It was going to be difficult running the 20th iteration of the SEPTA Mid-Winter Trip as the COVID 19 pandemic had only only caused massive cuts to transit schedules, but also made spending the better part of a day riding around in enclosed transit vehicles. While the two most common solutions would be to either cancel the event entirely or ignore the threat of getting sick (and passing it to others), I turned the situation into an opportunity and converted the SEPTA Mid-Winter Transit Trip into a walking tour of Philadelphia rail infrastructure. Starting at the same Market East location as usual the trip would wander around the former Reading Viaduct and City Branch before heading to 30th St Station, hiking the ARSENAL loop through University City before ending with a stroll along the Schuylkill river walk and Suburban Station approach. Although only 5 people turned out for what turned out to be a brisk 8 mile walk in surprisingly warm weather, everyone had a great time and we were able to cover a lot of interesting territory not generally available to the Mid-Winter Trip in normal years. You can view the entire set of photos here ( mirror ).
In normal years I would start at Lindenwold in order to catch one of the handful of express PATCO trains, but with the express services cancelled I just started at Woodcrest Station. My inbound train was led by PATCO #1009 with #1042 bringing up the rear.
For the folks who spend their Philly time in and around Market Street, Convention Center or Central Business District, they might not realize how the old Reading line to its downtown stub end terminal was just abandoned in place in 1984 after the station closed. Subsequent redevelopment pushed back the end of the old viaduct to just north of the Vine Street expressway.
The Reading viaduct was ostensibly constructed around 1890, but as it was modified over the years it developed a bit of a Ship of Theseus feel.
The Viaduct is currently owned by the Reading Entertainment Company, the corporate successor to the Reading Railroad after its 1970's Bankruptcy. Reading Entertainment gets its name from a chain of 12 motion picture theaters that it owns in addition to a hodge-podge of real estate assets. The company has been engaged in a standoff with the city over the development of the Reading Viaduct into a linear park.
One casualty in the battle was the old Spring Garden Street Station's northbound passenger headhouse and platforms. Neglected for years, a local preservation group used an anti-blight law to sue Reading Entertainment to clean up / restore the old headhouse and platforms. Reading Entertainment choose the other option available to them, complete demolition and clearance of the site. After a court battle the structure in the photo was demolished in August 2021. Of course in December 2020 there was no way to know that would happen and therefore I only have this one photo of the building.
The real Reading Spring Garden St station building is across the tracks and has already been converted into apartments.
This area is seeing significant gentrification with one building branding itself "Aspect 281" in a serious case of cultural appropriation. Developers know that the Philly Hi-Line park is inevitable and are getting in on the action.
Arguably Philly's most famous closed subway station, Spring Garden on the Broad Ridge Spur retains some of is above ground structures.
As the City does own the old elevated ramp down to the old Reading City Branch freight line it was able to convert it into a demonstration of what a Reading Viaduct park would look like.
Although Reading Terminal was closed in 1984, SEPTA retained an easement and maintained the old 12kv overhead lines to reach the Callowhill Substation at the southern end of the City Branch Wye. This substation remained in use until 2010, at which point it was abandoned in place.
Reading cafe car #1186 was converted into a hot dog shop on a city branch spur. Years later the tracks are gone, but the car is still there awaiting an uncertain fate.
Today the below grade City Branch cut is mostly used for parking.
The group photo of those who attended was taken in front of the Art Museum.
SEPTA Silverliner IV's crossing the Schuylkill at 30th St.
While eating lunch in the 30th St parking garage, Amtrak P42DC #118 was swapping onto the westbound Pennsylvanian.
In Race Street Engine Terminal a trio of ACS's-86 numbered 668, 660 and 634, were hanging out with P42DC #99.
In the Penn Coach Yard a brand new Acela II was mixing it up with a traditional trainset, a new ballast cleaning train and the Corridor Clipper.
Amtrak GP15D #571 amd GP38-3H #527 were on hand as yard power and wound up moving to the inspection pit.
As we headed towards University City, lead ACS-86 #600 passed through the southern end of PENN interlocking with a southbound Regional as the new Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation building providing some appropriate fill lighting.
A northbound Regional soon passed by with ACS-86 #620.
At the extreme southern end of PENN interlocking we caught ACS-86 #651 with the northbound Train 92, the Silver Starve. A new footbridge at this location provides some superb views of Center City.
The reconstruction of SEPTA's ARSENAL interlocking was picking up steam as Silverliner IV #176 passes the remporary color light automatic signals at the southbound signal bridge.
The disused ARSENAl tower was also benefit from the shiny glass facades in the U Penn medical center.
While walking back towards downtown along the Schuylkill Expressway, a CSX hi-rail SUV passed over the old Arsenal drawbridge and through CP-GRAY heading towards the B&O connection. The Arsenal bridge was the route to Greenwich Yard, the PRR's major Philadelphia area freight yard and marine terminal.
Across the South Street Bridge we discoverd a CSX MoW crew doing some thermite rail welding within the limits of LOCUST interlocking.
Along the Schuylkill River Walk we found the Chestnut Street arch bridge over the former B&O in the middle of its rebuild and conservation.
One of the most interesting things we saw that day was a juvenile Red Tailed Hawk chowing down on some city pest in a strip of green space right next to the approach ramp to Suburban Station.
The bird was completely nonplussed by the passing SEPTA traffic including two sets of Silverliners IV.
After finishing their meal the hawk flapped up to a nearby lamp post to search for more food.
The trip broke up at Suburban and I walked to the 15th/16th PATCO station where rebuilt car #1064 took me back to Woodcrest.
Well I hope you enjoyed the photos and saw the importance of contingency planning. SEPTA Mid-Winter trip XXI is definitely going to take place in the traditional fashion and is currently scheduled for December 27th, 2021.
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