SEPTA’s move to bring back its classic, retro trolleys back to Philadelphia streets has been delayed until spring, writes Tom MacDonald for WHYY.

“Logistically, it didn’t make much sense to launch them over the winter when we would have weather disruptions anyway. So we are looking at the spring to get them out into service,” said Andrew Busch, SEPTA spokesperson.

PCC Trolleys from the 1940s were refurbished in SEPTA’s repair shop, but Busch said they haven’t had enough “break-in time” to be put back into service on Route 15.  

The rebuilt trolleys have modern underpinnings and a vintage look. 

According to Phillytrolley.org, “Until 1992, rebuilt postwar PCCs remained in revenue service on three lines, the 15, 23, and 56. PCC cars on these last three lines were ‘temporarily’ replaced by diesel buses in September of that year, and most of the PCCs sold to transit operations and museums all over the country.”

The 10 trolleys are projected to cost $250,000 each to rebuild, compared to several million dollars for new vehicles. 

SEPTA sold most of its PCC stock to other transit agencies, but has about two dozen trolleys that will be in use once they are modernized. 

Read more about SEPTA’s plans to bring its retro trolleys back to Philadelphia in WHYY.

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