While searching for a decent photograph of the war memorial there, I came upon this. It has inspired me to do some more searching for similar historic photos of the area.
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Great photo, thanks for sharing! Lots of interesting details such as the turntable pit with tracks and the subway-elevated bridge off to the right of the station.
That which would be of great assist would be the May 1979 issue of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Pennsylvania RR Technical & Historical Society magazine covering "The Philadelphia Improvements" pages 1 to 30.
This issue is part 1. Not sure which issue is part 2. It is loaded with a couple of dozen photos both ground and airplane, artist concept drawings and many track diagrams and prints.
You can follow the time line from 1893 up through completion of the Suburban station in 1930.
I'm going to place this as being around the time after West Philadelphia Station was being demolished. Another view:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...ms,_January_1931.jpg
The Market St. El structure would last until 1955, when the tunnel between 24th St. and 46th St. was completed and opened.
The High Line is still in use as a freight bypass for 30th Street. It was de-lectrified in the Conrail era. I used to watch Conrail trains go by from my office window in the LeBow Building at Drexel University...
The Bulletin Building would be erected in 1954 on the far side of the High Line. On this side, the area where the turntable pit was located now houses the offices of the Philadelphia Parking Authority, a pit of a different sort... 
Mitch
I feel grateful that this great station is "ours". We can walk from our house in 7 minutes to our local station, and in 30 minutes get off at 30th street station. From there we have gone to NYC, Boston, Florida, and New Orleans. Being a "senior", our local rail travel is free. Having a Amtrak credit card can equal free long distance trips as well.
Been there a few times via Amtrak from NY Penn. (Tragically demolished in the 60's)
At least some of the great old stations have been saved over the years.
I grew up in the Philly suburbs. Whenever my parents took us to visit relatives in the city, I marveled at the GG-1s staged on the servicing track, or leading one of Amtrak's North-South limiteds.
That elevated line isn't an el train, but the "High Line"- a freight bypass running along the west bank of the Schuylkill.
I think @twtrainworx made an O scale model of Philadelphia's 30th St. a few years ago. If not it might be an interesting choice for their next offering!
I always liked the 30th Street Station from the time i spent passing through in the 1960's 70's, which I think I posted on another topic recently.
You guys might enjoy the plans for a redesign of the area (which I think has been in the works for a few years now):
http://www.phillydistrict30.com/
Tom
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Cherry Valley 0 scale club in Merchantvile NJ has an excellent rendition somewhere on the ogr board
Ted S posted:I grew up in the Philly suburbs. Whenever my parents took us to visit relatives in the city, I marveled at the GG-1s staged on the servicing track, or leading one of Amtrak's North-South limiteds.
That elevated line isn't an el train, but the "High Line"- a freight bypass running along the west bank of the Schuylkill.
I think @twtrainworx made an O scale model of Philadelphia's 30th St. a few years ago. If not it might be an interesting choice for their next offering!
There are two elevated lines - the High Line (usually freight but was also used for the Army-Navy game passenger specials) across the foreground of the picture and also the Market-Frankford subway-elevated along Market St. directly to the right of the 30th St. Station building in the photo. The subway-surface trolley routes also came above ground here.
Now I see the bridge you're talking about. Per Mitch's post, it was gone after 1955 (which explains why I don't remember seeing it in the '70s!)
Yup! Here's a good article on the subject, showing the old El going under the High Line:
https://collaborativehistory.g...evated-underground-0
The LeBow Building, where I worked, would be built to the right of the El, just before the High Line, in the 1990s... 
https://collaborativehistory.g...ene%201948%20PEB.jpg
An interesting quirk of the original El, dating back to its opening in 1907, is that it used semaphore signals (one can be seen at about one o'clock in the above image)...
A clearer view of one of the semaphores:
https://collaborativehistory.g...ing-near-32nd-street
So, if you want to use a Lionel 151 semaphore with your Rail King 'El' cars, go right ahead! 
The High Line predated the El by three years:
https://www.facebook.com/oldim...at/1723799404349657/
Mitch
Another view of the semaphores:
https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/44985
Fifty years or so later, the semaphores were replaced by regular block signals:
https://collaborativehistory.g...St.%201956%20PEB.jpg
Mitch
Some pics I took in September.......there is nothing like the feeling you get when you are there in person!
