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Electric City Trolley Museum 6/25/2010

After my Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum visit, I drove back to Scranton where I parked in front of the Electric City Trolley Museum.

The Electric City Trolley Museum is a collaborative effort among many different partners. Working together, they have created a premier electric railway museum in Scranton. Back in 1887, Scranton was the first city in Pennsylvania with a successful pioneer trolley line and became known as the Electric City. This museum's collection provides a highly representative picture of the electric railway history of eastern Pennsylvania, from Philadelphia to Northeast Pennsylvania. The nuseum was created by the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority. Lackawanna County manages the day-to-day operations. The facility itself is located on the Steamtown National Historic Site and is on a long-term lease from the National Parks Service.

Reading Transit & Light streetcar Birney safety car 506 built by Osgood-Bradley in 1920, ex. Buckingham Valley Trolley Association 506 1985 to 1999, nee Reading Transit & Light 506 1920 to 1947. It is on display as cutaway "Trolleys Exposed" exhibit.

An electric generator.

There is a room for children who visit the museum.

The Electric City neon sign.

Philadelphia & Western interurban coach 46 built by St. Louis Car Company in 1907, ex. Buckingham Valley Trolley Association 46 1976 to 1999, exx. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority 46 1970 to 1976, exxx. Philadelphia Suburban Transportation 46 1948 to 1970, exxxx. Phildelphia and Western 446 1929 to 1948, nee Philadelphia & Western 46 1907 to 1929.

It remains as the sole surviving representative of the first generation of cars to run on the Philadelphia & Western Railway, a third-rail line built to high standards from 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby to Strafford, with a later branch to Norristown. Car 46 survived because the P&W converted it in 1928 into work car 446, with boxcar-like doors cut into its sides. It fell into disuse in later years and was retired in 1976. In preservation, its exterior appearance has been restored back to its original elegance, complete with arched leaded-glass windows.

Displays at the Electric City Trolley Museum.

Philadelphia Transportation Company streetcar 5205 built by J.G. Brill Company in 1923, ex. Buckingham Valley Trolley Association 5205 1975 to 1999, exx. Trolley Valhalla 5205 1957 to 1975, exxx. Philadelphia Transportation Company 5205 1940 to 1957, exxx. Philadelphia Rapid Transit 5205 1926 to 1940, nee Philadelphia Rapid Transit 5287 1923 to 1926. It was originally 5'2.5" gauge.

Lehigh Valley Transit interurban "Liberty Bell" car 801 built by Jewett Car Company in 1912, ex. East Penn Valley Traction (Topton) 801 1980 to 1999, exx. Liberty Bell Jewett Society 801 1973 to 1980, exxx. Magee Trolley Museum (Bloomsburg) 801 1967 to 1973, nee Lehigh Valley Transit (Allentown) 801 1912 to 1939.

Lettering on Lehigh Valley Transit 801.

Model trains on display and in operation.

A mini trolley. I received my ticket and went outside to explore more of the cars.

MacAndrews and Forbes Company 10 built by General Electric in 1925, ex. Buckingham Valley Trolley Association in New Hope 1975 to 1999, ex. Trolley Valhalla (Tansboro, New Jersey) 1965-1975. The MacAndrews and Forbes Company was a licorice manufacturer in Camden, New Jersey which operated an internal industrial railway electrified at 250 volts direct current. Little four-wheeled locomotives like 10 worked at moving and distributing supplies and finished materials within the plant compound and 10 survives today as an example of how electric railway technology was applied to industrial applications.

PPhiladelphia Transportation Company streetcar 8534 built by J.G. Brill Company in 1926, ex. Buckingham Valley Trolley Association in New Hope 8534 1975 to 1999, exx. Trolley Valhalla (Tansboro, New Jersey), 8534 1958 to 1975, exx. Philadelphia Transportation Company 8534 1940 to 1958, nee Philadelphia Rapid Transit 8434 1926 to 1940. Between 1978 to 1980, and again from 1993 to 2004, it was on loan to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority freight motor 401 built by J.G. Brill Company in 1903, ex. Buckingham Valley Trolley Association in New Hope 401 1990 to 1999, exx. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority 401 1970 to 1990, exxx. Philadelphia Suburban Transportation 401 1948 to 1970, Philadelphia and Western 401 1930 to 1948, nee Philadelphia & Western 1 1907 to 1930. This car was also acquired in 1999.

PSoutheastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority "bullet" car 206 built by J.G. Brill Company in 1931, ex. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority 206 1970 to 1995, exx. Buckingham Valley Trolley Association in New Hope, Pennsylvania)206 1995 to 1999, exxx. Philadelphia Suburban Transportation 206 1948 to 1970, nee Philadelphia & Western 206 1931 to 1948. It was acquired in 1999.

View of the Electric City Trolley Museum. I walked over to the station to wait for my complete trip over the museum's route.

Just before 10:30, Trolley 76 came towards the station at Steamtown.

Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company trolley 76 built by J.G. Brill in 1926 is a "Center Door" car originally built for the predecessor the Philadelphia and West Chester Traction Company. It was the highest-numbered car of a 32-car fleet of such cars bought in three orders, starting in 1919. These crowd-swallowing trolleys roamed the "Red Arrow Lines" system from 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby to suburban terminals in West Chester, Ardmore, Media and Sharon Hill. As more modern cars arrived over the years, the remaining large, heavy Center Door cars were relegated to rush-hour "tripper" service, school trips, and winter operation to keep the lines clear of snow. Car 76 was retired in 1976.

The car pulled in and everyone boarded. This trip was a sellout due to a Boy Scout Troop taking a ride.

The station is in the middle of the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad yard.

Our trip started.

The smoke is from a steam engine at Steamtown.

We passed Steamtown's yard.

The route took us below the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad tracks.

We stopped for rabbits on the tracks, one who ran ahead as we made our way to the next crossing, where our crew flagged it with a stop sign.

We crossed South Washington Avenue.

Just after, we passed this freight customer on the line served by the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad.

Cedar Avenue was the last street that the crew had to flag.

This is where I boarded for the baseball game two nights ago.

Taking a curve.

The switch to the Iron Furnace Ssation.

Curving towards the pellet plant yard.

The pellet plant yard.

The south end of the yard.

Taking a curve along Roaring Brook.

The bridge across Roaring Brook.

Roaring Brook.

The train about to enter the 4,747 foot long Laurel Line Crown Avenue tunnel.