As promised, Bruce Wells took us on a tour of the new display barn. Here he is pointing out the first artifact on display, a Stephenson horsecar thought to date from the 1870's. The museum has an excellent website with a complete roster. Every car has its own page with pictures, description, and history, so details on each car would be superfluous. But at least we'll identify the ones where the number isn't obvious. Because the track is built to the Pennsylvania trolley gauge, the collection naturally focuses on local lines, apart from the New Orleans car we saw last time.
The barn has wide aisles and excellent lighting, so that viewing and photography are excellent. I didn't have to adjust the exposure on any of these pictures. Over the winter, some tools and parts are in the aisle, and you will notice that there are several displays for school groups. Essentially the entire collection is now under cover.
This is the Jersey Shore and Antes Fort car, a 1905 Jewett.
Next is Monangahela West Penn 250, a 1913 wooden Jewett combine. The differences between this car and the 274 are obvious.
A cab-on-flat motor from Columbus, Ohio.
This is the Harmony Route car, a 1909 wooden combine built by St. Louis. It was last used as part of a restaurant, so is lettered "STOP INN" on one end.
This is the parlor car Toledo, which I last saw when it was in Cleveland.
It has since gotten new stained-glass oval windows.
And several good examples of work equipment.
And here we have "Thrifty Beaver", the mascot of Beaver Valley Traction. This is just so much more artistic than anything we've got, including "The Little Train That Could." I believe Bruce painted this himself.
Finally, a couple of views of the Van Dorn couplers used on some of the Pittsburgh work equipment. They made their own replacements for standard Van Dorn links, although obviously this link cannot be used for automatic coupling. And the way that coupler can swing from side to side looks rather dangerous to me.
Are those black pipes on hangers over each row of equipment fire sprinklers?
ReplyDeleteC Kronenwetter
Yes; The black pipes are fire sprinklers. All of PTM's carbarns are sprinkler equipped.
ReplyDeleteAlso, The name on the front of Harmony
car 115 is the "Dew Drop Inn". With the headlight installed, it is hard to read.
Art Schwartz
It looks like the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum has a great display building - however most of the car shown are in need of rebuilding and/or repair.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the status there except for the 1-2 under repair.
Any idea what that display building cost compared to the ones we have at IRM?
ReplyDeleteCharlie Kronenwetter
Folks,
ReplyDeleteThey have added several car from other museums in recent years: Columbus work flat came from Ohio Railway Museum, the Toledo came from Trolleyville and the #250 came from the Shore Line Trolley Museum. It is PTM's only intact Interurban.
They have about 55 cars compared to IRM's nearly 500.
I want to visit there some day!
Ted Miles, IRM Member
Please, dew drop inn. That's hilarious. Thanks, Art, I'd love to see pictures of that car as a diner.
ReplyDeleteCincinnati had broad gauge, and PTM got the Cincy car from Trolleyville. So that is yet another non-Penna broad gauge system accounted for. Thanks for the update from the garden at Arden!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous is correct the Cincinnati car (one of only three existing) came from Trolleyville shortly before it closed. According to the PA Museum's Trolley Fare magazine; they are going to re-gauge the trucks under the car to broad gauge.
ReplyDeleteTed Miles
Cincinnati car 2227 has been regauged and has been in service for much of the 2015 season.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the completely anonymous comment #3, most active restored cars are kept in PTM's original carbarn, where photography is almost impossible because of the narrow aisles. This is for operating convenience.
Art Schwartz