Four years after beginning a multimillion-dollar project to restore them, SEPTA has officially brought back the vintage green and cream Route 15 Girard Avenue trolleys, write Courtney Cherry, Adam Fox, and Dan Snyder for CBS News Philadelphia.

These trolleys date back to the 1940, and are also referred to as streetcars.

Workers at SEPTA’s Woodland Shop meticulously took apart and rebuilt the trolley piece by piece, and officials said at times, workers had to reverse engineer and fabricate parts that are no longer being manufactured.

“I’ve had the opportunity to stop by the shop many times over the years to witness the hard work being done by SEPTA employees and the transformation of these historic trolleys is amazing,” SEPTA’s Senior Press Officer Kelly Greene said.

The trolleys’ new upgrades include new floors, windows, wheelchair lifts, and HVAC units.

A portion of the trolley’s route runs through Philadelphia City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier’s district.

“By bringing PCC trolleys back into service, we show the community that West Philadelphia’s transit heritage deserves to be honored and preserved,” Gauthier said.

She added that having intergenerational family members riding the same trolleys “instills a sense of pride and community and reaffirms that our Black and Brown neighborhoods deserve nice things too.”

Read more about the return of the iconic trolleys in CBS News Philadelphia.

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