Pennsylvania Trolley Museum

 

Project Highlight

(PTM), a not-for-profit organization selected Parkline to supply its new substation building, and McHolme Builders out of Elizabeth, PA was chosen to do the construction.

This building is a key part of the museum's expansion because it will house the electrical equipment needed to expand its capacity to convert standard AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current) which is used by the vintage trolley cars. As the museum's operations have grown, it has outgrown the capacity put out by its current substation, which was built in the early 1960s.

The museum was formed in 1953 near Washington, PA. Its mission is to preserve and interpet the Trolly Era. It is a nonprofit tax-exempt educational institution that has collected nearly fifty pieces of historic electric railway equipment, which are now displayed in three large buildings. Three of these pieces operated in Parkline's home state of West Virginia - including a 1913 vintage wooden interurban car (Car 250) that just arrived as a donation from the Shore Line Trolley Museum in Connecticut. Car 250 connected the cities of Weston, Clarksburg and Fairmont for 34 years and featured arched windows made from stained glass and varnished cherry woodwork.

PTM is unique from most other museums in that it actually offers four-mile round trips on its vintage streetcars. Most of the work is done by a dedicated group of volunteers who last year contributed over 27,000 hours! The museum is easy to reach by taking I-79 to exit 41 Race Track Road and then follow the signs. It is located halfway between Wheeling, WV and Pittsburgh, PA. It is open weekends 11-5 in the fall and has many special events coming up such as Pumpkin Patch Trolley and Santa Trolley, PTM wishes to thank Parkline for its interest and support of the museum. More information can be found on its web site at www.pa-trolley.org or call 724-228-9256.

Pictured above: 1913 vintage wooden interurban car (Car 250) that connected three cities in West Virginia (circa 1935)

Interior of the Trolley Display Building at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum