Forget back to the Future...let's go back to the 'Fest.
The following is scanned text from the Gerry Williams column "SEPTA Scene" in the December 1995 issue of RailPace.
The following is scanned text from the Gerry Williams column "SEPTA Scene" in the December 1995 issue of RailPace.
TROLLEYFEST 1995!P.S. -- R.I.P. Gerry, we miss your insight on Delaware Valley transit issues.
SEPTA's TrolleyFest was held over the weekend of October 21-22, 1995. Although the weekend's activities were headquartered in the little- used (especially on weekends) western concourse at Market East Station, various events were held at SEPTA facilities throughout the city. A special $10.00 weekend TrolleyFest pass ($5.00 for children) was required for most TrolleyFest events. with the added bonus of being honored as a system-wide pass on any SEPTA transit vehicle or train throughout the weekend. A lower cost pass was sold for Sunday use only, but no single-day pass was offered on Saturday.
Unlike SEPTA's first TrolleyFest two years ago, which enjoyed outstanding weather both days, showers fell much of Saturday morning, and the afternoon skies remained dark and threatening. Sunday, however, was an outstanding and mostly sunny fall day.
The Market East station west concourse hosted a "TrolleyFestival" both days with vendor tables, special information booths, informational displays, and entertainment. Two portable model layouts were also in operation. SEPTA's new transit museum and transit store, both housed in the agency's new office building at 1234 Market Street, were open throughout the weekend, and TrolleyFest passes were good for a 20% discount at the store. Regular hours for the museum and store are 10:00 am. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Repeating two of the most popular events of TrolleyFest '93, SEPTA hosted open houses at both the Elmwood District carbarn and the Woodland heavy repair shop. A shuttle service using both a refurbished PCC car and a Kawasaki LRV connected the Elmwood carbarn and the Woodland shop, and both could be reached from center city on regular subway-surface cars using the TrolleyFest pass. A "University City Historic Trolley" using a PCC car ran every half hour over the diversion trackage between the 40th Street Market Street Subway-Elevated station and Woodland Shops.
SEPTA's new Overbrook rail shop was open for tours on Saturday only. Two tours were offered, with advance sign-up required. Attendees took regularly-scheduled R5 trains to Overbrook station, where a special shuttle bus took each group to the shops.
SEPTA's regular excursion trolley routes— the Chestnut Hill trolley and the center city Welcome Line— were integral parts of TrolleyFest activities. The Chestnut Hill Trolley ran until 10:00 p.m. Saturday night, with a special "Dinner on the Hill" promotion offering restaurant meal discounts to TrolleyFest pass holders. The removal of trolley wire in preparation for an upcoming railroad bridge replacement at Wayne Junction prevented any special service south along Germantown Avenue, as was offered in 1993.
Several trips were offered both days using the restored Peter Witt car to the southern end of Route 23 trackage at Bigler Street, as well as LRV trips north to the Ontario Street loop south of Erie
Avenue. Welcome Line service was extended to South Philadelphia Saturday evening, with a "Pasta & Pizza Special" promotion tied in with South Philly's well-known Italian cuisine.
The threat of a Red Arrow strike resulted in the cancellation of a planned open house at the Norristown High Speed Line 72nd Street shops, and of other activities planned for the 69th Street Terminal. Instead, the TrolleyFest program encouraged individual trips using the TrolleyFest pass on the former Red Arrow lines.
The Buckingham Valley Trolley Associations Penn's Landing Trolley, which narrowly avoided a shutdown earlier in the month, was also part of TrolleyFest activities. The TrolleyFest pass was accepted on Penn's Landing cars, and BVTA was a pass sales ageni A parade of Penn's Landing equipment was held at noon on Sunday.
TrolleyFest 1995 was clearly an outstanding success. and future TrolleyFests are likely. although they may not become annual events. The two TrolleyFests so far. and the opening of SEPTA's transit museum and store represent a positive change in the agency's attitude toward light rail, and the city's transit heritage.
