[PRCo] Re: Fwd: First outing for Rio 1758

[Edward H. Lybarger]

Yes, it fits right in with the New Orleans car and all the Ohio stuff.  The
West Virginia cars were at least owned by a Pittsburgh concern (if you
ignore the New York holding company).

But it's a strong marketing tool that will bring revenue and help keep the
doors open.  If PTM had to survive on historians, it wouldn't.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org] On Behalf Of Dwight
Long
Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2010 12:35 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Fwd: First outing for Rio 1758

Fred

And of course there is nothing like a Brazilian tram to illustrate the
mission of PTM--preserving Pennsylvania's tramway history!

Dwight
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Fred Schneider
  To: Pittsburgh-Railways at Dementia.Org
  Sent: Saturday, 26 June, 2010 10:29
  Subject: [PRCo] Fwd: First outing for Rio 1758


  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"