The local Philadelphia media reported that Friday was the last day of production at Budd's Hunting Park Auto Plant, the home of the Pioneer Zephrer, the Reading Crusader, Pennsy South Wind cars, and the prewar Santa Fe cars that lasted into NJT service! It was the last Budd plant in Philadelphia, and one of the last things in Philadelphia that made anything tangible.

v-scarpitti@att.net

Besides all that stuff.....Back in the good old days (pre-June 1999) You were not allowed to go to sleep until you got the call that CAPI made the Budd pick up at West Falls and was on the move.....

Eric.Levin@conrail.com

> Besides all that stuff.....Back in the good
> old days (pre-June 1999) You were not
> allowed to go to sleep until you got the
> call that CAPI made the Budd pick up at West
> Falls and was on the move.....

CAPI, could that be today's Norfolk Southern MV5?

jtjjtb@aol.com

> It was
> the last Budd plant in Philadelphia, and one
> of the last things in Philadelphia that made
> anything tangible.

I dunno... those folks at the nearby Tastykake factory seem to make some pretty tangible things.. :-)

Fiv4HghStk@aol.com

I remember a neighbor explaining to me the three-digit numbers stencilled on box cars at Budd's identified the specific loading racks inside for specific auto and truck stampings.

The Hunting Park plant shipped on both PRR and RDG. It supported several shifter jobs at Midvale and Margie St. (PRR) and Nicetown (RDG). The plant's demise followed the closure of vehicle assembly plants in the NE; Budd is shifting production to the Midwest where most assembly plants are located.

A few years ago, I bought a Ford Bronco II and another neighbor identified the parts that were made at Budd's.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association