[PRCo] Re: Museum shop sales

[Boris Cefer]

No hardware for sale? Accelerators, contactors, traction motors... :-D)))))

Boris

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Rathke" <bobrathke at comcast.net>
To: "Pittsburgh Trolley List" <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2005 7:56 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Museum shop sales


> In the mid-1960's, when PAT started to abandon trolley lines and scrap
many PCC's, PTM acquired a supply of excess trolley items that they sold in
the museum gift shop.  I bought a Car Stop sign, a control console switch
plate from a PCC and other items for a few dollars.  Items that I didn't buy
were the electric fare registers, from 1200's, I believe.
> A similar sale is happening at the Illinois Railway Museum these days.
IRM must have been given a truckload of excess CTA stuff that is now in the
used bookstore (a Milwaukee Road baggage car): coin changers (with CTA
stamping) for $10, ticket punches (no stamping) for $10, controller handles
from CTA L cars for $25, and brass brake handles from steeplecab electric
locomotives for $35.  Plus CTA signs and third rail and pole insulators.
There are hundreds of these items in cartons stacked high in the baggage
car.  There's even a keg full of spare springs for the ticket punches.
>
> Most of these items became excess inventory after the start of
exact-fare-only, electronic tickets/passes and electronic car control
systems.
>
> Bob 5/7/05
>