Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
Encyclopedia
The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington
, Pennsylvania
, is a museum dedicated to trolleys
and includes several restored examples.
until 1954. In 1953 the Pittsburgh Railways Interurban line from Pittsburgh to Washington was abandoned and the newly formed Pittsburgh Electric Railway Club bought 2000 feet (609.6 m) of the line next to the old County Home trolley stop north of Washington in Chartiers Township, Pennsylvania
. On February 7, 1954 the three trolleys stored in Pittsburgh were run to the museum site from Pittsburgh under their own power shortly before the line was removed. They were followed by Pittsburgh Railways Company 4393, a double ended lowfloor car which then returned the museum members back to Pittsburgh, forming the last passenger service on the line.
Following a period of restoration and rebuilding the Arden Trolley Museum opened to the public in June 1963.
by Tennessee Williams
, although it is not the streetcar actually in the film (#922, still in service in New Orleans) . Much of the museum's collection is housed in a $2 million "Trolley Display Building" which opened May 6, 2005. Visitors can take a short ride on a restored functioning trolley. A special ride during the Christmas
season includes a visit from Santa Claus
. In September 2004, the area surrounding the museum flooded in the wake of Hurricane Ivan
. The floodwaters caused substantial damage to the museum which has since been repaired.
The line was extended north along the track bed of the old Arden Mines Railroad Branch between 1979 and 1995, adding 1 miles (1.6 km) to the track and allowing stations to be opened at the Arden Mines loop and the passing loop at the County Fairground.
The shelter at car house #1 came from the Richfol Stop, one stop north of Canonsburg
on the Pittsburgh Railways Interurban line from Pittsburgh to Washington.
Fair by providing trolley rides from nearby parking lots to the fairgrounds.
The museum hosted the 2007 conference for the Association of Railway Museums
. The conference was held on October 3-7, 2007, and was supported by a grant
from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
.
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, is a museum dedicated to trolleys
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
and includes several restored examples.
History
The origin of the museum can be traced to a group of electric railway enthusiasts who acquired Pittsburgh Railways Company M-1, a small four wheel Pittsburgh trolley in 1949. It and Pittsburgh Railways Company 3756, a single end lowfloor and West Penn Curveside 832 were stored for them in Ingram Carhouse by Pittsburgh RailwaysPittsburgh Railways
Pittsburgh Railways was one of the predecessors of the Port Authority of Allegheny County. It had 666 PCC cars, the third largest fleet in North America. It had 68 street car routes, of which only three are used by the Port Authority as light rail routes...
until 1954. In 1953 the Pittsburgh Railways Interurban line from Pittsburgh to Washington was abandoned and the newly formed Pittsburgh Electric Railway Club bought 2000 feet (609.6 m) of the line next to the old County Home trolley stop north of Washington in Chartiers Township, Pennsylvania
Chartiers Township, Pennsylvania
Chartiers Township is a township in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,818 at the 2010 census. Along with the borough of Houston the township makes up the Chartiers-Houston School District.-Geography:...
. On February 7, 1954 the three trolleys stored in Pittsburgh were run to the museum site from Pittsburgh under their own power shortly before the line was removed. They were followed by Pittsburgh Railways Company 4393, a double ended lowfloor car which then returned the museum members back to Pittsburgh, forming the last passenger service on the line.
Following a period of restoration and rebuilding the Arden Trolley Museum opened to the public in June 1963.
Preservation
According to their web site, the museum's mission is "to communicate the story of Pennsylvania's Trolley Era to a diverse audience through the preservation, interpretation, and use of its collection of electric railway and railroad equipment." To that end, the museum includes a collection of 45 refurbished trolleys. The museum owns a New Orleans streetcar, Perley A. Thomas car #832, formerly used on various lines in New Orleans including the Desire line which is mentioned in the film A Streetcar Named Desire based on the playA Streetcar Named Desire (play)
A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1947 play written by American playwright Tennessee Williams for which he received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948. The play opened on Broadway on December 3, 1947, and closed on December 17, 1949, in the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. The Broadway production was...
by Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
, although it is not the streetcar actually in the film (#922, still in service in New Orleans) . Much of the museum's collection is housed in a $2 million "Trolley Display Building" which opened May 6, 2005. Visitors can take a short ride on a restored functioning trolley. A special ride during the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
season includes a visit from Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
. In September 2004, the area surrounding the museum flooded in the wake of Hurricane Ivan
Hurricane Ivan
Hurricane Ivan was a large, long-lived, Cape Verde-type hurricane that caused widespread damage in the Caribbean and United States. The cyclone was the ninth named storm, the sixth hurricane and the fourth major hurricane of the active 2004 Atlantic hurricane season...
. The floodwaters caused substantial damage to the museum which has since been repaired.
The line was extended north along the track bed of the old Arden Mines Railroad Branch between 1979 and 1995, adding 1 miles (1.6 km) to the track and allowing stations to be opened at the Arden Mines loop and the passing loop at the County Fairground.
The shelter at car house #1 came from the Richfol Stop, one stop north of Canonsburg
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Pittsburgh. Canonsburg was laid out by Colonel John Canon in 1789 and incorporated in 1802....
on the Pittsburgh Railways Interurban line from Pittsburgh to Washington.
Events
The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum participates in the annual Washington CountyWashington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
Fair by providing trolley rides from nearby parking lots to the fairgrounds.
The museum hosted the 2007 conference for the Association of Railway Museums
Association of Railway Museums
The Association of Railway Museums is an organization dedicated to promoting the interests of railway preservation across North America in museums and other non-profit organizations.ARM publishes a quarterly newsletter, Railway Museum Quarterly...
. The conference was held on October 3-7, 2007, and was supported by a grant
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is the governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania responsible for the collection, conservation and interpretation of Pennsylvania's historic heritage...
.