On September 27, 5844H was parked in front of SEPTA headquarters.  Hanging on it was a banner, stating "400 New clean air buses, 400 New reasons to breathe".  This was was announcing the SEPTA board's decision to order 400 new New Flyer DE40LF(R)s to replace the NABIs.  This order will take 4 years, with 100 buses being delivered each year.  There's also an option for 20 additional hybrids to be delivered each year as well.
Interestinly enough, the order will not come in 2009...but in 2008! The first of the production buses are going to be delivered in July!  The demo will arrive in March.  Get ready to breathe!

With these new Gilligs, PUT changed its name.  It is now known as Pottstown Area Rapid Transit, or PART for short.  Pictures and an updated PUT/PART page will come soon!

At around 2:30 yesterday afternoon, a Warminster bound R2 train collided with a cement truck, which was trying to beat the train across the tracks near the intersection of County Line Road and Jacksonville Road.  Four people on the train suffered minor injuries, and the truck driver was taken to Abington Hospital. 

The Silverliner II car that directly collided with the truck was 204.  Reports show that the stairwell was twisted, hanging on by a thread, and unfortunately, it was marked as totaled (probably due to its age).  The truck itself suffered significant damage.  The accident is still under investigation, particularly whether or not the signals were working properly and if they were down at the time the train was approaching.

See the discussion here: http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=43988&sid=2abec4d73b460503274d36e83be8ac71

Ever since 1856, Lansale was using a watchman to control the crossing gates in Lansdale at Main Street and Broad Street.  This continued up until the 21st Century, where the Lansdale crossing was one of two in the country that was manually operated, and the only one east of the Mississippi River.  The main reason this watchman was retained was because of the complicated crossing nature of Lansdale station, particularly for short-turning trains since they stop so close to the street.

This weekend, SEPTA installed switches and circuits that would render the watchman and watchtower useless.  However, just in case there are any bugs in the system There is a comprehensive article (complete with pictures) at the following website: http://www.trainweb.org/phillynrhs/RPOTW071007.html.

Starting today, due to construction service, rt 13 will operate on Woodland Ave to 49th street, then scoot on over to 49th Street and follow the regular route to Yeadon and Darby.  This is due to a massive construction project that will replace 4000 ft of old track.  Shuttle buses will run on Chester Ave between 40th Street and 49th Street.

More details here: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,193244.shtml

Around 1:30 PM, Southern's 5372 got into an accident involving a limo as well as a PennDOT truck on the Roosevelt Blvd Extension.   This NABI has severe damage to the front right-hand side of the bus; essentially it was ripped apart when it ran into the truck.  It ended up pinning the limo to a wall on the left hand side of the roadway (on the bridge).

The cause of the accident hasn't been determined yet, although it's clear that this bus will not operate in service any longer.  Fortunately it was not in service when the accident occured.  Please visit the following website for photographs: http://www.nbc10.com/slideshow/slideshows/14343451/detail.html

Eldorado 4534 caught fire this past Wednesday while working the 107 as seen on Garretford Drexel Hill Fire Company Station 20's website 4534 sufferred a fire in the engine compartment.  All passengers were off the bus when Station 20 arrived with two engines and quickly extinguished the fire.  Damage to 4534 appears to be relatively minor and it does not look like it will join 4539 at Midvale.  The other Eldorado whose status is in question, 4552, at last check, was still at Berridge for its fire repairs.

UPDATE: 4534 has returned to service.  It was seen on 107/305 4345 block today (10/25/2007).

Rotem USA Corp. found an old warehouse building in South Philadelphia that they will use for the final assembly of railcars for U.S. transit agencies.  The car shells would come from Korea, the wheels and trucks from Pennyslvania and Ohio, and the seats from China.  This warehouse would create 300 jobs for Philadelphians.

So far, SEPTA and California's Metrolink Commuter Rail system have orders for cars from this company.  In the meantime, Rotem is searching for other U.S. contracts. 

You can find more information here: http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20071023_Company_to_make_railcars_in_S__Phila_.html