On the morning on Sunday, January 19, 2020, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) PCC-II 2337 passes the “Welcome To Fishtown” mural on Frankford Avenue near East Wildey Street. The mural, like the trolley car, demonstrates pride in the heritage of the neighborhood. Friday, January 24, 2020, marks the last day of service for the Route 15, as the line will be "temporarily" bus substituted for at least a year while road construction and car rehabilitation occur. While the date on the website says Sunday, January 26, 2020, the current condition of the fleet has made them pull the plug a day earlier. https://www.septa.org/alert/15.html
When streetcar service was “temporarily” suspended and buses were substituted on the Routes 15/23/56 in 1992, commuters and traction fans alike despaired, as the word “temporary" in Philadelphia has frequently had an ominous implication. The return of the PCC-IIs to the Route 15 in 2005 has provided a window into what it was like to ride the trolley through a true downtown area, but the foreboding word “temporary” has again been applied to the imminent removal of streetcar service, prompting multiple visits in recents months and weeks to savor what may be the last of the experience. Hopefully, the promise will be kept and there will be a return of rail service to this route.
And if you want to read a little more, this photo was featured in the Times Leader along with a few personal thoughts.
https://www.timesleader.com/features/770466/end-of-the-line-for-classic-philly-trolleys?fbclid=IwAR02peef2_boFJrsVRxjWjAtACWUxjnlUO1Bo-nUJPhiG38ItAB83AIfNig
