PRR Suburban Station?

Yes.

And Philly did eventually run the line on through to connect the PRR and Reading commuter lines right?  I see where it was studied but nothing beyond that.

No, Amtrak does NOT go through Suburban station...only through 30th street station. The SEPTA locals go through 30th street, then Suburban, and onto Market East (now called Jefferson).

Yeah I was just curious if they could or were clearances too tight.  The Pennsylvanian used to serve Suburban Station years ago from what I just read.  But I didn't know if they could pass on through and up the Reading line.

There use to be a couple of Amtrak trains that went to Suburban Station, but they did not go around the curve to Mrkket East.  There was one or two stub tracks in Suburban Station for them.  I think they want west to Harrisburg, or beyond.  

There is a connection between Suburban Station and the old Reading station, now called Market East.  The Reading trains were paired up with Pennys trains and most everything now is thru, comes in on the Reading and goes out on the Pennsy, and reverse.

Many years ago, the most notable Phila station was North Broad Street. That was the only Phila station where The Broadway Limited stopped on its way to/from Chicago to/from NYC. If this train had to use the the 30th Street downtown station, it would have taken almost an extra hour to do so. I think it is now used only for local trains.

Many years ago, the most notable Phila station was North Broad Street. That was the only Phila station where The Broadway Limited stopped on its way to/from Chicago to/from NYC.

Joe,

The station you are referring to is North Philadelphia which, back in the day, was the Pennsy's main Philadelphia station with high level platforms for all trains to and from the west (Chicago, Saint Louis, etc.).  It was also the junction for the Pennsy's Chestnut Hill line which had separate low-level platforms.

North Broad Street Station is nearby but it is on the former Reading Company lines.  More info at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N..._%28SEPTA_station%29

When was the connection built from Suburban Station to the Reading line?

Construction began in 1978 and ended in 1984. An 0.8-mile subway from 16th Street to 20th Street was part of a connection between Suburban Station and 30th Street Station to the west. Four of Suburban Station's eight tracks were extended 1.7 miles east through the tunnel. They pass north of City Hall and then over the Broad Street Subway. They run under Filbert Street and curve north after 11th Street, under the Ridge Avenue Subway spur line. They climb north and join the elevated approach to Reading Terminal near Spring Garden Street. Concrete bumpers, tracks and catenary supports on the abandoned Reading elevated right-of-way are visible from SEPTA trains as they enter or leave the route to the tunnel.

Diesel locomotives were unsuitable for running underground, so SEPTA retired them. But that also ended service along the Reading's Bethlehem Branch to communities that greatly increased in population in the 1980's and the 1990's.

Reading Terminal Market suffered after Reading Terminal was abandoned. But when that noble edifice and train shed were restored as Convention Center, the market revived and thrives today: www.readingterminalmarket.org.

I lived in Philly from 83-85. I remember when the connection opened. I liveed near the Wissahickon Station on the Chestnut Hill line and would take the train into downtown with my wife on Saturdays to shop at Wanamaker's old flagship store and have lunch at the Reading Terminal Market.

Here is a picture of pre-connection Philly Rail. This poster has hung in this exam room since this office opened in 91.

Suburban Station is just a stop on the downtown HiRail system now rather than the terminus of the former Pennsy lines. I posted these pictures last November when I was there for a confernce.

Lastly, North Philly Station on Broad Street. This is about 4 blocks from Temple University Hospital where I did my nephrology fellowship in 83-85. Once, I came by rail from my home (this is where the line from Chestnut Hill joins it). I was horrifed to see the the people leave this train and walk across the tracks to the North Philly platforms.....they told me that it was safer than the undergound tunnel.......OMG!

Peter

The First stop going east from 30th street station is suburban station.

 http://www.septa.org/maps/system/

 This map shows the eight SEPTA regional rail lines  [former PRR or READING]

These lines are all electrified with overhead catenary.

So just to understand...coming from 30th Street Station...the only way to get to Suburban Station is through the upper SEPTA platforms?  I found a video of an AEM7 SEPTA passing through Suburban so I assume any type of train, with the right height, can pass on through the new connection?

So when PRR terminated at Suburban Station how did the alignment traverse the area without 30th Street being there?

During the early to mid '90's while standing on the platform, I can recall 2 or 3 times that I saw an Amtrak loco and cars pass through Suburban Station (without stopping).  Also saw a diesel pull a couple of regional consists through due to either overhead wire work or electric engine breakdown.

Not sure of the current policy, but Septa permitted free rides between Market East, Suburban and 30th St. Stations.

Very interesting topic 

Back in late 70's early 80's I use to fly into Philly and at one point towards the end of my flying in days they where building a subway?? to the train station ( which one don't remember ) any info on this. All this you where talking about made me think about it.

Airport line info links:

http://www.septa.org/schedules/rail/w/AIR_0.html

http://www.septa.org/welcome/airport.html

Map:

http://www.septa.org/maps/system/index.html

All this talk of Suburban Station and Market East has me hungry for a Philly pretzel w/ mustard.

Mike W,  There is a dvd from "Railroad Video Productions" called "Harrisburg To Suburban Station Philadelphia".  It is a cabride shot from an Amtrak AEM-7. You might find it interesting.

Earl G.