Thousands tune in to proposal on ‘Love Letters’ tour

A SEPTA train ride last month through West Philadelphia was the stage for an unforgettable marriage proposal. Now, nearly ten thousand people have seen the magical moment online.

Todd Barkhouse and Megan McNamara, who live in Nova Scotia, have been dating for a long time. They were planning to visit family in France, and Barkhouse wanted to move the relationship to the next level.

“I was thinking maybe I should propose when I’m in France – that’s a typical thing to do,” said Barkhouse. “I was worried that was trite, a little cliched.”He bought plane tickets with a long layover in Philadelphia so they could take the “Love Letters” tour. That’s a special ride on the Market-Frankford line along a series of murals created by the Mural Arts Program. The Mural Arts Program liked the idea so much they lined up the Penn Light Opera Company to serenade McNamara on the train.

“First, I was impressed that everyone was singing. I wanted to get it on tape,” McNamara recalled. “Then everything started to connect that they were singing to me. I turned to Todd and thought, ‘You don’t seem surprised by all this!’ “

The online video shows McNamara tearing up.

The couple plan to wed in the summer of 2012.