Originally a
streetcar line, Route 66 was converted to
trolley buses (locally called trackless trolleys) in 1955. The last day of streetcar operation was July 30, 1955, and then diesel buses were temporarily used for six weeks, while work to modify the
overhead wires for trolley buses took place. Trolley bus service began operating on the part of the route between Bridge Street Terminal (now known as
Frankford Transit Center) and Gregg Street on September 11, 1955, and on October 2, 1955, the new trolley bus service was extended to City Line Loop, which has been the outer end of the line ever since. initially in the northbound/outbound direction only, but with southbound express service added in September 1962. In 1981, the route section between
Frankford Terminal and St. Vincent Street was modified from three sets of wires to four, and an additional part of the route, farther out, was equipped with express wires, between Ryan Street and Rhawn Street. and in 2007when SEPTA was renewing the overhead wires in preparation for a resumption of trolley bus service on Route 66 after a suspension of more than five yearsthat set of express wires was removed, because there were no longer any Route 66 trips scheduled to operate as expresses on that section, beyond Ryan Street. The section of Frankford Avenue east of Cottman Avenue retained four sets of wires, the two inner sets used by express trolley buses. All of the vehicles currently in use are
ADA-compliant and equipped with bicycle racks.
"Night Owl" service is also available, and
rush hour service includes both local and express trips. ==See also==