Construction of MFL between Girard & 2nd St in '70s

Hi to all members. I'm wondering can anyone give me some info on the construction/renovation of the MFL section between Girard and 2nd Street back in the '70s.

When did it start and when was it completed? I was only around five years old at the time and have vague memories. All I can remember is that there was a flimsy looking, temporary track section, built with wood, for one set of the trains to park and wait while the other set heading in the opposite direction, I guess, passes.

Can anyone here elaborate and describe the construction site? I think I read that the reason for the renovation/construction was because the section of I-95 there was being remodelled. What was the total cost in 70's dollars?

Also, can anyone describe how the MFL and I-95 were prior to the construction? How was the MFL routed with respect to I-95 before the construction? Where was the Fairmount station and what did it look like?

Sorry for all the questions but I was very young at the time and don't have much memory of the project. All I can remember was that it was quite a huge and complicated project. Oh and does anyone have pictures? I would love to see some pictures of the project. Thanks in advance!

I hope Chuchubob won't mind me linking to one of his photos, but I really like this one and it might answer some of your questions. http://community.webshots.com/photo/285 ... WvrhAbtIdH

I also have a photocopy of a picture from when the city was nearing completion of the Frankford Street El and in the distance you can see the old El portal and the 180 degree curve where it swung around down Deleware Ave. I am probobly going to scan it today for a project anyway and I will post it. There is also some interesting history involving the Frankford El that I will post soon in another thread.

Sean@Temple

There's a picture taken by Mr Joe Lance in 1970, long before the construction of the Delaware Expressway, showing the original portal building as well as the buildings fronting the waterfront. I'd have to say, the Delaware Expressway wasn't a terrible thing from the looks of that photo. I'm not going to attempt to post the picture directly, he has them arranged in some odd slideshow arrangement, but it's picture number 11 in the linked gallery below.

http://www.trolleyphotos.com/SlideShows ... index.html

Sean@Temple wrote:I hope Chuchubob won't mind me linking to one of his photos, but I really like this one and it might answer some of your questions. http://community.webshots.com/photo/285 ... WvrhAbtIdH

Sean@Temple

I don't mind at all; I would have looked for that photo myself, so you saved me the effort.

Wow. Thanks for the replies and links to pictures, guys. I have faint memories of that portal. I remember that it had openings on the side because I could see daylight while rounding the curve heading east.

Does anyone have pictures of the temporary structure that was built on the other end of the project? The one that was used for trains to sit and wait while the other set passes? It looked like was built with wood scaffolding, but I don't think they would use wood. All I can remember was that it was tall and it didn't look very stable.

I definitly remember the El construction back then.I also remember that old portal and that was a sharp and noisy turn going into 2nd St.Also does anyone remember when there was the hole at 2nd and Market and could look down on to the tracks?That wooden structure looked and sounded so rickety that I remember thinking is it going to hold this heavy train.Talk about memories.Back then I was always riding the el back and forth,running through the cars,being kid like.

Back when Chuchubob's photo was taken, I was 11,so I might have been on that train!LOL!

I found an old picture of the original portal on the Frankford side.

http://thejoekorner.quuxuum.org/phila/1512018.gif

Septaman113 wrote:Also does anyone remember when there was the hole at 2nd and Market and could look down on to the tracks?

I remember that hole! I was 5 when that project was at it's height, and my grandmother had taken me riding on the El one day...Ahhhhh, memories!

It looks like that mine-car ride in Disney World.

Hello everyone--

I'd like to resurrect this OLD post, because I'd love to see the photos that are mentioned here of the pre I-95 MFL line. Unfortunately, they are off-line now...

Mark

trainspotter71 wrote:I found an old picture of the original portal on the Frankford side.

http://thejoekorner.quuxuum.org/phila/1512018.gif

That photo must be on a different server, because when I clicked on the link I got "Not Found"..."http://thejoekorner.quuxuum.org/phila/1512018.gif not found on this server".

SubwayTim wrote:

trainspotter71 wrote:I found an old picture of the original portal on the Frankford side.

http://thejoekorner.quuxuum.org/phila/1512018.gif

That photo must be on a different server, because when I clicked on the link I got "Not Found"..."http://thejoekorner.quuxuum.org/phila/1512018.gif not found on this server".

It's from 2005, which means that image has probably been gone for quite some time..

This might have some of the pictures

http://web.archive.org/web/200502142316 ... tmfse.html

Keep in mind, if the thumbnail doesn't load, the linked picture might, so try clicking even if it comes up with a '?'

Rocky (the 1976 original) I believe shows sections of the old el prior to I-95 construction.