Double ender #101 wrapped for Media trolley centennial

#101 was on display for Media Day on Sunday.
It was wrapped in response to a request by Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys.

Well, THAT is a cool picture.

More like that, please.

It does greatly resemble the Pacific Electric livery of deep red with golden trim.

I managed to stop by there on Sunday as well.

With a bit of sun in the shot..... Click to enlarge
http://s752.photobucket.com/user/TRANSI ... sort=3&o=8


and Recorded a Video of it going back to 69th

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr19qqcS960

Saw it arriving in Media last night as we were heading back to the train from the fare and budget hearing.

Could you imagine the SEPTA of five-ten years ago doing anything like this?

That's interesting. The comment about it looking like PEry is spot on - was there historical precedent for SEPTA predecessors painting cars in bright red, or is it a bit of creative license?

Tadman wrote:... was there historical precedent for SEPTA predecessors painting cars in bright red, or is it a bit of creative license?

Lots of precedent. Early Phila & West Chester cars were red: PST car in early livery, Electric City Museum, Scranton

Red Arrow switched to a darker red/maroon, similar to PRR Tuscan red: Brill #78 wearing a full coat of dark maroon

The final pre-SEPTA paint scheme was two-toned: Double-ended PCC #14 in maroon and cream

I remember that combo was popular in the 50s - Mercury offered a sedan in almost the same colors. When they started to appear on the used-car market the running joke was that the newspaper ads' abbreviation "two-tn rd & crm" really meant "two tons of rusted and corroded metal"

some photos from Sunday's Friends of Phiadelphia Trolleys charter:
Darby Creek on Route 102
Lansdowne Ave
100 and 101 coupled

When I volunteered for the Buckingham Valley Trolley Association I remember someone mentioned that they got "Red Arrow Red" from a major paint store's custom catalog, and some folks still complained the color was wrong.
Apparently catalog specifications faded faster than those folks' memories

Seriously though, it's also possible the fresh paint the store mixed up based on the catalog could also look a little different than what had been on the cars after a few years service.

chuchubob wrote:some photos from Sunday's Friends of Phiadelphia Trolleys charter

Really nice pix, Bob!

I agree with Matt. SEPTA's still got a long way to go but 10 or 15 years ago I couldn't imagine them doing anything to respect their history.

Jeffk, I think your imagination's a bit limited
http://www.phillytrolley.org/tracks3.html

PCC 2799 turns onto Bainbridge Street from 12th St. in December 1996

Red arrow colors
http://www.phillytrolley.org/IMAGES/PCS2799.JPG

In the 1990's, PCC 2728 was repainted in the 1938-40 silver and blue livery that had been originally applied to Philadelphia's first prewar PCCs. Here it is seen turning from Noble Street to 12th during the December 1996 revival of the Center City Welcome Line, aka the Holiday Trolley.

http://www.phillytrolley.org/IMAGES/PCC2728.JPG

and the page shows 2 other SEPTA PCC's painted in predecessor PTC colors

Tadman wrote:That's interesting. The comment about it looking like PEry is spot on - was there historical precedent for SEPTA predecessors painting cars in bright red, or is it a bit of creative license?

To amplify a bit the prior answers: That shade of Red was the standard color for the Red Arrow Lines predecessor Philadelphia & West Chester Traction Company's rail cars throughout most of its history, especially for the Center Door Cars. Also it was applied to the 1932 80 series Brill Lightweight cars when they were origianlly delivered from Brill. Even after the P&WCT became the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Co. ( Red Arrow Lines) that color was originally applied to the Brilliners but with a silver stripe running the length of the car at the belt rail, and dipping into a "V" on each end underneath the windshield. The P&W also applied it originally to its 60 ( later 160) series Strafford Cars and to the Bullet Cars.

Great idea, SEPTA. I'll forward this to some of my friends with Metro Transit connections - would love to see one of our new Siemens units wrapped like a TCRT-built Standard car.

I haven't been able to spot #101 yet, but today I passed #125 (I think) while it was street running. It's got a full wrap, mostly blue, for RCN. It does turn your head. A blue K-Car really seems odd to see.