SEPTA Route 56

Route 56
The Route 56 Trolley crosses 6th Street in 1980
Overview
Operator	Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
Began service	1907 (first) TBD (second)
Ended service	1992 (as a streetcar line)
Route
Locale	Philadelphia
Communities served	Nicetown, Hunting Park, Juniata Park, Frankford, Tacony
Start	Venango Loop
Via	Erie Avenue, Torresdale Avenue
End	Torresdale-Cottman Loop

1907 (first)

SEPTA's Trolley Route 56, the Erie and Torresdale Avenues Line is a streetcar line that is now served by bus. It is operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The line runs between the Tioga and Tacony neighborhoods primarily along Erie Avenue and Torresdale Avenue. Route 56 was one of three "suspended" by the SEPTA board effective June 12, 1992. The two others, Routes 15 and 23, were then also operated by buses as of the same year; however, the Route 15 Trolley has since been restored back to trolley as of September 5, 2005.

Route 56 begins at West Hunting Park Avenue and 23rd Street, better known as the Venango Street Loop. Five blocks later at Pulaski Avenue, SEPTA Route 53 joins Route 56 along Erie Avenue. Route 53 is another former streetcar line that was converted into a bus route. Both routes intersect with Broad Street and connect to Erie Station on the Broad Street Subway Line, as well as Germantown Avenue, which carries Route 23. Route 53 leaves Erie Avenue at 10th Street turning north toward Luzerne Carhouse, while Route 56 continues towards its eastbound destination. Route 53's original terminus was the Luzerne Carhouse, which was shared by Route 56 for storage. East of Sedgley Avenue near 2nd Street, Route 56 runs parallel to the Trenton Line on the line's north side. The east corners of the intersection of Front Street, contain sites such as St. Christopher's Hospital and a local ball park known as Lighthouse Field.