PATCO Speedline: America's Oldest Automated Trains 

I lived in Lindenwold from 1985 until 1996 and used PATCO to commute to my job with Amtrak at 30th street station. Here's a few facts about PATCO. PATCO was planned to be a three branch system. In addition to the main branch to Lindenwold two other lines were planned. One would run north to the Moorestown area and the other would run south towards the Glassboro area. In your video at the 11:30 mark you can see the ramp that was built for these two lines to diverge from the main line. There is talk of a light rail line south towards Glassboro that would be an extension of the River line and not PATCO. You mentioned the operators having to run the trains in manual mode during wet track conditions. This is because the braking distance setup in ATO mode causes the trains to slide by the stations in rain, snow and ice. When PATCO was being planned the stations would have manned ticket booths to sell tickets and collect fares. These booths would only be open during daylight hours. At night the train operators would collect fares. In order to do this a small number of single cars were ordered. The operators position was placed on the left side of the train with a single leaf door directly behind the operator. This allowed him/her to view the platform for closing the doors and collecting fares at night. This is why the operators position is on the left side as opposed to the right side which is standard north American practice. I believe all the single unit cars have either been retired or converted into "married pairs" with other singles. The PATCO magnetic fare card system was chosen after the cars were ordered. The Lindenwold station is a transfer station with the NJT Atlantic City line. This station see heavy usage by the gambling crowd and beach goers during the summer months. PATCO's shops are also located at Lindenwold. Back in the 80's a set of the old Bridge Line cars were stored at the shops. I don't know if they're still there or not. Over the years there have been plans to extend to PATCO line under the river to 30th street and the University of PA. Don't hold your breathe on this one. And finally the cars as built used to have a great "Rail Fan Window" (RFW) seat at the front. When the cars were rebuilt full width cabs were installed.

Another fun fact: the voice of the announcements is also the voice of AirTrain Newark and one of the voices of the NYC subway. That would be me.

The retro-futuristic rail transit America never got.

I hope that WMATA can turn on their automated trains again.

The official name for the PATCO line was "Lindenwald-Philadelphia Hi-Speed Line". We all called it the Lindenwold Line. In the early ‘70s when I first rode it compared to the El (which is what Philadelphians call the Market-Frankford Subway Elevated Line) it seemed truly space aged. It was fast, quiet and had automated announcements which are commonplace today. I was fortunate to lead a tour of the entire facility including the main control building and shops. At the shops there was a train of PRSL RDCs operated by Conrail idling. Haven’t been back to Philly in 40 years but I still have a PATCO time-table from 1976, the Bicentennial Year. The fare was $.90 to Lindenwold.

The Benjamin Franklin Bridge was designed in the 1920s by Paul Philippe Cret, who was educated at Lyon's École des Beaux-Arts and migrated from France to the US to teach at UPenn, who was also the architect of the National Memorial Arch at Valley Forge in the 1910s, DC's Duke Ellington Bridge, DC's Eccles Building and UT Austin's Tower in Texas in the 1930s, and DC's Pan American Union Building in the 1900s. Plans for a bridge to augment the ferries across the Delaware River began as early as 1818, when one plan envisioned using Smith Island, a narrow island off the Philadelphia shore that was removed in 1893. The bridge was dedicated as part of the 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. From 1926 to 1929, it had the longest single span of any suspension bridge in the world. Besides Cret as supervising architect, the chief engineer of the bridge was Polish-born Ralph Modjeski and the design engineer was Leon Moisseiff. Leon became known for his work on "deflection theory," which held that the longer bridges were, the more flexible they could be. Charles Alton Ellis elaborated on Moisseiff's theories, and applied them in the design of the famed Golden Gate Bridge. Moisseiff served as a consulting engineer on the bridge. However, Moisseiff designed the original the Tacoma Narrows Suspension Bridge in 1940, the first bridge that he designed as the leading engineer. He lost his strong reputation when this narrow span across the Puget Sound in Washington State collapsed in a windstorm four months after it opened. In 1950, another bridge was built to replace it.

I use this line every day to get from Lindenwold to Philly. Comfortable, quick, and remarkably cheap. The stations on the Jersey side seem much better kept than the Philly side for whatever reason. Can't wait for Franklin Square to open!

