 1980’s Kawasaki. Experimental color schemes and one of a kinds. Includes Routes 10 - 11 - 13 - 34 - 36. ONLY $29.95
The Colorfull Years - 1970’s and 1980’s
PHILADELPHIA MEMORIES
VOLUME 1 SURFACE LINES
RonRail w Pictures
Metrolink Extension to Perris
METROLINK IS THE COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE operating in the Los Angeles region. In 2013, the decision was made to move ahead on the extension of service from Riverside to Perris, the first major extension of service in about 20 years. The 24 mile long extension would touch North Riverside and North Valley on the way to Perris. Stations are planned for Hunter Park, March Field Air Reserve Base, and South Perris. Perris is home of the excel- lent Orange Empire Railway Museum. The Perris extension is expected to cost
1 Hour 7 Minutes
VOLUME ONE - SURFACE LINES
Two Discs Set 2 Hrs 23 Min Two Discs Set 2 Hours 23 Minutes
Includes Routes 6 - 15 - 23 53 - 56 - 60
From the lens of Gary Grahl. See Philadelphia PCC’s during the color- ful 1970’ and 1980’s on Routes 6, 15, 23, 53, 56, and 60. ONLY $29.95
Add $4.00 S&H per order (PA add 6% tax) See us on the web at
www.ronrailpictures.com or mail check or M/O to RonRail Pictures, DeptT
5552 Republic Way, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Connecticut Company’s Streetcars
Relive the days of Connecticut Company's big yellow cars... Profusely illustrated, this book covers every division of the Connecticut Company, the trolley empire controlled by the New Haven Railroad. This book features nearly every type of trolley car operated across the Nutmeg State until shutdown in 1948.
CONNECTICUT
STREETCARS SOFTCOVER
$21.95 PLUS S&H - ITEM #C00082 Carstens PUBLICATIONS, INC.
CARSTENSBOOKSTORE.COM (888) 526-5365
50 MAY 2014 •
RAILFAN.COM
$247 million and take about three years to complete. The project got started in 2002 and received support in a transportation in- vestment plan approved by Riverside Coun- ty voters. When completed, the rail line should make it more of a pleasure to visit the Railway Museum. Thanks to John A. Lee for the news.
PATCO Maintenance Efforts PATCO is the rail operation of the Delaware River Port Authority. Among other activi- ties, PATCO operates rapid transit trains between downtown Philadelphia and Lin- denwold, N.J. Once the bright line of modern sophisticated rail transit, and a model for the U.S., it is now showing its age. PATCO decided not to buy new rolling
stock and is in the midst of refurbishing its 120 car fleet as well as upgrading stations and working on the track structure. A really, really big problem is the aging and increas- ingly failure-prone escalators. Attempts to improve the situation have been lengthy and often unending; patrons are not happy and are complaining loudly. The situation became desperate enough for PATO to enlist the aid of SEPTA to do the escalator repairs. SEPTA has a $100,000 contract to work on the escalators and elevators from the last part of 2013 into 2014. SEPTA has its own crew of escalator and elevator technicians, whereas PATCO, with a smaller installa- tion, must rely on outside help. The weak link in a rail journey may be simply getting to the platforms. Please get after your local rail system to use preventive maintenance to assure smooth journeys. Thanks to David Harris for this information.
Proposed Subway Expansion in D.C. Four decades ago, when the Washington Metrorail system was being planned, Georgetown was left out because George- town residents did not want to be included. Now the Metrorail system is middle-aged and needs refreshing and expansion. New rolling stock and station upgrades will help, but new lines are deemed necessary to re- lieve serious congestion. Rosslyn is a major bottleneck, and with
both the Blue and Oranges Lines sharing the same tracks additional tunnels and lines are needed. A Rosslyn II station is proposed as part of a service operating to Georgetown University. From there, the proposed service will run through Georgetown and east un- derground through a new Farragut Station, stations at Thomas Circle and Convention
Center, along with an additional subway station to serve Union Station. The plans may not be fully realized, but an important objective is to provide relatively direct rapid transit routes between key points in the na- tion’s capital —for example, a one-train ride between Union Station and the Pentagon, or a one-train ride from the capitol area to Washington National Airport. Whatever is finally carried out will take
years to complete; 2040 or 2050 is probably a realistic estimate. Raising the billions of dollars it will take for the subway expansion to reach fruition will take both time and skillful political action. Getting the states of Maryland and Virginia, and the District of Columbia to come to an equitable financial arrangement will not be an easy task. Many thanks to David Harris for the information.
Brrrrrr!! On the last day of meteorological winter —that’s the last day of February — many robins were in the yard as I opened a letter from Andrew Malcolm telling me how cold it was during a trip he made to Canada. Here in Indiana, there have been many places with temperatures below zero this winter and Indianapolis had record snow- falls. The bitter weather led to frozen switch- es, unenthusiastic diesel engines reluctant to start or operate smoothly, electric locomo- tives and m.u. cars suffering from frozen brakes, and many other difficulties for tran- sit systems I’m sure. Heavy snow blocked tracks and made operations difficult throughout the Midwest and East. I hope spring is finally present when you read this.
Travel Posters from London The posters created for the London Under- ground were the inspiration for the splendid posters designed for Chicago Rapid Transit, the South Shore Line, and the North Shore Line during the time they were under the aegis of Samuel Insull. The South Shore Line posters have been widely reproduced and books have been published showing the colorful artwork. More posters are being cre- ated by groups promoting the South Shore Line area along Lake Michigan as a good place to live and do business. Thanks to John Spychalski for the news.
Tacoma Link Light Rail Extension Decisions have to be made in Tacoma, Wash., on the expansion of the Tacoma Link light rail line. At the present time, Tacoma Link is a 1.6 mile line between the Dome District
PLEASE SEND light rail, tran- sit and commuter rail news items and correspondence di- rectly to Prof. George M. Smerk, P.O. Box 486, Bloomington, IN 47402.
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