SEPTA Route 50 (trolley): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox bus line |
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{{multiple issues|wikify =May 2010|dead end =May 2010|orphan =May 2010}} |
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|number=Route 50 |
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|logo= |
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|logo_width= |
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|bgcolor= |
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|box_color= |
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|image=SEPTA 2275 5th and Market May 1976xRP - Flickr - drewj1946.jpg |
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|image_width= |
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|caption=The former Route 50 Trolley at 5th and Market Streets in May 1976. |
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|system= |
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|status=Operational (as bus line) |
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|operator=[[Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority]] |
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|garage= Luzerne Depot |
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|vehicle= |
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|pvr= |
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|open=1858 |
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|close=1980 (as a streetcar line) |
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|predecessors= |
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|locale=[[Philadelphia]] |
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|communities=[[Fox Chase, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Fox Chase]], [[Lawndale, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Lawndale]], [[Logan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Logan]], [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City]], [[South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|South Philadelphia]] |
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|landmarks= |
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|start=6th & Oregon |
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|via= Fifth Street, Oxford Avenue, Rising Sun Avenue |
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|end=Rising Sun & Knorr |
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|length= |
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|frequency= |
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|time= |
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|ridership= 643,720 (FY19) |
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|map={{SEPTA Route 50}} |
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|map_name= |
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}} |
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__NOTOC__ <!-- TOC unneeded for an article this short. --> |
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'''Route 50''' is a former [[tram|streetcar]] line that was operated by [[SEPTA]] in [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania. |
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⚫ | The route ran from the [[Northeast Philadelphia]] neighborhood of [[Fox Chase, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Fox Chase]] on Oxford Avenue and then through [[Lawndale, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Lawndale]] along Rising Sun Avenue, and for a brief period it also shared tracks with SEPTA Trolley Route 47, which was abandoned by the SEPTA Board on June 14, 1969. The Route 50 line then ran southbound down 6th Street in [[North Philadelphia]] and then onto 4th and northbound 5th streets in [[South Philadelphia]] to and from its southern terminus of 6th Street and Oregon Avenue. A grade-separated subway tunnel was constructed for Route 50 to use while running north under [[Vine Street (Philadelphia)|Vine Street]]. Vine Street Station was the only stop underground, and still exists today, albeit boarded up. The tunnel is still used today by vehicle traffic, and its [[Philadelphia Transportation Company]] heritage is evident in its design. |
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'''SEPTA Trolley Route 50''' is a former [[Tram|street car]] line and current [[bus]] route, operated by the [[Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority]] (SEPTA) in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[United States]]. |
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In 1976, this line saw and used the 1934 Blackpool England "Boat Car" trolley during the Bicentennial of the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]]. SEPTA stopped running trolleys on October 11, 1980,<ref>[http://www.phillytrolley.org/routes.html Philadelphia Trolley Routes: By The Numbers (Philadelphia Trolley Tracks)]</ref> claiming the closure was temporary, however the tracks & overhead wires remained in place. In 1983 despite denials by SEPTA management that the closure was intended to be permanent, SEPTA track crews tore up the Route 50 trolley tracks on 5th Street south of Girard Avenue. |
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⚫ | Route 50 cars were stored at the former Luzerne Carhouse, which was located on the southwest corner of 10th and Luzerne streets. Luzerne Carhouse was shared by the [[SEPTA Route 53|Route 53]] and [[SEPTA Route 56|56]] trolleys, before it was converted into an all bus garage. Today it survives as a cardboard [[recycling]] plant.<ref>[http://www.phillytrolley.org/SIAcarbarns/luzernedepot200701.html Luzerne Depot; SIA Philadelphia Car Barn Tour (PhillyTrolley.org)]</ref><ref>[http://www.phillytrolley.org/luzerne.html Luzerne Depot (PhillyTrolley.org)]</ref> |
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⚫ | |||
==Decline and revival in name only== |
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⚫ | |||
Despite public criticism by community and transit advocates, SEPTA voted to close the Route 50 trolley line permanently on October 23, 1985. Additionally, the plan involved the closing of the [[SEPTA Route 6]] trolley line along Ogontz Avenue, which was not eliminated and replaced with a bus line until January 11, 1986.<ref>SEPTA DERAILS 2 TROLLEY LINES, by Frank Dougherty; Daily News Staff Writer (Philadelphia Daily News (PA) - Thursday, October 24, 1985)</ref> Earlier the same year, the [[SEPTA Route 53|Route 53]] (Wayne Avenue) trolley was also closed, on May 16, 1985.<ref>[http://www.chicagorailfan.com/phldatec.html Philadelphia Transit Routes (Chicago Transit & Railfan Web Site)]</ref> |
