Late last week the BUDD Company announced the closure of its Hunting Park Ave auto parts fabrication plant. This plant was the birthplace of the Pioneer Zepher and other Budd rail ventures until the opening of the Red Lion Facility at the end of WW 2. The closure of the plant marks the end of a long tradition of major manufacturing facilites in Philadelphia and the loss of 600 jobs as the city's largest "Industrial" operation says good bye.

The clousure of the plant will bring to an end the freight service which bracketed both sides of the ex-PRR Chestnut Hill line.

Maybe the NRHS and the State should come together to erect a historical marker on the site. During the Streamliner Era, BUDD maintained two large bilboards along Hunting Park Ave that heralded the most recent "name" train.

I guess all the city will now be noted for is its lawyers!



v-scarpitti@worldnet.att.net

>>
> I guess all the city will now be noted for
> is its lawyers!

Wouldn't that mean changing the name of the city? After all Philadelphia is greek for "brotherly love". Anybody know how to say Nasty shark in greek?



superheater@beer.com

Budd was most famous for its stainless-steel railcars, but its biggest business was stamping out automotive body parts at the Hunting Park plant, producing much business for the Reading at Nicetown and the PRR at Midvale. Red Lion plant used to make auto frames as well as railcars, with a trainload going out every night at Philmont on the RDG New York Branch. You know what happened to auto frames, and Ford closed two plants in the East and it was just too far to ship from Philadelphia.

Some years ago I bought a new Bronco II and a neighbor who worked for Budd said "We make them."

Electric City Trolley Museum Association