Trolleys, Interurbans, Electrics
Fantastic traction that served the nation's urban centers, suburbs, and intercity travel.
Brill Bullets and Red Arrow Lines
Brill Bullets and Red Arrow Lines
Frank Pfuhler captured Philadelphia's Interurban transit lines in their prime in 1955. His beautifully photographed, razor sharp images have frozen for history what was, at the time, one of the best managed and most successful traction empires in the nation.
West of Philadelphia, across the Schuylkill River, lay a number of residential areas closely linked to the city by the Red Arrow high speed electric lines. In many places the routes traversed what was then almost rural country-side.
The Sharon Hill, the Media, and Ardmore lines are covered in detail as the big red cars depart the 69th street terminal and ramble west from the city across the fields and thru the woods.
52 minutes
The second half of this DVD depicts the high speed, third rail line between Philadelphia and Norristown - the home of the celebrated Brill Bullets. You will see the original Strafford line cars in action. You'll have complete coverage of the entire main line between 69th street and Norristown with the authentic whine and all the characteristic ambiance that only a Brill Bullet could create.
Ten inches of light powder has fallen during the night and now a brilliant February day awaits the photographer on the Media, the Darby and the Brill Line to Norristown. Around Yeadon loop the brush car tries to clear a path and has to back out. Several Brill Bullets are shown at high speed enveloped in swirls of blowing snow.