Callowhill Depot

Callowhill Depot is a bus and trolley barn operated by SEPTA, located in West Philadelphia, near the Delaware County border. It was built in 1913 by the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company (PRT) and was later operated by the Philadelphia Transportation Company (PTC) before being taken over by SEPTA. The depot was constructed as part of the Thomas E. Mitten modernization program. Since its construction, the depot has suffered fire damage and reconstruction in 1949, 1950, and 1995.

The Callowhill Depot is located in the heart of West Philadelphia, located on the southwest corner of the 5900 block of Callowhill Street with the bus and trolley bays across the street. The depot is surrounded by 59th, Vine, 58th, and Callowhill Streets. Callowhill Depot was an all-trolley depot until May 28, 1955, when Route 70 (52nd Street Line) was converted to bus operation. Callowhill Depot was the base of all streetcar routes that operated in West Philadelphia, until National City Lines converted most of them to buses.

The depot is accessible only to SEPTA employees, however, transit enthusiasts often photograph streetcars pulling in and out. For safety reasons, SEPTA Transit Police will stop and question anyone found on the property without reason or authorization.

Routes

Callowhill Depot is home to two SEPTA trolley routes and 11 bus routes. The depot's trolley bays are 2, 3 and 4. Bay 2 is the rail shop, bay 3 is used by Route 10, and bay 4 is used by Route 15. These routes all operate in West Philadelphia, with their eastern terminus being either in downtown Center City Philadelphia or North Philadelphia.

Routes operated include:

• Route 10 Overbrook to Center City via Lancaster Avenue and Subway-Surface Tunnel
• Route 15 Port Richmond & Northern Liberties to Haddington via Girard Avenue and Richmond Street
• Route 21 69th Street Transportation Center to Penn's Landing via Chestnut and Walnut Streets
• Route 30 69th Street Transportation Center to 30th Street Station (30th & Market Streets) via Haverford Avenue
• Route 31 Overbrook Park to Center City via Market Street
• Route 38 Wissahickon Transportation Center to Center City via Belmont Avenue, Market and Chestnut Streets
• Route 40 West Park/Wynnefield to Society Hill via 40th, 41st, Lombard and South Streets (Monday - Thursday) and eastbound on Pine Street (weekends only)
• Route 42 Wycombe & West Philadelphia to Penn's Landing via Spruce, Chestnut and Walnut Streets
• Route 43 Parkside to Northern Liberties/Port Richmond via Spring Garden Street and Columbus Boulevard
• Route 44 Ardmore/Gladwyne to Center City via Montgomery Avenue, City Avenue, Schuylkill Expressway and Market Street
• Route 46 Overbrook to Angora via 60th Street
• Route 52 Gladwyne/Wynnefield to Southwest Philadelphia vis 52nd and 54th Streets
• Route 65 69th Street Transportation Center to Germantown/Mount Airy via City Line Avenue and Walnut Lane. This route was formerly shared with the Allegheny Depot.

Key: Subway–surface line trolley route bus route

External links

• Philadelphia Trolley Tracks:Girard Avenue Light Rail Progress - August 8-9, 2001 Photos (PhillyTrolley.org)
• SEPTA Route 15 images (WorldNYCSubway.org)
• The New PCC II Cars For Girard Avenue SEPTA Route 15 (September 4, 2005)
• Philadelphia NRHS
• SEPTA Bus Roster (Philadelphia Transit Vehicles) Archived 2009-10-05 at the Wayback Machine