On the way to Boston, my wife and I had a chance to stop at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum to meet with Bruce Wells. Frank and I had been there a couple of months ago, so there won't be a lot of pictures. But great progress has been made on their Cincinnati curved-side car, West Penn #832, which Bruce was naturally proud to show us. I've been impressed with the quality of the restoration work done here ever since I first visited the Arden Trolley Museum back in the seventies.
The exterior paint job looks great.
Wiring in the control compartments at each end is nearly complete.
The most noticeable thing is that the ceiling is also nearing completion.
Then it was time for a relaxing ride on an open car. This is a car from Rio, so it's not on Frank's list. The controls are still labeled in Portuguese, but it's not that hard to figure out.
Time for a speed run!
Gregg W. comments: I've noticed that every time we see pictures of the PTRM shop, it's so clean and organized. Not like some other places I've been to. I wonder what's their secret?
I've wondered the same thing, Gregg. And I myself am certainly no great example of cleanliness and organization. Maybe Bruce should give us a seminar at the next ATRRM conference.
Bruce Wells has a blog that is almost as interesting and frequently posted as this one! Worth a visit:
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Randall,
ReplyDeleteI too enjoy that museum. Since they are broad gauge they have not grown too much. It is a quality collection with some quality facilities. I hope that they get to build that grand Visitor Center that they are planning!
Ted miles, IRM Member
Randall, I am the historian/archivist for the Los Angeles Astronomical Society in Los Angeles, California.
ReplyDeleteF.M. Hicks was a major player in the founding of the LAAS in 1926 and was instrumental in getting famous astronomers to give talks before that group in 1928-1929 at the downtown Los Angeles Public Library. He had a number of close contacts at the Mount Wilson Observtory, then the largest in the world. Among others, he obtained Dr. Edwin P. Hubble (think Hubble Space Telescope) as a speaker on several occasions. I have a picture or two of Hicks taken in 1928-1929, shortly before his death. He is pictured within a group of other amateur astronomers and telescope makers. He also appears in a couple of newspaper articles of that time. I can email you those pictures, if you are interested.
Thanks for your biography of him. I downloaded it and placed it in the LAAS paper and digital archives. I made sure to give you proper credit.
Thanks,
Lew Chilton
Northridge, Calif.
I
Mr. Chilton: Thanks for the additional information, which I would like to add to the current biography. I would also very much like any pictures you have. Thanks!
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