[PRCo] A__Tribute__To__The__Pennsylvania__Trolley__Museum__(PTM)

[Jim Holland]

Good Morning!

	I just received a recent copy of the PTM  *Trolley--Fare*  and
it is breath taking  --  hope you find this exciting as well.

	We often wonder how to promote the hobby to the younger
generation   ---   think PTM has the answer to that, too!

	Please read on to see!



	While Pittsburgh, PA, is my place of birth, I was too young to
know of the formation of the  *Pittsburgh Electric Railway
Club,*  the forerunner of PTM ( http://www.pa-trolley.org/).  And
while I may have known of it while growing up, it was
inaccessible to me being 25-miles south.  PTM did not open as an
operating museum until the early 1960s and by then I had left
Pittsburgh only to return on vacation.


*Trolley--Fare*  Magazine

	But I have been a member for not a few decades and kept abreast
of activity at Arden through the bi-monthly newsletter, 
*Trolley--Fare.*  While always printed on standard letter size
paper, the letter has gone from simple mimeograph to booklet and
for the last decade, it has been printed on glossy paper.

	Just received the  May--June--2002 issue and while running late,
I was completely  *blown--away*  as the saying goes!   The
16-page letter included 16-B&W photographs  in--addition--to  two
(2) color photos, one each on the front and back cover!   And the
textual content was equally exciting if not more so.

	Mr. Mac McGrew and Mr. Harold Englund are largely responsible
for the layout of the letter and both donated their professional
experience to the image of the letter.   Mac was a typesetter and
Harold an editor and publisher of a widely circulated trade
magazine, and this letter definitely reflects their expertise.


Paid  Director

	I was not enamored with the idea at first, but the fruit of Mr.
Scott Becker's efforts are revealed in the progress of the museum
and facts related in  *Trolley--Fare.*   A new and significant
extension of the operating line was opened on 2002.06.30 and
plans are going ahead toward construction of the Pennsylvania
Trolley Era Heritage Complex at the East Site.   A $475,000
Federal Transportation Enhancement Grant is available  *just* 
for the earthwork alone at this site.   And the first building to
be completed here will allow for the whole fleet to be housed
inside instead of outside under tarps!   I can't begin to list
the multitude of accomplishments here.


Attracting  New  Members

	This is not really the correct title for this section  -- 
*The--Educator's--Notebook*  by Sondra Furedy is how it is listed
in  *Trolley--Fare.*   Sondra coordinates the efforts for the
assembly of a curriculum which can be used by school teachers.  
Sondra not only plans activities for local public, private and
home school groups to visit the Museum but also visits local
schools to educate concerning the trolley and to offer the PTM
curriculums.
	This past may the outreach went as far as Columbus, Ohio, with
60-children and 30-adults making the trip to the Museum.   The
chief coordinator of this group was so impressed that a visit to
PTM will definitely be part of their annual trip to Pittsburgh!
	Railroad Museums and model railroaders are concerned about
future growth of the hobby.   Maybe something could be learned
from the efforts of Sondra and PTM.   The Trolley Wire and the
Yearbook at the website could give more information.


Dedicated  Volunteers

	But Mr. Becker's efforts would be of naught save for the large
group of active volunteers who seem to encourage more
participation.   Many of them write dedicated columns to keep
members abreast of Museum activities and its intricacies.

	Mr. Scott Davis is professionally employed by PAT (Port
Authority Transit, with light rail) and his expertise as a
lineman is donated to PTM and detailed in his column.
	Mr. Raymond Windle coordinates the various operations (and
writes of same in  *Trolley--Fare*) which includes hauling people
to the Washington County Fair.   While there was about a decade
of interruption of this service (from 1953 when Washington
interurban service was truncated by PRCo at Drake until 1963 when
the Museum began public operations), this service utilizes actual
prw of PRCo to accomplish that goal.   The summer sees many such
operating experiences which require schedules to keep cars
rolling to haul the crowds and off-season sees special operations
for Halloween and Christmas and other holidays in addition to
charters.   All this in addition to the normal weekend schedule
of operations in Spring and Fall and daily operations in the
Summer.
	Mr. Bernie Orient supervises maintenance on the equipment and
writes of the same.   This has been an excellent personal
education in addition to informative and witty!   It also
underscores the major effort that is needed to keep equipment
approaching the 100-year mark in good operating condition!
	Mr. Bruce Wells writes about body maintenance on the equipment
in addition to contributing time to this effort himself.   Bruce
is quite good at including groups of teenagers to help around the
Museum and his experience as a teacher and Scout leader produce
excellent results.
	Don Bower is the track gang foreman and with 
Princess--Summer--Fall--Winter--Spring  visiting the Pittsburgh
area with a wide variety of weather conditions, Don literally has
his work cut out for him.
	Mrs. Cindy Wells keeps members current on PAT operations and
with the former Overbrook Interurban line presently being
rebuilt, there is plenty to talk and write about.
	Mr. George Gula keeps the members current concerning Traction
Action at the other end of the state in Philadelphia.
	Mr. Chuck Benjamin writes a fascinating column about Inclines
world wide.   The column has a Pittsburgh origin as well over
12-such facilities graced the city at one time and a couple still
operate!
	Various members will contribute guest articles and Mr. David H.
Hamley often takes the historical approach with details about
PRCo and other equipment.   In this issue Dave relates how the
Porter 1311 came home!
	Mr. Edward Lybarger brings his expertise as photographer and
printer to PTM in arranging photo displays depicting historical
events on PRCo.   Ed often works with Mr. Fred Schneider to this
end.   As archivist, Ed authors guest articles in 
*Trolley--Fare*  about various historical aspects of not only
PRCo but also West Penn and JTC!


	The color photo on the cover of  *Trolley--Fare*  by John Polyak
is absolutely stunning because of its realism.   Not unlike model
railroaders, prototype Trolley and Railroad Museums rely on 
*Selective--Compression*  and the prototype looks more like a
model under such conditions, especially in photos, and very much
out of place.   But not so with this photo of 3756, a typical
PRCo deck-roof, low-floor trolley operating the prw of the East
Site extension; this photo looks like an actual photo from the
days of PRCo!   You have to see it to believe it!


Mission  Statement

	"The Mission of the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is to
communicate the story of Pennsylvania's Trolley Era to a diverse
audience through the preservation, interpretation, and use of its
collection of electric railway and railroad equipment, associated
artifacts, and photo/document archives, and to ensure that
visitors have an enjoyable and rewarding educational
experience.   Adopted August 28, 1996."


	The Mission Statement sums up my personal experience just
reading through  *Trolley--Fare*   ---   how much better would it
be to make this experience in person!!

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James  B.  Holland, 0288
    Presidio  Division
        JLMB  Worksite  Committee

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James B. Holland

Holland  Electric  Railway  Operation....... 
___"O"--Scale St.-Petersburg Trams Company Trolleycars and...
______"O"--Scale  Parts  mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net

______Pennsylvania Trolley Museum http://www.pa-trolley.org/
___Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190; http://www.nmra.org

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