Pennsylvania Trolley Museum facts for kids
Philadelphia and West Chester Traction Car 78 waits to pick up passengers at the museum
|
|
| Established | 1953 |
|---|---|
| Location | 1 Electric Way, Washington, Pennsylvania |
| Type | Railway museum |
The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is a special museum in Washington, Pennsylvania. It's all about saving and showing off old streetcars and trolleys. These cool vehicles used to carry people around cities. The museum has many trolleys from Pennsylvania, but also some from places like Toledo, New Orleans, and even Brazil. Many of them have been carefully fixed up so they can run again!
Other unique trolleys are on display in a huge building. Some are waiting to be fixed, while others can't run on the museum's tracks because they are a different size. You can see special cars like the J.G. Brill “Brilliner” and even a horse-drawn car from the very early days of public transport in Pittsburgh.
Contents
How the Museum Started
The idea for the museum began in 1949. A group of people who loved electric railways bought a small trolley from the Pittsburgh Railways Company. They also got two other trolleys. These trolleys were kept safe until 1954.
In 1953, the trolley line that went from Pittsburgh to Washington was no longer used. So, a new group called the Pittsburgh Electric Railway Club bought about 2,000 feet (610 meters) of the old track. This was near Washington in Chartiers Township. On February 7, 1954, the three trolleys that had been stored in Pittsburgh drove themselves to the new museum site! This was the first time a trolley museum operated in Pennsylvania. Later, more of the old trolley line was taken apart. One trolley, Pittsburgh Railways Company #4393, took the last paying passengers back to Pittsburgh.
The Arden Trolley Museum, which is now the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, officially opened to the public in June 1963. Before opening, they worked hard to fix up the trolleys and build a power station and a place to keep the cars.
Saving History: The Trolley Collection
The museum's main goal is to share the story of Pennsylvania's "Trolley Era." They do this by keeping, explaining, and using their collection of old electric railway vehicles.
The museum has 51 street and electric railway vehicles. Some are in great shape, while others are waiting for their turn to be restored. A famous trolley in the collection is New Orleans streetcar #832. It was built in 1923 and used on different lines in New Orleans. One of these was the "Desire line," which became famous because of the play A Streetcar Named Desire. This trolley even appeared in Life magazine in 1947!
In 2023, the museum added the Terrible Trolley. This trolley celebrates the Pittsburgh Steelers, a professional football team. It will be painted in the team's black and gold colors.
Expanding the Museum Experience
The museum's first operating track was a half-mile section of the old Pittsburgh Railways line. This line used to connect to Pittsburgh. The Richfol shelter, a small building where people waited for trolleys, was moved to the museum from an old trolley stop.
Between 1979 and 1995, volunteers at the museum built a new track. They added about 1 mile (1.6 km) of track along an old Pennsylvania Railroad path. This allowed them to open new stations at the County Fairground and Arden Mines. At Arden Mines, they built a loop track, which makes it easier to turn the trolleys around. In 2004, the original museum track was also extended. Another loop, the McClane School Loop, was built. This allows single-ended trolleys (which can only drive from one end) to run continuously.
In September 2004, the museum had some damage from a flood after Hurricane Ivan. But it has since been fully repaired!
A large building called the Trolley Display Building opened in May 2005. It's 28,000 square feet (about 2,600 square meters) and lets the museum show about 30 trolleys. This keeps the historic trolleys safe from the weather. Tracks connecting to this building were finished in 2008.
In November 2023, a brand new Welcome & Education Center opened. It has fun, interactive exhibits, a theater, meeting rooms, restrooms, and a gift shop. It's a great place to start your visit!
Fun Events at the Museum
The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum hosts several exciting events throughout the year:
- During the annual Washington County Fair, the museum offers trolley rides from nearby parking lots to the fairgrounds.
- Around Christmas, you can take a special "Santa Special" trolley ride and even meet Santa Claus!
- For Easter, there's a "Bunny Trolley" event.
- In the fall, you can enjoy a "Pumpkin Patch Trolley" ride.
The museum even appeared on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood in 1984! The host, Fred Rogers, took a ride on and even operated Philadelphia streetcar #5326.
The museum also hosted a big meeting for railway museums in 2007.
Images for kids
-
Car No. 3487, built in 1905 and used by the Pittsburgh Railways Co, is one of the oldest trolleys in the collection.
