The PRR Main Line between ZOO interlocking in Philadelphia and Paoli has been largely untouched from a signaling perspective since the PRR days of the 1940's. PAOLI, ZOO and OVERBROOK towers are still manned interlocking stations, the 4-track main line has three single direction ABS 251 tracks and a single bi-directional track operating under decentralized traffic control. The signals are PRR amber, the overhead wires are from 1915 and unfortunately plans to modernize the whole lot are creeping ever closer. With this in mind I have shifted my signal documentation focus to this part of the Main Line. Since I had already covered the two automatic signal locations between OVERBROOK and BRYN MARY back in 2016, the next two stops on my list were the Milepost 11 and Milepost 13 automatic signals at Villanova and Radnor respectively. Also because this was the PRR Main Line, there was no shortage of SEPTA and Amtrak action in addition to the signals and you can find it all right here ( mirror ).
First up at Villanova was an inbound R5 led by SEPTA Silverliner IV #300.
This was followed shortly by an outbound R5 with SEPTA Silverliner IV #423. The track 1 MP 11.8 signal on the PRR signal bridge is still displaying an Approach indication after the passage of the previous train.
The low level Villanova station retains its PRR era platform shelters. Here we see the same train with Silverliner IV #406 on the rear.
An eastbound Amtrak Keystone was next to arrive on track #1 with ACS-86 #605 on the front and, due to a shortage of Metroliner Cab Cars, #612 was on the rear. Where the 1915 catenary poles go from rusty to a copper oxide green denotes the line between Montgomery and Delaware counties as Montgomery County paid to repaint all of the catenary structure within its jurisdiction about 25 years ago.
The Villanova station building is still in use as a coffee shoppe, while the eastbound shelter is directly adjacent to the campus of thee time NCAA Mens Division 1 Basketball National Champion Villanova University.
Because an overhead walkway and elevator structure was unacceptable to
the community, a brand new ramp and underpass was constructed for use by
ADA's.
Padiddle Silverliner IV #367 was at the head of the next inbound R5 on track #1.
I got some video of the local departing and on a hunch I held the shot and caught the meet with the next eastbound Amtrak Keystone on track #3.
This was then followed by a westbound R5 on track #2, bookended by Silverliners IV #418 and #109.
On my way over to the Radnor R5 station, I stopped by the Route 100 station to photograph a Norristown bound train with N5 car #135. While there I learned that the stop request system for waiting passengers had just been decommissioned in the name of making the line run slower.
SEPTA Silverliner's IV #165 and #436 with an inbound R5 local at Radnor. You can see the heat coming off the roof mounted dynamic brake resistance grids on #436.
Former PRR station building at Radnor. Today it is used to store cardboard boxes for SEPTA.
At the Milepost 13.3 automatic signal I caught the outbound R5 local with 5 Silverliners IV including #356 and #284.
Amtrak Train 42, the easbound Pennsylvanian was running mostly on time as it passed under the 113 signal bridge with P42DC #118 in the lead.
Unfortunately I was out of position to catch the next inbound R5, but here's a video anyway along with a photo of the signal bridge in the eastbound direction.
I did this as part of my return to Maryland after the holidays and after taking the Blue Route to I95 I caught this CSX Philly Sub train with ET44AC #3411 at Chester.
Well that's it for the PRR Main Line. Next week I close out 2021 with a few B&O photos in the Washington Area.
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