I agree that 30th Street Station is absolutely a breathtaking station, definitely one of my top favorites in the US among Grand Central Terminal, Hoboken Terminal, and DC Union Station! 30th Street Station was designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, a Chicago firm that was the successor to Daniel Burnham's firm. Thus besides 30th Street in Philly, they worked on many Chicago icons like the Wrigley Building, Merchandise Mart, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and the Civic Opera House! They helped complete Chicago Union Station as well to finish a design that began under Burnham's firm. They also worked on Philly's Suburban Station and Cleveland's Terminal Tower. The sculpture you showed at 4:27 is called the Angel of the Resurrection, portraying Michael the Archangel lifting up the soul of a dead soldier from the flames of war. It commemorates the 1,307 Pennsylvania Railroad employees who died in World War II and was sculpted by Walker Hancock in 1952! At Lindenwold, there's a connection with the Atlantic City Line! After Conrail took over South Jersey rail services in 1976 (which also included Ocean City and Cape May) and NJDOT ceased these services in 1981, Amtrak and NJT struck a deal where the main line to Atlantic City would be upgraded by Amtrak, Amtrak would run an Atlantic City Express to AC from places like NYC, Philly, and DC, while also building commuter stations for a NJT service on the line. The line reopened in 1989, and during this time, NJT rail service was between Lindenwold and Atlantic City. After Amtrak discontinued the AC Express in 1995, NJT extended its service from Lindenwold to Philadelphia.

thanks for talking about PATCO :D it's such a cool line with beautiful trains and incredible views over the Delaware. A wonderful asset for our city. Hopefully someday the Port Authority has the sense to expand the system to its initially proposed scope and get South Jersey covered with high quality rail transit.

As someone who used to live in Philly (briefly) and took this train semi-regularly, it was jarring to go to Collingswood and Haddonfield after seeing Camden, Kensington and parts of West Philly.

Glad your paco ride was so soft. We went from far NE Philadelphia to AC NJ . I felt the train was going to fall apart ! The trip was not boring ! Cell phones were a new thing . I called home to Philly from the board walk at AC NJ to see if the call would reach . It did . your ride took me back many moons ago ! Good flick !

Interesting note-PATCO started after BART but opened earlier. Why? Because it focused on using state-of-the-art best practices rather than introducing massive new technological innovations. BART was forced to accept cutting edge technology as a prerequisite for federal aid (this being the 1960s when the planning began, and a desire to be high-tech and futuristic was annoyingly pervasive), which PATCO didn't receive. This has also helped PATCO in the long run, as its systems have proven relatively easy to update, while BART (and the Morgantown People Mover) have massive issues with dated technology.

I used to ride the Bridge Line, as we called it before PATCO. It only had two stops, City Hall-Camden and Broadway, the end of the line. A transfer from the Philly subway system plus a token ( two for 5 cents) was required. That was in 1965. The fact that PATCO runs 24/7 is GREAT! I live about four miles from the Lindenwold Station so I always use the train when I have to go into Philly.

LMAO - Bunnies... that was my highlight.. You are insanely knowledgable on US rail systems, both historically and travel wise. Thanks heaps for the hard work.

Am I the only one who knows about this line only because I watched an Alan Fisher video about it?

I love that the Riverline finally made an interchange in Pennsauken, NJ to switch to the Atlantic City Line which also goes into Philadelphia. Back in 2015 going home from a doctor in Philly, I made a switch there at Pennsauken to the Riverline.

Never ridden the Lindewold line, but I'm a firm fan of their pre-PATCO rolling stock with their "Buck Rogers" look.

Riding the patco made me so MAD. Seeing that small towns can get 24 hour frequent service made me very irritated with the situation out in places like California (where I live).

It’s crazy how many similarities PATCO has with PATH

7:12 - PATCO service began April 1969. More train-cars were added when the Woodcrest staion was built.

Great video! I also learned that PATCO trains accelerate much faster than other mass transit systems.

Really enjoy your historical research, graphics, and explanations in your videos. Absolutely awesome!!!

Your historical route diagrams always come in useful! I rode PATCO between Center City and Haddonfield, which definitely includes 65 MPH-rated segments. The acceleration and cruising at the top speed was a marvel by rapid transit standards! The whirring of the motors is so satisfying!

