Ronald DeGraw began his transportation career in 1970 when he joined the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority as Director of Development for its new Red Arrow Division. SEPTA took over the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company, known as Red Arrow Lines, on January 29, 1970. 
DeGraw was born in Philadelphia in 1942. He won a degree in journalism from Temple University and worked part time as a reporter at The Evening Bulletin during his school years. In 1965 he joined The Philadelphia Inquirer where he covered transportation and regional affairs. Red Arrow and P&W were part of his assignment.
After joining SEPTA, DeGraw implemented speeded-up service on the P&W in 1971, including the reinstitution of super-fast “limiteds”. He renamed it the“Norristown High-Speed Line” and it was accurately billed as “the fastest suburban rapid transit line in the world”.
As SEPTA’s Chief Operations Planning Officer, DeGraw was responsible for the substantial expansion of suburban bus routes, including Thomas Conway’s old Schuylkill Valley Lines system. He served as Chief Operating Officer for SEPTA’s Suburban Transit Division, which encompassed the P&W, the old Red Arrow bus and rail system and the former Schuylkill Valley Lines bus network.
DeGraw retired from SEPTA in 1996, marking the end of 88 years of continuous employment with the P&W and its successors by DeGraw and six other members of his family, who among them logged more than 200 years of service.
A passionate bibliophile and learned published author, DeGraw served as vice chairman of the Upper Merion Township Library board of trustees. As well, he continued to work part time on transit operations planning consulting assignments.
Pig & Whistle is his third book. The Red Arrow was published in 1972, and Red Arrow: The First Hundred Years, 1848-1948, appeared in 1985.
Alas, soon after the manuscript of this book was completed, Ron DeGraw died January 30, 2006, of complications while recovering from a stroke. He was 63, and leaves his wife, Karin, and two cats, Turnpike and Pumpkin, at home in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Those 88 cumulative years of family experience with the P&W were poured into this book, which will stand as his magnum opus.
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