23-12-27 PHOTOS: SEPTA Mid-Winter Trip XXIII

The 23rd installment of my annual SEPTA Mid-Winter Trip was constructed around the new R3 Wawa service and taking the Route 13 streetcar to the Yeadon Loop, two specific activities that had as of yet not been attempted on this transit riding series. After lunch at Reading Terminal Market, the afternoon consisted of a round trip on the R5 to Lansdale, with a transfer to the Broad Street Line at Fern Rock for the customary express ride back to Centre City. You can find the full set of photos here ( mirror ) and stay tuned for an additional video post.


For my the trip started at the Woodcrest PATCO park n ride. However unlike years past there would be no express runs on offer so I just headed downtown on the first available train, which turned out to have rebuilt car #1032 leading.

After getting everyone together at Market East, we proceeded to the PRR-bound platform to catch an R3 to the new Wawa station. At some point SEPTA Silverliner V #703 made an appearance, however our train to Wawa would consist of Silverliners IV.

Although the station had opened in 2022, the SEPTA Mid-Winter Trip XXI had already visited the old Elwyn terminal and I didn't want to have back-to-back years riding the full length of the R3 so I deferred this particular destination to 2023. Here we see the morning crew posing with SEPTA Silverliner IV #351 at the new Wawa station platform.

After a 20 minute layover we got back on the same set of Silverliners IV and proceeded to the Clinton-Alden stop to a Route 102 transfer. Here Silverliner IV #138 departs towards Centre City.

After a block walk to the vintage Route 102 Clifton-Alden suburban trolley shelter, we boarded K-Car #121 for the ride to 69th St.

Passing Route 102 K-car #115 near Drexel Hill Jct.

SEPTA Suburban K-car #121 after arrival at 69th St.

Down on the Market-Frankford Line platforms an inbound train led by M-4 car #1131, rounds the loop to platform on track #3 for the return run.

Transferring to the Surface Subway streetcar, we got a look at the finally completed refurbishment.

Emerging from the trolley portal at 40th St, I got this photo of K-car #9087 running on a Route 11 service, leaving it behind at the Chester Ave junction.

Our run was delayed twice, the first waiting on a trash truck and the second waiting on a mis-parked Fed Ex van, seen here with K-Car #9036.

While we had ridden the entirety of the Route 13 before, it had only been to/from the Darby terminal, so riding to the Yeadon Loop was technically a "new" thing for the Mid-Winter Trip to do. Here Fred G gets off K-Car #9041 while #9040 passes by after arriving from Darby.

After hanging out on the loop with #9031, #9041 advances to return us to Centre City.

After getting discharged at 13th and Juniper, I got this photo of following Route 36 K-Car #9063.

After lunch we returned to Market East for a trip out to Lansdale on the R5. Here we see Silverliner IV #175 on an R2 Warminster run.

Silverliner IV #426 at the tail end of our train departing the Lansdale station en-route to Doylestown.

The Lansdale terminal area serves as the interchange point for the Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad and by extension the East Penn Railroad, who both operate freight services on the former Reading Bethlehem Branch, now owned by SEPTA. CSX delivers cars via the Stony Creek Branch and SD40-2 #8833 and #8711 were hanging out in the interchange yard.

Penn Northeastern is best known for operating the last C39-8 locomotive in North America, #8212, which was sitting on a siding just north of the Lansdale station complex.

Although the rebuilt Lansdale substation has lost most of its charm, it still operates on 25hz and you can hear when trains on the Doylestown branch take power. Interestingly the Reading's electrification power equipment installed in the 1930's was also provided by ABB.

Our return train to Center City showed up with Silverliner V #710 in the lead.

Due to the rain front facing photos were pretty much impossible, however I did manage this shot of CARMEL junction and a SEPTA push-pull set stored on the old R1 turnback track with cab car #2406.

Number 710 again at Fern Rock next to Silverliner IV #347.

The evening arrival at Fern Rock provided the opportunity to catch the outbound push-pull sets as they expressed to the suburbs. This kicked off by the set led by ACS-86 #907 heading off for its revenue run from its mid-day storage location at Fern Rock's third station track.

Next up was #905 and what I believe was the West Trenton run.

This was followed by the set that was stored at the Glenside siding with ACS-86 #910 and cab car #2406.

With light fading we got on the Broad Street Line. Here B-IV car #522 waits at the end of an all stops local.

Although we opted for an express run, a signal failure required keying by every automatic signal between Erie and North Philadelphia.



Unlike the phone system, #555 does exist on SEPTA and eventually got us to Walnut-Locust where it proceeded to turn back for a northbound express run.

At this point I would wrap up the trip with a quick transfer back to PATCO, however after exiting SEPTA fare control I discovered that most of the PATCO entrances had been closed by the city being otherwise unable to clear homeless camps due to the ongoing police strike.

Rebuilt PATCO car #1039 eventually returned me to Woodcrest.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for a followup video post covering the Route 13 run. Also don't forget that this year's trip will take place on Monday December 30th, 9am at Market East.