A tribute to PATCO, the small train line that could

My fascination with PATCO was pure: I had no reason to go to South Jersey, and so for a long time, all those subway stations I passed while walking around Philadelphia were little mythical pockets of alternative existence, from which, from time to time, people appeared. Sure, I could come up with a reason for a day trip, like Collingswood or Haddonfield, but it hardly seemed legit enough to be devoid of mystique. Judging by the clothes of the people leaving the stations, passengers were served by PATCO; When I ended up riding a PATCO Speedline, he had to commute to work.

I admit I was shocked when the prospect defectors’ retreat to Atlantic City surfaced. But while Atlantic City offered my colleagues sports betting, blackjack, craps and a sense of glamor, it offered me something much less painful in the mind: the chance to ride a new and mysterious transportation line. Once I realized this fact, I was, so to speak, on board.

No! No! my colleagues protested. Why would you take PATCO to Lindenwold to transfer to the NJ Transit Atlantic City Line when we have very reasonable car groups leaving from Philadelphia? they asked. You know NJ Transit goes directly from Philly to AC, right? they asked. Are we really talking about PATCO again? they were crying. Every time PATCO Slack launches, I feel severe brain damage.– one lamented. I was slandered as a PATCO influencer who was paid to advertise. I ignored their cries; I was too busy imagining myself playing Persona 5 on the train listening to my new writing playlist:

Here are some facts about PATCO. The PATCO Express Line is operated by the Port Authority Transit Corporation (not to be confused with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey or Organization of Professional Air Traffic Controllers). It was first automatic metro line in North America, before BART: South Jersey produces, the rest of the country picks up. There are a lot of tactile buttons to press to buy a ticket, it’s fun and interactive; Unfortunately, the ticket office eats up paper tickets at the exit, so you won’t have any souvenirs left, but the memory will remain forever. Eleven of PATCO’s 13 stations are open 24/7, with trains running all night, although infrequently into the wee hours. Trains operating 24/7 are a global rarity and a feat not operated by SEPTA, Philadelphia’s “other” metro. And what’s really cool to me is that PATCO also has live streams; Oddly enough, after I advertised this fact to everyone who would listen and a few who wouldn’t, the countdown clock was broken as I was getting ready to go to Atlantic City.

I went underground downtown with my luggage to buy a $3 one-way ticket to Lindenwold. PATCO is not that crowded at about 2:50 pm on a Monday; I was able to place my bags on the seat next to me without feeling guilty. The train passed through Franklin Square Station, a stop that was open only sporadically even during PATCO’s heyday and had been shuttered due to low ridership since 1979. Where stations were required to display real-time schedules, digital signs read: THANK YOU FOR RIDING PATCO. Please! Then: sunlight. PATCO began its overland journey by accessing the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, which offers stunning views of the Delaware River. This must be how George Washington felt.I thought. Once out of Camden, the ride felt more like commuter rail, with longer distances between stations. At Lindenwold, I said a fond goodbye to my paper PATCO ticket and left the station to make my transfer. There was a sea of ​​parking to my right, but my next stop was not a car. I successfully made it to the Lindenwold stop on the Atlantic City Line and, while sitting on a bench, had the much less pleasant experience of purchasing an NJ Transit ticket on the app. PATKO, I miss you already.

PATCO is 12th place in the number of passengers on heavy railways in the United States, right between the Staten Island Rail Road and the Cleveland Red Line. This rating seems deeply misleading because the only rail line dedicated to carrying passengers from South Jersey to Philadelphia and back should be rated so highly. But maybe that’s the wrong way to look at it. Given the generally poor U.S. rail infrastructure and addiction to automobiles, perhaps the real surprise is that there are even 12 heavy rail systems in the United States. It’s a surprise you can note and then discard to restore PATCO to its rightfully impressive position on the leaderboards, and marvel that even in a world of poorly managed suburban sprawl, a once modern rail line can still have its own little niche.

If you build it, they will come. And soon, PATCO will reopen the Franklin Square station. I’ll be there. As they say: PATKOKO. Catch me on PATCO.