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Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Co.: "Red Arrow Lines"

Published: January 24, 2025

By: Adam Burns

The Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company (PSTC), colloquially known as the Red Arrow Lines, has a rich history integral to the public transportation framework in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Established in the early 20th century, the company grew and evolved, adapting to the changing transportation needs of the region while maintaining its distinctive identity.

From an early period PSTC's predecessor, the Philadelphia & West Chester, was built to high standards and sustained a high level of patronage, if not necessarily profits, through the post-World War II era.

Originally built as an interurban, the system was squeezed by increasingly more highway development and essentially pushed out by the city.  As a result, most of its system, except the Norristown Line, was converted to buses during the early 1960s.

Red Arrow Lines (Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company) car #18, a product of the St. Louis Car Company, is at Terminal Square near the West Chester Pike in Philadelphia during the early 1960s. American-Rails.com collection.

History

The Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company's heritage begins with the Philadelphia & West Chester Railway, formed in 1895.  The P&WC finished its main line in 1899, using the unique Philadelphia gauge of 5' 2 ¾".

Originally an interurban railway, it adapted into a suburban electric line as its surrounding area merged into the Philadelphia suburbs. Between 1903 and 1917, additional suburban lines were built to Ardmore, Media, Colindale, and Sharon Hill.

This company initially focused on providing trolley services that connected suburban communities to the city of Philadelphia.  However, by 1916, cars resembling streetcars—designed for slightly higher speeds—became the standard. In 1936, the Philadelphia & West Chester Railway was succeeded by the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company.

The PSTC operated primarily in Delaware County and parts of Montgomery and Chester counties, providing vital connections to passengers traveling to and from Philadelphia.

The company's services became a backbone for suburban communities, facilitating economic growth and greater urban integration. The Red Arrow name, used commonly by locals, originated from the symbolic red arrow on the company’s logo, representing swift and reliable service.

In 1926, the joint terminal for both suburban lines moved from 63rd Street to 69th Street. Then, in 1932, the Philadelphia & Western was upgraded with 10 high-speed, streamlined cars designed by Felix Pavlovsky from the University of Michigan, under Dr. Thomas Conway Jr.'s direction.

Originally operating on 730-volt DC, it switched to 600-volt DC to align with the PSTC after their merger.  The PSTC continued to invest in new cars through the postwar era, making its final purchase in 1949 when fourteen PCC cars from the St. Louis Car Company arrived, specifically modified for the West Chester line.

Despite this line generating sufficient traffic, it was shut down west of Westgate Hills in 1954 to accommodate the expansion of the parallel West Chester Pike.

The company decided that relocating the tracks wasn't justified, so it switched to using buses, which were already a significant part of its transportation network in the Philadelphia suburban regions.

Red Arrow Lines cars #21 and #2 are at the 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania on November 30, 1968. Roger Puta photo.

Decline

During the mid-20th century, like many other transit companies, PSTC faced the challenge of transitioning from traditional trolley systems to motorized vehicles.

Unfortunately, the only way for the system to repel increasingly losses was by replacing many of its trolley lines with buses and trackless trolleys, better suited to the burgeoning automobile age.

In addition to buses, the PSTC introduced single-ended, streamlined PCCs on its rail lines. These innovative vehicles operated on heavily used routes, such as the Norristown High-Speed Line, which was inaugurated in the 1960s and became an iconic part of the company’s operations.

This line, with its combination of streetcar and railway features, exemplified the adaptability and forward-thinking approach of the PSTC.

Philadelphia & Western

In 1953, the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company took over the Philadelphia & Western Railroad, which it had owned shares in for some time.

The P&W was a standard-gauge suburban line running on a private right-of-way with a third-rail system, completed from 63rd Street in Philadelphia to Strafford in 1907, with a branch extending from Villanova to Norristown by 1912.

Despite relying almost exclusively on passenger service, the P&W was successful and even handled limited freight, like sand for a local golf course.

Red Arrow Lines PCC #20 works its way through downtown Media, Pennsylvania on the Media Rail Division on August 27, 1964. Roger Puta photo.

Legacy

Although the Strafford Branch was closed in 1956, the Norristown Line remained active until the end of the Red Arrow Lines' independent operations.

The evolution of transportation trends and suburban growth in the latter half of the 20th century brought about changes in the regulatory and operational landscape.

In 1968, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) was established, tasked with overseeing and coordinating all public transit systems in the Philadelphia area.

Shortly afterward, in 1970, SEPTA acquired the PSTC. Despite the acquisition, the Red Arrow brand persisted as a cultural and historical emblem of suburban transit.

Under SEPTA's guidance, the routes and services originally under PSTC continued to be vital components of regional transit, contributing to the continuous development of the Greater Philadelphia area.

The legacy of the Red Arrow Lines live on, not merely in the physical routes and services still in operation but also in the cultural memory of those who relied on its services through decades of suburban expansion and change.

In remembrance of its historical significance, the Public Transportation Museum frequently pays homage to the PSTC, preserving vintage vehicles and documenting stories from the era when Red Arrow Lines were at their peak.

These efforts ensure that future generations can appreciate the pivotal role the company played in shaping both suburban Philadelphia and its transportation history.