I hope modern CBTC signalling and walk-through trains can be introduced. And maybe introduce a Metro Trains Melbourne idea-CBTC as a driver assist to help them stop in the right spot without needing to do it automatically

Wow, nice video. This is my local transit system and is so convenient for me getting into the city and back.

thats super cool you keep the tickets as a souvenir

Great narrative. and good knowledge of the history of Patco. Only thing to add would be more shots of the view crossing the river. It's really too bad Patco never carried through on its original plan to add other branches to the system and in effect replace the old railroad lines.

Great video on the Patco Speedline. I live in northern NJ so I've never ridden this, but I did look into this line before when considering a move and job opportunity in southern NJ

amazing how much transit info you have accumulated. great job as usual

Years ago, an Amtrak rider getting out at 30 St. could get a free ride on SEPTA to Suburban Station. If that is still so, and maybe includes a ride to Jefferson Station, it would be an alternative to taking the Market St. subway.

Thank You!

I recall a few times riding New Jersey Transit's Atlantic City Line which runs parallel to the PATCO Line around Lindenwold . If you're lucky, you'll get to race PATCO along the way 😁

Great video

Excellent research, information and storytelling! Glad you covered a transit system that I have ridden, but never knew much about it. It has always felt old and slow, but safe, reliable and a system you knew would get you there.

Great channel! I'm subscribing.

I enjoyed that video👍👍

I was a Center City resident until 1987. Used PATCO to visit my aunt near Haddonfield. Latter we took PATCO to Lindenwold then caught a train to Atlantic City.

Best transit channel,

Thanks, great video. I have to go down there and ride on it one of these days.

Interesting documentary of the PATCO! 😎

I thought the worst thing anybody would have to deal with in any rapid transit station would be what smells like panther piss. I smelled what smelled like that in a stairwell in a Metra station in downtown Chicago.

Very cool

Good vid covering PATCO. Can't wait for your NJT RiverLine video. I use those 2 to go into Philly. When I can't get the SEPTA Regional Rail at Trenton.

Hi Thom, first time viewer here. Great video, you're a really enjoyable presenter. Will absolutely check out your other stuff!

Thank you for this wonderful video ! I rode that route about 10 years ago, all the way to Lindenwold. I agree with all that you say, and really thought the cars were very comfortable, and nicely maintained. Fortunately I didn’t have your experience on entering the PATCO station ! I look forward to your ride from Trenton to NYC, and hope you ride in a bi-level service which give a great ride, and splendid views !

Riding on the Benjamin Franklin bridge at night offers a georgeous view

4:00 got me dying 😂😂 5:58 lmaooooo

When I used to live in southern New Jersey, I used to take PATCO every day to get to work in center city Philly 😊I worked on 8th and Market

Great video! Lived near one of the stations in Philly back in the day. Great news about the Franklin Square station! Maybe that will make it an alternative for intra city trips in Philly. I could see going from Rittenhouse square over to Chinatown using it.

Thanks

8:44 had the ace train beep

8:15 you got the full PATCO experience, a pocket full of Sacajawea dollars! In the future (as mentioned in a reply elsewhere) they're aiming to use TVMs which can dispense bills. They'll also have a contactless trip card, so I guess there will be an opportunity for another neat collector's item. Thanks for featuring South Jersey's dependable little transit line!

Hey Thom I was wondering if you could review the Amtrak blue water

For the announcements, is that the same guy who does the Newark and JFK AirTrain announcements?

I enjoyed riding patco for the first time a few months ago. My only complaints were the low frequency on sundays and lack of schedule/ticket coordination with the river line.

I hope the speedline can get new open-gangway trains, maybe similar to DC's 8000 series or more hopefully Atlanta's CQ400

After seeing the MBTA comment I just have to say: it is very cool that the T goes to providence. The MBTA has also tried for many years to make a line which goes to Manchester NH. However, the proposal is repeatedly rejected by the New Hampshire government. If it got accepted though, it would be the third rail line in NH which is funded by a separate government. The Downeaster and Vermonter are funded by Maine and Vermont respectively. The Downeaster must go through NH to reach Maine and the Vermonter has one stop (which is for some reason) in NH, but the whole line runs on the border.

Vancouver also sometimes has manual operators, albeit much more rarely. I remember a video somewhere during a rare major PNW snowstorm and there was someone manually operating the Skytrain

Patco Is Awesome Never Has Problems😊

What’s so great about automated rail (and driverless rail), it’s just one more lost job opportunity? And driving train seems like a cool job.

