[PRCo] Re: PTM festivities

[Edward H. Lybarger]

I detect an echo of a certain regular contributor's bad habit of continuing
to call the museum "Arden!"  We consciously (and expensively) went to a
great deal of trouble more than a dozen years ago to CHANGE the name of the
museum to reflect what we did, and to continue the professionalism of the
place.  Those who attended this weekend's blowout know that the
professionalism has been pretty successful.  And even one politician on hand
knew that our name changed a long time ago.

As I explained to said regular contributor on Thursday, I don't feel it is
proper for people in the Education Department, who are expected to leaders
in preparing material for both the public and the staff, to be continuing to
refer to the place by a former name.  The other regulars at PTM certainly
don't use it, and we shouldn't have ANY new folks who do so.

Arden is what used to be Arden Mines; what used to be Arden (nee Cook's
Station) is just a narrow spot on the road at the bridge.  It's not a
trolley museum any more.  Heaven help us if we can't accept change.  We're
doomed.

Part of what made the past weekend so great was the presence of the Cramer
Quartet, who thoroughly filled our musical needs!  Thanks, Dennis.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of
Dennis F. Cramer
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 8:23 AM
To: Pghrwys List
Subject: [PRCo] PTM festivities


For those of you who were not at Arden over this past weekend:

Rollout of Red Arrow 14 was a huge success.  The car is immaculate and runs
very smoothly.  All the members of the museum should be very proud of the
work accomplished.  Patrons filled the car all day Saturday to ride to the
McClane Loop.

The loop was also dedicated on Saturday and in the words of Bernie Orient,
president of the museum,  "We have talked for years about having a
destination and part of that reality has come true today."  Visitors and
museum members also had the opportunity to visit the new trolley display
building and see another part of that destination.

Having a rollout of a restored car is always exciting news and putting the
loop dedication with it doubled the fun.  The antique car show and 2 bus
loads of visitors from the TCA Convention in Monroeville really added to the
crowds.  Four car service was offered most of the day with PRT 5326 and
NOPSI 832 carrying guests from the museum to Arden Loop and Red Arrow 14, 66
& PRCo 3756 sharing the duties to the McClane Loop.  Later in the day there
was a Red Arrow parade to celebrate 14's return to service.  It was great to
see so many people riding streetcars.  Often all four packed at the same
time!

In preparation for the "big move" JTC 350 has been regauged and put over the
pit and the open car has been uncovered.  Overhead wire has been taken down
from the standard gauge track to enable moving that equipment next month.

The loop will probably be closed for a while to finish tamping and putting a
slight slope to it.  Right now it is dead level and a crest needs to be put
in the middle of the girder rail section to keep water from laying there.  A
spur track is also going to be added. inside the loop.

I was not able to stay for the entire weekend, but what I saw was a great
future for preserving history.

Dennis F. Cramer--Teacher-Trombonist-Historian-Conductor
www.geocities.com/armconband