Peter
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I remember as a kid going to 30th Street to meet relatives coming from DC. The GG1's were marvelous. I attended (and actually graduated) Drexel. I remember sitting in the "orange brick building" (don't recall the name) just west of the main building counting the freight cars on freight trains going into and out of the 30th Street station area. Some classes were just so interesting! There were usually about 100-125. I remember when they were talking about building the successor stadium for Connie Mack stadium over the tracks at 30th Street Station. But they built Veterans Stadium in South Philly. And I remember our finance teacher in the mid-late 1960's telling us how the PRR was sitting on a goldmine of underdeveloped land. In the late 1960's, I went to an Orphans Court lawsuit against a bank acting as Trustee of a trust which maintained its position in PRR stock from the late 1940's until bankruptcy. The result was not good for the bank.
Gerry
Gerry - The orange brick building, would it have been Matheson Hall (College of Business & Administration)? There was also Disque Hall {correction - it was Commonwealth Hall, got my halls mixed up; Disque is the science building along the old S. 32nd St. to the southeast of where Matheson Hall was - on the Quad, Matheson was to the north and Disque was to the east, the library was to the west, and Stratton was to the south} north of the main building between Market and Ludlow Streets that faced the High Line. They both contributed to the nickname OBU (Orange Brick University). I'm dating myself here, but when I started at Drexel, it was still Drexel Institute of Technology.
I remember looking directly down on the High Line from classrooms at the eastern end of the main building (I think that hall had another name but I can't remember it {update, I see on Google maps that it is Curtis Hall}) when it had two tracks with catenary and most of the freight trains had electric motive power. Back then, I never thought it would be single-tracked or lose its catenary. Peter
Drexel halls corrected 12/2/2019 at 2:25 PM EST.
Mitch - Fabulous pictures (especially the first one with all the PTC trolleys lined up under the El) and very interesting articles - great stuff. Thank you! Peter
PGentieu posted:Gerry - The orange brick building, would it have been Matheson Hall (College of Business & Administration)? There was also Disque Hall north of the main building between Market and Ludlow Streets that faced the High Line. They both contributed to the nickname OBU (Orange Brick University). I'm dating myself here, but when I started at Drexel, it was still Drexel Institute of Technology.
I remember looking directly down on the High Line from classrooms at the eastern end of the main building (I think that hall had another name but I can't remember it {update, I see on Google maps that it is Curtis Hall}) when it had two tracks with catenary and most of the freight trains had electric motive power. Back then, I never thought it would be single-tracked or lose its catenary. Peter
Yes, Peter, it was DIT when I started and graduated (1968). And Matheson Hall strikes a distant memory bell. Programming with Fortran and punch cards. I remember being in the Great Hall when we heard Kennedy was shot.
I spent most of my time in the DAC playing pinochle. Pat Marinari also played pinochle there.
Gerry
My daughter graduated from Drexel in '99. Thanks to their "on the job" program, she had a job offer before she graduated.
A couple years ago, the club decided to install a replica of Philadelphia 30th Street Station in a prominent location on the club layout. Member Drew McCann constructed the sub structure during his catenary project. Last year we had a model builder make the station builder. We had an idea for the ground surface that would allow viewers to see the tracks, platforms & trains below street level. Last night the ground plane portion was completed. All the street and parking areas are plexiglass to allow sightlines below.
If you in the Cherry Hill area this Saturday, stop by the Cherry Valley RR and see it in person.
I am John Galt !
Chris
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Wow!!! This is really cool.
AEM-7's FOREVER!!!!!!
TCA Member# 16-72265
not only does that building and scene look impressive, the lower level pic blew me away. I had to stare at it to see if it was a real pic mixed in. Beautiful work. What type of lighting is that on the lower level?
" on Sour mash and cheap wine " ??
Why go back to DCC when I have DCS!
Nice! Even more scenery in the background!
member:Golden Spike Club Charter Member
Just fabulous!
Chris, That came out really nice!
Tom
Pennsylvania Railroad/Lionel Prewar Semi-Scale Switchers http://steamswitcher.com
PRRT&HS # 8772
Beautiful. I'm in awe of the modeling skills and ingenuity required to make such a true-to-life reproduction with the clever "see-through" streets.
What are your hours on Saturday?
10am-4pm.
7 E. Maple Ave, Merchantville NJ 08109
Joe, they are cold cathode lights. similar to a florescent.
I am John Galt !
Chris
Excellent craftsmanship... and I love the translucent effect of the roads... just enough to tell our brain that its a road -- yet still allowing us to see through to the trains/tracks beneath!!! Very creative approach. 
David
PRR Man posted:
Nothing short of superb; an inspiring, innovative well executed area on one of -- if not THE [ opinion ] -- best 0 scale layouts in the country. I especially like the hard overhead.
With best regards,
SZ [ who used to work ( yes, I actually got dirt under my fingernails...) at 30th St ]
PS I imagine a lot of 2 railers wished this layout were closer to their home-- I know I do.
PRR Man posted:We had an idea for the ground surface that would allow viewers to see the tracks, platforms & trains below street level. Last night the ground plane portion was completed. All the street and parking areas are plexiglass to allow sightlines below.
Clever idea! And great modeling to boot
Dear List,
We are very fortunate to have members like Chris Crane to share their fine talents with not only other club members but also our guests that come to visit the Cherry Valley at our Open Houses held throughout the year promoting O Scale 2 Rail and the Model Railroading hobby.
The club is now on Facebook under Cherry Valley Model Railroad Club- Merchantville NJ, please visit us and 'LIKE' us.
If you are ever in the Philly/South Jersey area and would like to visit the Cherry Valley please do not hesitate to contact me.
We are also always looking for modelers of any scales to join our fine group of Merry Men.
Thank you.
John P. Dunn Sr. President CVMRR
jdunn8888@comcast.net or 609-432-2871
Fantastic work Chris. The idea of see thru roads is a very innovative idea I like it and it looks good.
Roo.
Thank you all for the kind accolades.
There is much more to do by detailing out the street scene with people, vehicles, fencing, signs, etc. It does look pretty cool in its present austere state, but I want every day realism in the scene. Erik and his colleagues are great examples.
Steinzeit: 'one of the best', that's a bit embarrassing, as there are so many talented people in our hobby. Thank you from us.
I am John Galt !
Chris
Chris,
Here is a link for some vintage pictures showing trolley activity if you are interested from the "30th Street Station District Plan," which is a redevelopment plan for the area.
http://www.phillydistrict30.co...kk8j4m4vmjdo8oux7wv3
Tom 
Pennsylvania Railroad/Lionel Prewar Semi-Scale Switchers http://steamswitcher.com
PRRT&HS # 8772
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Magnificent building and amazing streets! it's a very good idea! 
jpv in France
Wow! That is cool.
Tom, we had considered including the trolley tracks along the south side of the station, even the elevated. But decided not to go there.
We are using a mid-1950's era, the JFK Blvd. bridge in front of the building was not yet built.
At some distant date, we may get ambitious and add the elevated platforms and tracks on the building's north side. (Way distant date!)
I am John Galt !
Chris
Looking forward to seeing the station and the rest of the wonderful work done to the layout tomorrow . Tom
Unbelievable! The idea for the clear ground plane and it's execution is genius.
I found the earlier posting, I thought to bring it forward for those who may have missed it. Additional insight on the labor involved would be appreciated. Thank you!
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The odd thing is, one of the most famous trains of the PRR, the Broadway, did not stop there!
Dominic Mazoch posted:The odd thing is, one of the most famous trains of the PRR, the Broadway, did not stop there!
Nope. That's why North Philadelphia Station was opened.
Nowadays, the closest thing is the Pennsylvanian:
https://www.amtrak.com/pennsylvanian-train
That, however, goes into 30th St, then reverses along the Main Line to Pittsburgh, where one has to make a connexion to get to Chi-town...
Mitch
And one of the junctions near 30TH was a real "ZOO"!
I was always kind of surprised that the Pennsy never thought to put a station there. Seems to me it woulda been a natural.. ;D