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==Current service== |
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⚫ | [[SEPTA Route 50]] is a [[SEPTA]] bus line in [[Northeast Philadelphia]], which runs from the [[Frankford Transportation Center]] to [[Parx Casino and Racing]] in [[Bensalem Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Bensalem]]. All buses along this route are [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990|ADA]]-compliant, and contain bicycle racks. |
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Here's what the Philadelphia Daily News had to say, on October 24, 1985: |
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==SEPTA DERAILS 2 TROLLEY LINES== |
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"In a meeting marked by debate and public criticism, the SEPTA board yesterday reluctantly voted to close two Philadelphia Streetcar Trolley Lines so they could be converted to Bus Operations, which were '''Route '''6''' (Ogontz Avenue)''' & '''[[SEPTA Route 53|Route 53]] (Wayne Avenue)'''. Philadelphia's two Representatives on the 11 - SEPTA Member Board. Harris said Board Members should be more concerned with improving public transit than destroying it." |
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⚫ | |||
==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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<!--*[http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=0EB298131F6C3FE6&p_docnum=2&p_queryname=1 SEPTA DERAILS 2 TROLLEY LINES, by Frank Dougherty; Daily News Staff Writer |
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(Philadelphia Daily News (PA) - Thursday, October 24, 1985) - via Newsbank.com]--> |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.phillytrolley.org/1974history/14-15.html 1974 SEPTA Trolley History Brochure] |
*[http://www.phillytrolley.org/1974history/14-15.html 1974 SEPTA Trolley History Brochure] |
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{{SEPTA|state=autocollapse}} |
{{SEPTA|state=autocollapse}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{SEPTA-stub}} |
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[[Category:Bus transportation in Pennsylvania]] |
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[[Category:SEPTA|50]] |
[[Category:SEPTA|50]] |
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[[Category:SEPTA Light Rail|50]] |
[[Category:SEPTA Light Rail|50]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Tram routes in Philadelphia]] |
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[[Category:Transportation in Philadelphia]] |
Latest revision as of 19:42, 7 September 2024
Route 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operator | Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Garage | Luzerne Depot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status | Operational (as bus line) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Began service | 1858 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ended service | 1980 (as a streetcar line) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Route | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Locale | Philadelphia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Communities served | Fox Chase, Lawndale, Logan, Center City, South Philadelphia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Start | 6th & Oregon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Via | Fifth Street, Oxford Avenue, Rising Sun Avenue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
End | Rising Sun & Knorr | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ridership | 643,720 (FY19) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Route 50 is a former streetcar line that was operated by SEPTA in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The route ran from the Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood of Fox Chase on Oxford Avenue and then through Lawndale along Rising Sun Avenue, and for a brief period it also shared tracks with SEPTA Trolley Route 47, which was abandoned by the SEPTA Board on June 14, 1969. The Route 50 line then ran southbound down 6th Street in North Philadelphia and then onto 4th and northbound 5th streets in South Philadelphia to and from its southern terminus of 6th Street and Oregon Avenue. A grade-separated subway tunnel was constructed for Route 50 to use while running north under Vine Street. Vine Street Station was the only stop underground, and still exists today, albeit boarded up. The tunnel is still used today by vehicle traffic, and its Philadelphia Transportation Company heritage is evident in its design.
In 1976, this line saw and used the 1934 Blackpool England "Boat Car" trolley during the Bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence. SEPTA stopped running trolleys on October 11, 1980,[1] claiming the closure was temporary, however the tracks & overhead wires remained in place. In 1983 despite denials by SEPTA management that the closure was intended to be permanent, SEPTA track crews tore up the Route 50 trolley tracks on 5th Street south of Girard Avenue.
Route 50 cars were stored at the former Luzerne Carhouse, which was located on the southwest corner of 10th and Luzerne streets. Luzerne Carhouse was shared by the Route 53 and 56 trolleys, before it was converted into an all bus garage. Today it survives as a cardboard recycling plant.[2][3]
Decline and revival in name only
[edit]Despite public criticism by community and transit advocates, SEPTA voted to close the Route 50 trolley line permanently on October 23, 1985. Additionally, the plan involved the closing of the SEPTA Route 6 trolley line along Ogontz Avenue, which was not eliminated and replaced with a bus line until January 11, 1986.[4] Earlier the same year, the Route 53 (Wayne Avenue) trolley was also closed, on May 16, 1985.[5]
Current service
[edit]SEPTA Route 50 is a SEPTA bus line in Northeast Philadelphia, which runs from the Frankford Transportation Center to Parx Casino and Racing in Bensalem. All buses along this route are ADA-compliant, and contain bicycle racks.
References
[edit]- ^ Philadelphia Trolley Routes: By The Numbers (Philadelphia Trolley Tracks)
- ^ Luzerne Depot; SIA Philadelphia Car Barn Tour (PhillyTrolley.org)
- ^ Luzerne Depot (PhillyTrolley.org)
- ^ SEPTA DERAILS 2 TROLLEY LINES, by Frank Dougherty; Daily News Staff Writer (Philadelphia Daily News (PA) - Thursday, October 24, 1985)
- ^ Philadelphia Transit Routes (Chicago Transit & Railfan Web Site)