[PRCo] Re: BORIS

[Harold Geissenheimer]

Greetings to all.  and thank you Fred for taking good care of Boris

To Boris, welcome to Pennsylvania and the USA

As Fred wrote, I went down to Phila and out to the airport to meet Boris.
He is indeed a true PCC enthusiast.  Very knowledgeable and pleasant.

Some interesting things learned in Phila

--  Unused route 56 track on Torresdale being covered with Asphalt
               at Bridge St.

--  Frankford terminal reconstruction almost complete   Former
                station building stripped and being rebuilt

--  ETB wire back up for rt 66 coaches.  Much new special work and
                 electric switches.  SEPTA not saying if EB service will
                  be resumed but its now looks complete..

-    No ETB's there  They were moved to Southern car house. 
                   Service now by new low floor Neoplan buses,

--   Frankford el Blue line reconstuction looks  compete.
                    Station at Bridge street moved from over street to
                    over bus yard lead.  Looks good.

--   I was interested in this as I worked on first concepts fpr
                    Bridge street ten years ago for LSTS (now Systra)

-    Went into Center City and parked at 13th & Filbert.
                    This was location of former Public Service-Trailways
                     bus terminal..  Quaker City/Martz were nearby on 
Arch St.

--   Took R-1 regional rail married  pair EMU from Market East.
                    Fare was $5.50 for adults (Only $1 for seniors with
                    state issued free ride card-  Train was rebuilt EMU's
                     with nice upholstered seats and working AC

--   Good ridership both ways..about half full..Both workers and
                    travellers.  Weekly pass was $18.75, monhly $70

--   Airport rebuilt. Very nice.  New International arrivals at
                    Terminal A (first of 4 rail stops at Airport)  New
                     Southwest access at Terminal E (last rail stop)

--  His British Air flight was on time.  No delays at Customs.

--  At Market East, large timetable racks.  A surprise.   schedule for
                     rehab PCC cars on Rt 15 Girard dated June 13, 2004
                     in rack.  This was date when Rt 15 was supposed
                     to open.  Delayed because of street parking conflict.
                      New scheduule is dark blue with photo of rebuilt
                     PCC #2320  Destination sign reads "Hello
                      Philadelphia"  May open in September

--  Rt 15 looks complete.  Safety island at all stops where autos
                      pass to the right.  New cars have centerdoor onboard
                      ADA lifts like Kenosha.

--  Also in rack...NJT River Line dated June 14 with 15 minute
                      rush hour service

A nice visit to one of my favorite systems from 50 years ago.

Hope to see more of Boris in Baltimore or at Branford.

Thanks again to Fred and Russ for arranging his trip.

Harold Geissenheimer


Fred Schneider wrote:

>BORIS IS HERE ... VERY MUCH WORN OUT AFTER 23 HOURS WITHOUT SLEEP, A
>TRAIN RIDE FROM OSTRAVA TO PRAGUE, A PLANE TO LONDON HEATHROW, A PLANE
>TO PHILADELPHIA AND A GRUELING DRIVE THROUGH AFTERNOON TRAFFIC TO
>LANCASTER.   WE WILL LEAVE FOR PTM SOMETIME TOMORROW, AFTER HIS BODY
>CLOCK TELLS HIM IT IS TIME TO ARISE AND MOVE.
>
>HE HAS ALREADY MET HAROLD GEISSENHEIMER AT THE ARRIVALS SECTION OF PHL.
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