The story of the SEPTA LRV's
These robust cars hold up pretty well compared to their 1947 PCC counterparts, though at nearly twice the weight, consume much more power and exact a higher toll on the right of way. Initially, in the early 70's, SEPTA had planned on acquiring new US Standard Light Rail Vehicle (SLRV) made by the Boeing Company. Assembly would take place at the Boeing Vertol military helicopter plant just outside Philadelphia. Orders for large fleets of the technologically advanced articulated Boeing SLRV were placed by Boston's MBTA and by San Francisco Municipal Railway but internal dithering by SEPTA management and difficulty in attaining funding forestalled an order from SEPTA. To SEPTA's advantage however, the Boeing design proved flawed in part to a lack of experience in building streetcars and its use of unproven designs. Today, SEPTA's LRV fleet consists of 112 single-end city trolleys and 29 larger, but similar, double-end suburban trolleys.