[PRCo] Fwd: First outing for Rio 1758

[Fred Schneider]

Following photographs of the open car at Pennsylvania Trolley Museum received from Dave Hamley and forwarded with his permission.
The car was one of a group of Rio de Janeiro open cars imported in the 1960s, two of which (and this was one of those two) went to the Magee Museum in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.   For those who don't know the story,  Hurricane Agnes devastated the property in June 1972 and a few days later its owner and local carpet company baron, Harry Magee suffered a fatal heart attack.   His children showed no interest int he trolley and antique car museum and the equipment was spread to the winds.  The other open car he owned is at the Midwest Threshers Museum in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.    This one passed through Florida before coming to rest at PTM.   

"The car was purchased in 1973 by the Lionel Train and Seashell Museum in Sarasota, Florida, where it was used indoors as a display and as a seating area to watch videos.  In 1990, the car was purchased by the City of Orlando, Florida.  It was to be used as the first streetcar (and as a device to generate public interest and Federal funding) for a proposed Heritage Streetcar line in Orlando.  The car was refurbished, re-numbered 1 and given the nickname of "Oscar" (for Orlando Streetcar).  ...Orlando never created the proposed Heritage Streetcar line, and the streetcar sat unused in indoor storage for many years until being sold at auction in [to PTM] 2006."   [This paragraph was lifted off the internet with minimal editing.]

Other cars imported from Rio at the same time include but may not be limited to:  Number 1875 at Rockhill Trolley Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania livery, 1850 at Connecticut Trolley Museum at Warehouse Point, 1794 running on the streets of Memphis converted to a closed car for their heritage line, 1718 and 1779 are at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and one may be at Northern Ohio Railway Museum (NORM).   I thought that Paul Cass had one in Oregon but that isn't turning up on a quick search.  

Of course the PTM ca has been slightly altered.   The original standard gauge trucks don't work.   In the process it has been lowered slightly.   

So here is Dave Hamley note that goes with the pictures:   

"After several years in PTM's shop, ex- Rio open car 1758 was out in the sun today.  Towed out by shop switcher RG2 while the guys were still painting the floor.  First public exhibit is Sunday 6/27, actual in-service date probably early August.  I also took the occasion to shoot RG2, with the Porter for background, and P&OC's SW1500 1545 rolling past.
 
Dave"