Budd Company - Almond Joys

Almond Joys

In 1960, Budd manufactured the first stainless steel production subway cars for Philadelphia's Market-Frankford Line. 270 M-3 cars were jointly owned by the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Transportation Company (now Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority). These cars were nicknamed "Almond Joys" because the four hump-shaped ventilators on the roof evoked the Almond Joy candy bar.

There were 46 single units and 112 "married" pairs. The pairs were a "mixed marriage" because the odd-numbered car came with General Electric motors and equipment and was permanently coupled to the even-numbered car, which had Westinghouse motors and equipment.

These cars were replaced with more modern, air-conditioned M-4 units in 1997-99. Some cars were transferred to the Norristown High Speed Line in the early 1990s. The cars had to be re-trucked because the Norristown line is standard gauge (4' 8½") while the Market-Frankford line is broad gauge (5' 2½").