Philadelphia & Western Railroad Co. - Bullet Train Cars  The "Bullet" trains were streamlined, high-speed electric passenger cars built in 1931 by the J. G. Brill Company in Philadelphia for the Philadelphia and Western Railroad (P&W). Reaching speeds up to 92–100 mph, these lightweight aluminum cars predated famous modern high-speed rail systems and operated on the P&W suburban route for nearly 60 years.

Origins and Design

-   Pioneering Aerodynamics: The Bullet was the first American rail car tested in a wind tunnel, featuring a sleek, rounded nose designed to minimize air resistance and save energy.

-  Lightweight Construction: Built with an all-aluminum body, each car weighed roughly 24 tons and was powered by four heavy-duty traction motors.

-  Incredible Performance: The cars routinely hit 92 mph in service and clocked up to 100 mph during testing, cutting the run from Norristown to Upper Darby’s 69th Street Terminal down to just 11 minutes.

Operations and Legacy

-  Grade-Separated Route: The P&W line ran on a completely private, grade-separated right-of-way using a 600-volt third rail, avoiding all road crossings and allowing the Bullets to run at maximum velocity safely.

-  Saving the Line: Introduced during the Great Depression, the efficiency and one-man operational design of the Bullet cars helped save the Philadelphia & Western from financial ruin.

-  Transition to SEPTA: The cars continued service under subsequent operators and later SEPTA, running remarkably for nearly six decades before finally retiring. The historic route survives today as SEPTA's Norristown High Speed Line.

This Photochromatic postcard is in good condition.  Audio Visual Designs.  Earlton, N. Y. No. TP34.