I was able to visit the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (twice) the summer of 2017 in Washington, Pennsylvania. This museum's name was formerly The Arden Trolley Museum, They have made great progress over the years and have amassed a vast collection of streetcars (many from Pennsylvania), interurbans, subway car (Philadelphia), work car (Pittsburgh) and many more. This is only a fraction of what is at this fantastic museum. The first time I visited the museum, I drove up to Washington, Pa with my friend Richard and met my friends from Cincinnati, Ohio. The second time I went to the museum, I was privileged to ride with my friend Larry and two other gentlemen to the museum. Each time I visited the museum, I was honored to be able to ride and operate the streetcars we "rented".
One thing I really like about this museum is they have the only operating streetcar in the world from The Cincinnati Street Railway. It is a deck roofer car built back in (probably) 1919 by the Cincinnati Car Company located in Winton Place, Cincinnati, Ohio. (The Cincinnati Car Company buildings in Winton Place have disappeared because of the changing neighborhood). I am 75 years old today, and I last rode such a streetcar back in 1947 on the "31" Crosstown Streetcar Route in Cincinnati, Ohio. (I was five years old when I rode this streetcar, with my father, in Cincinnati, Ohio). We got off the "31" streetcar at Eight and State Streets and transferred to a Modern All Electric PCC Streetcar on the "35" Warsaw-Price Hill Car Line and rode to the end of the line at Ferguson and Glenway Avenues. Got off the streetcar and had a hamburger, got back on the streetcar and headed back to where we came from. This happened to this 5 year old "kid" 70 years ago and I can remember this incidence like it was yesterday.
So--you can imagine my thrill when I got to the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum and was able to ride and operate a "31" Crosstown (deck roof) Streetcar. I was in seventh heaven. Yes, the deck roof streetcar --Cincinnati Street Railway #2227 operates today at this museum.
I highly recommend that you visit the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum and view all of there collection of streetcars, etc operating and being restored. It is a place that is oriented to the people who love the good ole streetcar and the new modern ones. The museum is staffed mostly by volunteers who of course love streetcar type vehicles. It is financed by tax exempt donations. It is "kid" friendly and quite a few of its attractions have appeared in documentaries and on TV Shows such as Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. They have special Halloween themes, etc. Too find out there time schedules and the days and months they are open to the public--go on line and read about it.
This museum has a very nice gift shop selling T shirts, books, trolley like toys and don't forget to pet the Museum's #1 Mascot --Frankie the cat. Why not join the museum and become a member...a nice Magazine is printed about the "happenings" at the museum. Donations are tax exempt.
And -- If you go on line to The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, look up "Collections" and pick out Street Car #2227, you will be able to read about the Story of how the PA Trolley Museum was able to obtain this marvelous streetcar--and you can print this story also. (You can also view all of the streetcars, etc located at this museum).
Sincerely yours, Ivan Schlan --"The Railbear601" slightly revised on 09/28/2017
