New To Philly Or Good Places To Watch

hello folks, I am new to the philly area and am looking for advice on type of traction and places to photo/watch, I usually go for loud diesel, but am totally unsure as to what SEPTA run, my local station is Torresdale.

Any help is much appreciated.

I'm not too familiar with Torresdale and the nearby area, but one decent place is at 30th Street station. Aside from all the various passenger trains, the elevated "High Line" next to it (around 31s Street) has fairly frequent freight. I've never been there, but the CSX tracks along the Schuylkill River by the bike path might be a good place as well.

My personal favorite place is the old Port Kennedy station in Valley Forge Park off of Rt 23. Lots of freight trains there, although it's probably too far. If you're ever out that way though, it's worth a stop.

The Wheatsheaf Lane footbridge near Frankford Junction is one of my favorite locations. The rickety bridge crosses Conrail Shared Assets' Frankford Yard and the NEC, so you see all Amtrak trains as well as SEPTA R7 Trenton and Chestnut Hill West trains on the Corridor;

http://www.transitspot.com/gallery/Amtrak/04_11_25_08

http://www.transitspot.com/gallery/Bobs ... 4_11_28_09

and NJT Atlantic City Line and Shared Assets trains, as well as CSX and NS coal trains going to Jersey.

http://www.transitspot.com/gallery/Bob- ... 4_11_28_10

If you're using "traction" in the sense some of us near-foamers mean, check out the subway-surface lines in Center City / West Phila., and the Route 101/102 out of Upper Darby. No old equipment these days (all 1981 vintage Kawasaki cars) but lotsa trolleys regardless.

And of course my favorite is the Norristown High Speed Line, a/k/a Route 100, but always the P&W (Philadelphia and Western) to many of us. It runs from Upper Darby to Norristown and is probably one of the last, best examples of an interurban railroad left in the U.S., in spite of SEPTA's best efforts to run it like a bus line on rails. Enjoy!

Check out my current SEPTA album in TransitSpot for SEPTA traction photos.

http://www.transitspot.com/gallery/BobSEPTA?page=1

Tig: I posted a reply to you in Pennsylvania Railfan on SEPTA passes and where you can ride on them. The info in this group are good suggestions. Wilmington,Delaware via the R2 line would be a good ride including trainspotting locations such as Prospect and Ridley Parks stations or Cornwells Heights on the Trenton Line. Take excursion trips on NJ's River line from Trenton to Camden and the PATCO High-Speed line.Ride to Lindenwold and then enjoy the view from the Ben Franklin bridge. Enjoy! (and have fun chasing those ARMADILLOS) MACTRAXX

I'd try to get up to North Philly station and get some pics up there before they close the tower. The station area is prety safe in the daylight, especially since the tower is manned.