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The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum 7/17/2006

Chris Parker and I left Galliztin after a great night at the Tunnel Inn and headed to US 22 which we took west. At Ebersburg, Chris needed to send a fax for his tree cutting business so after two stops, we found a location he could send one. Back west on US 22, we went to New Alexandria where we took US 119 south through Greensburg down to Interstate 70 west. We took this highway to just east of Washington where we turned north onto Interstate 79 north taking the road just to Exit 41.

From here we followed the signs to the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum and as we did so, saw a trolley approaching the east turning loop so we stopped for pictures. Once we were done, we drove the rest of the way down the road to the museum's grounds.

The sign that greets you when you arrive.

The main building has a unique facing on it, a front of a trolley. We parked the car under the trees on this very hot and humid day before going in to pay for the visit. I used yet another coupon from the Tourist Train 2006 book. With that done it was time to start looking around.

The first thing I took a picture of was Armco Steel B73, a diesel, built by Westinghouse in 1930.

A line of railroad equipment with the former Pennsylvania Railroad Branch line now operated by the Pittsburgh & Ohio Central in the foreground.

Pennsylvania Transformer Tech 1311 built by Porter in 1942.

Monongahela Railway Caboose 73 built by International Car in 1949.

Pittsburgh Railway M210 Crane built by Differential Car Co. {PAT} in 1927.

Car Barn 2.

A view of Car Barn 1.

Philadelphia Transportation Company PCC 2711 in Car Barn 2. We were then given a tour of Car Barn 2.

Philadelphia Suburban 14 built by St. Louis Car Company in 1949.

Inside of the 14 in Car Barn 2.

Philadelphia & West Chester Traction 78 built by the J.G. Brill Company in 1932.

West Penn Railway{WP} 1 built by the WP in 1916.

Pittsburgh Railways PCC 1711 built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1949.

Another view inside Car Barn 2. That ended the tour and I walked over to Car Barn 1 where I was given a tour of Car Barn 1.

Boston Elevated Railway 3618 built by the Differential Car Company in 1927.

Under restoration which is what Car Barn 1 is used for at the museum.

Pittsburgh Railways M31 Sweeper built by the McGuire Manufacturing in 1896.

Philadelphia Suburban 66 built by the JR Brill Company in 1926.

A piece of Union Railroad heritage.

A piece of SEPTA equipment.

Out on the line was New Orleans Public Service 832 built by the Perley Thomas Car Company in 1923 which was the car being used for today's trip. I went and got an ice-cold Coca-Cola from the machine which really hit the spot on this hot humid day. I sat down and waited for our ride. While I wait, you can read the brief history of the museum below.

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum started in the 1940's and in 1949 acquired a small four wheel trolley from the Pittsburgh Railways Company which provided storage for this and two other cars until a museum site could be found. In 1953 they purchased a 2,000 foot section of railway line from the Pittsburgh Railways' recently-abandoned Washington interurban trolley line in Washington, Pennsylvania. On February 7th, 1954, the first three trolleys were moved to the museum's site. Over the next nine years, a car barn, storage tracks and a half mile of track were built. The line runs on 600-volt overhead power lines. The museum opened to the public in June 1963. Over the next 30 years, a gift shop, restoration shop and Visitor Educational Center were added. The line was expanded and the museum continues to grow today.

We boarded the New Orleans Public Belt Service 832 and started heading east passing the equipment I photographed earlier.

Rolling passed the end of that siding.

Slight curve on a beautiful but hot and humid day.

Passing a set of block signals.

At a future site of a junction to Car Barn 3.

Passing eastbound through Allison.

Approaching the south loop which we went around.

Allison looking west.

Back at the future wye site near Car Barn 3.

Rolling back through the yard.

About to curve by Car Barn 2.

Our trip continued as we ran through the station where we started and now would head to the north loop.

Crossing the highway in front of the museum with a small lighthouse in this view.

Rolling up to the Fairground Station.

Now we have entered the Pennsylvania countryside.

A well maintained railroad.

About to make a slight curve.

Continue rolling north.

We are about to go around the north loop.

After we went around the loop I was allowed off for a quick picture for this story.

Rolling back south through some beautiful countryside.

Passing through Tarr.

Back at the Fairground Stop.

The museum from the trolley.

Coming back into the museum station. As I got off I said thanks to our crew for a great trip.

Passengers detrolley as Chris thanks the crew.

As I got offf, I thanked our crew for a great trip. We took one last photograph of the SEPTA equipment before we walked back to the car. As we drove off, this ended a great trip to the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington, PA.

We got back on Interstate 79 South heading to Interstate 70 West. Near Wheeling, West Virginia, a freeway sign said "Accident on Interstate 70" which would take off in a few miles. The West Virginia Highway Patrol had the Interstate 70 ramp closed forcing us all onto Interstate 370. We then had to go to one lane in a construction zone which caused bumper to bumper traffic. We came down the hill to the Ohio River and crossed into Ohio. There we took the first exit, Ohio 7, which we took north into Bridgeport where we turned onto US 240 West. We climbed out of the Ohio River Valley then twisted along the top of a ridge as we headed across the rolling rural Ohio countryside. This road took us into Cadiz where we stopped for snacks and drinks. Back on US 240, we entered US 22 for a short distance before exiting on US 240 West. Our route took us by Tappan Lake on our way to Dennison where we exited. We took the road which took us right to the tracks where we were surprised by what we found.

The Ohio Central photo freight had arrived at Dennison to be switched into the siding for the night before being part of our first NRHS Convention excursion.

The train backing down the main.

Then it pulled by us on the way to its overnight resting location.

Ohio Central RS-18 1800.

Ohio Central Caboose 1880.

Ohio Central F-40PH 271.

Our train continues to back up the siding. We drove down the road along the yard when we spotted our next prey.

Ohio Central C-420 7220 which will be the power of our passenger train tomorrow.

Chesapeake and Ohio 2-8-4 2700 which is on display at Dennison.

We drove by the Dennison Depot and turned across the tracks where we discovered these locomotives

Orrville Railroad Historical Society {ORHS} 471.

RFRX 4202

The emblem on the RFRX 4202.

A display train at the Dennison Depot.

Vulcan Fireless 4759. After taking pictures, I met some Ohio Central employees and got permission to walk along the train to get car numbers and pictures.

Ohio Central 7220.

Ohio Central 1800.

Buckeye Passenger service RPCX 1501 Buckeye Lady Track Inspection Car.

Capital Passenger Car 3850 C&B Marshall.

RPCX 83322 Diner

Wheeling & Lake Erie RPCX 103 Robert S. Bixler.

Atlantic Coast Line RPCX 104 City of Orrville.

Pennsylvania RPCX 101. This is the car I rode all three trips over the Ohio Central.

Seaboard Coast Line RPCX 106.

ORHS 105 Concession Car

New York Central RPCX 102.

Nickel Plate Railroad 90.

Nickel Plate Railroad 63.

Ohio Central Baggage Morgan Run 5013. Except for the last car, all of these car came from the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society.

Once Chris and I got done taking pictures, I thanked the Ohio Central employee and we headed to New Philadelphia and the Knights Inn.

The Knights Inn. We checked in for our six-night stay then walked across the street to the Holiday Inn where I picked up my Convention Packet. Chris drove me to a laundry so I could wash my clothes. I used the motel's swimming pool before we went to Hog Heaven for an excellent dinner. We returned to the hotel for a night of rest before our first NRHS Convention trip the next day.