Transportation Mural , originally uploaded by Chris_In_Philly_’08.

Here at Studio 34, we love trolleys. We named the studio for the line that runs on Baltimore Avenue in front of our building. Streetcars are a greener form of transit than automobiles, and Route 34 is a living link to the foundation of West Philadelphia as a commuter suburb. So we also love this mural on the side of 4514 Baltimore, a few doors down from our studio. Entitled “A Celebration of Philadelphia Trolleys,” it was completed in 2002 by local artist Karl Yoder with funding from the University City District organization. The mural depicts two scenes: at top, a view from a trolley crossing the Strawberry Mansion Bridge; at bottom, a trolley outside the Reading Terminal Market. It’s a terrific and welcoming image to folks approaching the 4500 block of Baltimore Avenue from Clark Park and points east.

Somewhat ironically, the trolley mural faces a gas station. Along those lines, one may discern a metaphor in last year’s automobile crash into the mural’s lower-right corner. That corner was recently patched up. Unfortunately, the cement patch has obliterated Yoder’s name and the mural’s title.

Here’s what it used to look like…Anyone know whether there are plans to repaint that section?

Mural 1- In celebration of Phili trolleys, originally uploaded by Tanu Neel.