Read into this what you will, from Railpace Hotnews:

"The Philadelphia Chapter NRHS "Farewell to the Silverliners" fantrip on SEPTA, scheduled for this coming Saturday, has been cancelled due to inadequate ticket sales. (Frank Tatnall - posted 9/19) "

Unlike the great DL&W "Edison Cars" that kept their character intact over the decades and deserved "last run" fan fare, SEPTA's MU fleet is less charming... infact, the cars are horrid.

I really can't imagine anyone wanting to ride these... and I will pay to ride just about anything!

Rob

Here's a little bit of math I just did:

The youngest railroaders that could have possibly collected a PRR paycheck would be in their early 60's by now if they still worked for a successor railroad. (Possible, but unlikely.)

The youngest railroaders that could have enough practical and working knowledge of the PRR as a company--worked in offices, knew the arcane specialties of the PRR, etc.--and reflect any "company pride" would be in their early to mid 70's by now.

The ex-PRR Silverliners being retired by SEPTA are most likely the last pieces of PRR-built/ordered passenger rolling stock still in normal revenue service, and there exists the distinct possibility that they are the last PRR rolling stock AT ALL in revenue (i.e. discounting work cars, cabooses, preserved/excursion equipment, etc) service.

There was a time, not too long ago, when PRR enthusiasm was such that Jim Boyd alleged that all you had to do was stick a Keystone on the cover and "PRR" in the title, and you were guaranteed sales to "five thousand slobberin' foamin' Pennsy fans". I'm wondering if the cancellation of this trip, in a sense the real "last hurrah" of the PRR outside of a museum or PV setting, reflects either a decrease in such PRR enthusiasm, or what. (The possible "what": The Silverliners, like the Metroliners technically ordered by the PRR and barely delivered in time for a few to get keystone emblems, were never considered "PRR" by the folks who worship Tuscan Red and Loewy streamlining....)

I think that first reply by RJD hit the spike on the head: The Silverliners, regardless of any railroad heritage, are mundane work-a-day people cannisters that have all the charm and character of a city bus. Even if the first ones did briefly wear keystones, I'd bet most true PRR fans view them as "someone else's design" and not worthy of tuscan red paint or any other PRR hallmark. Which of course they lack, and always did.

I count myself as a PRR fan. I grew up next to the Conemaugh main at Aspinwall, PA and my respect for the line is reflected in my amateur radio callsign; K3PRR. But I wouldn't look out the window to watch these cars go by. They just aren't "family."

"Real" PRR rolling stock had character. The steam and electric locos certainly did, and what could have MORE character than the MP54 MU cars?

So it should come as a surprise to no one that a "last" fantrip on these containers of boredom was dissed by the expected audience and thus cancelled. It'll be interesting to see if anyone bothers to preserve any of them.

I'd also have to agree. I wouldn't consider those Sardine Cans to be "real" PRR cars.

As for PRR cars in revenue service, that depends on how you define it. Tacoma Rail has several ex PRR coaches which they use in charter service. They're not a tourist railroad by any stretch of the imagination, but the cars aren't hauling commuters from Monday to Friday either. Revenue service or not? Hard to say...

Meanwhile David, I was raised just a few miles north of you in a house that was a short walk from a bluff overlooking the Conemaugh in Brackenridge. Spent a lot of time around that line.

Wonder no more. In spite of your negative opinion, the RR Museum of Pa. some time back (Oct. 1998) grabbed a pair of the predecessor "Pioneer III/Silverliner I" cars, 246 and 247.

My recollection is that at least one (269), and maybe two, of the surviving "Silverliner II" cars SEPTA was about to retire STILL operates with original sans-serif "PENNSYLVANIA" lettering on the top sides:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPi ... x?id=10973

There's a difference between wanting to go out of your way to ride them and feeling they're worthy of preservation. I wouldn't want to ride inside a 50 foot boxcar either, but that doesn't mean I don't think they're worth saving.

Also, while I'm outside of the target audience, I don't recall seeing anything about this farewell run. I could have simply overlooked it though.

Sponsored by Philadelphia Chapter NRHS, the excursion will run on SEPTA on Sunday, September 25, 2011. Special train leaves Suburban Station, 16th St. & JFK Blvd. in center city Philadelphia, at 10 AM, picking up passengers at 30th Street Station at 10:05 AM. Fare: $50.00 per person. Former PRR and Reading lines will be covered with numerous photo stops and lunch stop scheduled. Train will return to Suburban Station and 30th Street about 5 PM. Event will mark the upcoming retirement of America’s oldest electric MU cars still in regular service, SEPTA’s former PRR and RDG Budd Silverliner II’s (built 1963) and former PRR St. Louis Silverliner III’s (built 1967).
Order tickets from: Philadelphia Chapter, NRHS, P.O. Box 7302, Philadelphia, PA 19101-7302, enclosing SASE. For further information, email ayrestower@comcast.net or telephone (215) 947-5769.

( on Phila chapter NRHS website )


Dean Levin

Thanks for the info Dean...

I have to wonder about the wisdom of not having an online ordering system. Yes, I know, having to actually write a letter shouldn't be a big issue, but it's amazing how many people don't bother since they can't find a stamp, or don't have an envelope, or...

Ideally an online system through paypal or other merchant would be easier. Possibly a phone number to call on designated days for credit card purchases would be another option.

Anything you can do to make it quicker and easier for your customers to order is a good thing. Yes, it may mean more effort for you. Then again, cancelling a trip due to lack of ticket sales is more effort too.

Bob makes some great points. It's been a very long time since I mailed for a ticket!

I also am lead to believe there wasn't much promotion for this trip either. Yeah, the Philly NRHS website has just a link, and Railpace had a little space in their events calendar with information, but that was about it. It probably would've helped greatly to advertise beyond just one website and one magazine. Would it be a bit more expensive? Probably. Would the trip not be cancelled? I think so.

Just my 2 cents...

Of course, maybe it's just that everyone is "tightening their belts" in these difficult economic times and, with the holidays coming, need to prioritize their spending. -- Ray

I'm applying too broad a brush with my opinion.
Phila. Chapter NRHS trips are usually run for, and advertised to, only their members. You're supposed to belong to that old Chapter to find out about their trips. Partly because of long lead times for ads, they are usually sold out by the time the rumor gets out to the public.
Friends of Phila. Trolleys already ran a farewell trip with a PRR and a Reading Silverliner, both the ones with the old lettering or emblems. The 2 car train broke down and different cars had to be used for the end of the trip.

Part of the problem is seen through what Jim Boylan just stated. Its common place that when one group jumps on a band wagon, the rest follow suite. It doesn't always help to run duplicate trips, particularly after the problems experienced on the Earlier trip.

Just sayin...

A "Swiss Army" excuse for failure. Works for absolutely anything. It doesn't matter how much you botch your business, you can always just point to the economy as an excuse. Hence, no reason to succeed.

At one group, this one person loves to recite every other place that's having trouble too. Which proves that person is looking toward failing organizations as a guide. What's funny is I can recite an equal number of places that are doing great.

In up times, things are flush and there's plenty of business even for losers. In down times, there isn't enough business for both, and so the smart/good people work twice as hard while the losers just do what they did before and wonder why it doesn't work anymore. Oh, it's the economy.

I always liked these cars and their RDG siblings, but then, I'm an NYC fan. A three-car set of them was working the PHL airport run last Friday. When are they to be withdrawn for good?

Walt L.