When I visited Philly in August, I somehow managed to pick a seat with no window going both ways over the Delaware

"The Machine Will Not Take My Card, So i have to walk a decent chunk to an atm" Continues To Walk By A Bank Of America

great

It's so crazy that you saw a human turs at a Patco station because the only time I've ever seen one that I didn't create was at the Patco station in Lindenwald

I really love that there is a ton of transportation RU-vid pages now…and you all seem to live in the DMV…which is where I’m at! 😊

I really hope they integrate mobile pay on PATCO like they did on SEPTA

I dont think NJ could function without trains.

So last week I was in the area to see the Battleship Nea Jersey be moved so we went to Philly For lunch. We wound up walking one to stop up to City Hall because we couldn’t figure out where to enter in at the Broadway stop.

I’ve never even heard of this line it’s pretty cool though

Btw Parking is free if you use the train at all the suburban stations.

Thom, I really do love your videos to death, but the jorts are an interesting choice

It’s a METRO, but it serves the purpose of a commuter rail

People from Philadelphia call the Market-Frankford line the "El" because it is elevated except for the stops in center city, which are underground.

I enjoyed this video but I really hope you’ll do one that’s PATCO only and goes all the way to Lindenwold.

It's interesting how 2 of only 4 interstate metros are in New Jersey. Where would they be without their neighbors...

Very interesting stuff (apart from the... crappy situation at 15/16th str station). I assume its Level 2 Grade of automation. Semi automatic with a driver still present to engage the systems. The S-train system in my home city of Copenhagen was just upgraded to this standard not that long ago, though of course with more modern CBTC systems and it has improved reliability immensely. Though the S-train itself is old, around the same age as the original bridge line, the systems 90th anniversary is next week. But the Patco Speedline feels really comparable to the S-trains here in a lot of ways.

You should go back when Franklin Square station opens this year

The stations in Center City were, I believe, originally intended to be on a balloon loop that would have returned to the Broad line after going to Suburban Station, and would have been operated as part of the Broad line

san diego is planning on extending the blue line into downtown tijuana so that would be a first in north amreica, an international line

Get yourself a main line credit card ( MC or Visa ) and you s/b able to pay fares anywhere & everywhere. there are plenty of cards available with no annual fee.

Path is a commuter rail. While it does look like a metro/rapid transit, by definition it transports people from the suburbs to Jersey city and New York City

Thom suffers from 'Railfixation' No known cure. Only relief is to share experiences/thoughts with others on RU-vid :)

Don’t forget there is PATH which operates in both New Jersey and New York.

Hey dude! you should wear a suite and tie ... I like your videos ... oldtony

Is that like a standard off the shelf PA chime or something, it's completely identical to the Union Pearson Express here in Toronto, and I swear I heard it used somewhere else as well...

SEPTA does as well from DE-PA-NJ

I find it funny how the little *chime* (11:32) before the announcements is literally the EXACT same as the one on the Milwaukee streetcar. Curious if it’s used elsewhere.

One day i want to ride this train line

Are there any rapid transit networks that are in multiple countries other than the trams in Basel?

I don't want to be a jerk but you gave emphasis that this is like a Philadelphia train... Which is very common people overlooking Jersey. The origin of the train is in New Jersey the primary riders are New Jersyan's this is a NJ train that connects to Philly.

will you ever ride septas commuter rail/trolleys?! you were so close!

It would be nice if PATCO extends to Atlantic City on its east end & to 30th St station on its west end.

Are the Train Operators still out in the open? They had a curtain behind them, but the side was open last time I rode Patco.

I use PATCO a few times a month and it very convenient. but station in Philadelphia are just not safe or clean. Last time i used PATCO at 8th & Market, a murder took place about a hour later after i enter the station. The city should do a better job. There used to be a tunnel between septa 30th station and Amtrak 30th There are plans to reopen soon.

you can use your patco freedom card at septa stations but not vice versa for what ever reason

As a European (I'm Irish), I never understood this hatred of the US$1 coin. Our lowest note is €5 and we have €1 and €2 coins.

I consider PATCO to be a more commuter rail-ish version of the PATH train.

What about the South Shore which starts in Illinois and ends in Indiana?

Took this train as a 15 year old living in Suburban NJ to Philly to buy booze and cigarettes for $2 each way. Great train. lolz.

“Philly 30th street is the most beautiful station” :LA union station has entered the chat