[PRCo] Re: PTM festivities

[Edward H. Lybarger]

Oops...I should have said "Arden is not the name of a trolley museum any
more."  But I'm just reacting as any good businessperson would and should.

The name "Arden" appears in the museum's own history, but we're representing
the museum like it is now and will grow to in the future, not how it used to
be.  "How it used to be" involves the industry we're describing to the
public!

Those who use the old name may do so out of fondness or out of unwillingness
to accept change, but I will speak for myself and Dennis also, along with
scores of other volunteers, and tell the world that I'm about the future.
That future deals with the Trolley Era in Pennsylvania, etc. and not what
any given trolley museum used to be named.  I don't believe this to be
unfair!

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of James
B. Holland
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 5:18 PM
To: - 1714 PRCo__WP__JTC -
Subject: [PRCo] Re: PTM festivities


Hi!


             Very Nice report from Dennis.

             This must be All In The Family time.

             Like too much may have been read into 1726 fighting through
traffic, maybe too much is being read into the usage of Arden?!

             If PTM is  Pennsylvania__Trolley__Museum, how can it Not Be
a Trolley Museum anymore?

             And if we are representing things As They Used To Be, then
Arden might seem very appropriate.     Why do we want to forget,
overwrite, abandon the roots of the museum?      I see the use of
*Arden*  as a term of endearment!


Jim__Holland



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[PRCo] Re: PTM festivities
Date: 	Mon, 28 Jun 2004 16:15:43 -0400
From: 	Edward H. Lybarger <trams at adelphia.net>
Reply-To: 	pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
To: 	<pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>



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