walt wrote:The 1936 Bridge Line Cars operated exclusively on the Bridge Line ( 16th & Locust- Broadway-Camden) until that line was extended into the present PATCO Lindenwald Line. Prior to that extension, and the creation of PATCO to operate it, it was operated by the PRT-PTC as part of the Broad Street Subway system, and had a physical connection with the BSS at the 8th & Market Station of the Locust Street Subway via the Broad-Ridge Spur. At that time, Broad-Ridge Trains shared the 8th Street platform with the Bridge Line Trains. I don't believe that Camden trains ever used the connection in revenue service, but it was physically possible to run a train from Camden into the BSS. When PATCO took over the Locust Street Subway, and purchased the current passenger equipment, the Ridge Broad trains were removed from the lower level station, with a separate terminus being built in the concourse on the same level with the MFSE. I believe the track connection between the two lines was severed at that time after the 1936 cars had been moved to Fern Rock to be used in the BSS.
When Locust St. Subway wasn't running (before 1953, and later, many Sundays, some Saturdays, and late evenings, trains, usually with Bridge cars, ran through between Girard and Camden, changing ends at 8-Market. Since the 1st and last few of these trains served Fern Rock or Olney, they were a way to get Bridge cars to Fern Rock Shops for inspections and repairs.
The connection to P.A.T.Co. wasn't immediately removed, there was a derailment at Ferry Ave. early in the P.A.T.Co. era and the Broad St. tool car T-16 with 2 cars to pull it was borrowed.