Here in Philadelphia, the wire has been pullled down & the tracks paved over on the Route 56 trolley line on Torresdale Ave. This line was "temporarily" switched to bus service in the 1990s. Doesn't look like the trolleys are coming back.

Was this the line that they ran a PCC on for tourists a few years ago?

No - there were some fantrips either with PCC's or Remodeled 1926 car 8534, but never a tourtram. Line runs on Erie Ave and Torresdale Ave from 23-Venango in North Phila to Torresdale-Cottman in Tacony.

You may have been thinking of the Chestnut Hill Trolley which ran on Route 23 on Germantown Ave. between Westview St. (former Gtn. Depot) and Bethlehem Pike. 23 is still nominally a "temporary" bus.

Was just in Philly this evening, I see rails downtown- are they used still? Any kind of maps showing what's active and what's not? How about in in the burbs? In a city guide book there's an outfit called "Philadelphia Trolley Works" offering tours. Is this an actual trolley or a cob job bus? THANKS!!

Joshua

PS- Just found this site- http://www.phillytrolley.org/routes.html

Phila Trolley Works runs busses that look like trolleys. The only trolleys within Phila are the West Phila subway-surface line. Also, the former Red Arrow lines out of 69th St. The tracks you saw were probably Rt 23, another "temporary" bus substitution. SEPTA rebuilt Rt 15 on Girard Av, spending mega money, but forgot to consult with the city on some matters, so no trolleys running there yet.