Public Service Coordinated Transport #6 is an Award Winner (and other PCC related projects).

 

Railways To Yesterday, Inc., operators of the Rockhill Trolley Museum, recently confirmed that Public Service Coordinated Transport PCC Car #6 was the recipient of the TRAIN (Tourist Railroad Association INC) 2012 Electric Traction Award. 

Car #6 is the third vehicle in the museum collection to receive this distinction, the other vehicles being Johnstown Traction Company #355 in 2007 and York Railways #163 a number of years ago.

While the rehabilitation of car #6 was not a complete, ground-up restoration; nor was the car returned to like new condition, what made it unique was the tremendous effort and accelerated timeframe that transformed the vehicle from a deteriorated relic to a great looking and operating car again.  Within 5 weeks of the car's shipment from New Jersey, museum volunteers had made the car reliably operable again.  Three months later, body and paint work both inside and out had been completed in time for the car to be rolled out for a special ceremony commemorating both the return of the car to operation and marking 10 years since the end of PCC service in the Newark City Subway.

Car #6 has its minor flaws, dents, and other signs of many decades of use.  But, we'd like to think it is preserved as an accurate representation of its years of service in New Jersey; not pristine, but well maintained and looking good.  Perhaps the greatest compliment came when an individual who had a long history with the cars in Newark visited the museum, inspected #6, and stated "it's not overdone...it looks just like it did in Newark". 

Once again, my compliments to the all-volunteer PCC Car #6 Restoration Crew and the others who worked behind the scenes to make its preservation possible.

 Car #6 departs Penn Station on 8-16-2001, one week before its retirement.  Photo compliments of Bill Volkmer.

Car #6 picks up a passenger at Park Avenue in 1954.  Photo compliments of Bill Volkmer.

 

 

PCC Work in Progress and Planned on other vehicles

 

Awards are great, but there's no time to rest, there is work to be done!  

New Jersey Transit PCC Car #10

Work continued on this car's charging system on March 15.  Fred Wagner, Nicholas Brightbill, and Matt Nawn spent some time trying to get the voltage regulated properly, but more work remains.  Jerry Evans and George Rich, which assistance from Matt Nawn and Bill Monaghan, did some further work during the 4/6/2013 work session, but issues still remain and the MG set itself may be the source of the problems.  Getting this car operable again will enable its owner to ship it to its new home. 

SEPTA/PTC #2743

Thanks to the recent substantial contributions by the Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys as well as many individual donors, the long planned carbody restoration of this popular vehicle will commence in late spring of this year.  The goal for completion is the Summer 2014 PCC Car Day at the Rockhill Trolley Museum.  Updates will be posted here as the car is transformed back to circa 1959 PTC appearance in the familiar green and cream colors.  The work will be performed by the same contractor crew that restored the carbody of SEPTA #2168 at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum under the experienced supervision of Harry Donahue.

 

This is the color scheme #2743 will wear after its restoration, but we plan to avoid smashing in the doors.  Photo by R. Vible, RTY Collection.



 

An Electroliner/Liberty Liner rides again in 2013?

One of the most popular vehicles (or at least the one most asked about) at the Rockhill Trolley Museum took a major step towards being operable again, thanks to an anonymous friend of the museum who recently provided a set of new resistor grids for one end of the train, replacing the badly deteriorated set that has sidelined the train since last spring.

The grids are in the B-section...but only temporarily

Current museum priorities are focused on completing the heavy overhaul of JTC #311 in 2013, but once this work is completed, more time can be devoted to the Liner.

While the Liner will never be an "everyday" part of the operating fleet, it will certainly be a welcome sight to see it back in operation for special events.  The train emerged from 14 years of storage in 2010 as it was towed for a special trip and subsequently ran under its own power in 2011 before having to be sidelined again in 2012. 

2013 marks 50 years of public operation at what is now known as the Rockhill Trolley Museum.  2013 also marks 50 years since the abandonment of the Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee.  It would be most appropriate to see one of these famous and celebrated trains run again this year.

We look forward to seeing a sight like this again soon.  So do the budding young fans in the photo!

 



My sincere thanks and appreciation to the volunteers and friends who make things like this possible!

Best wishes,
Matt Nawn

Cooperation Between Museums Keeps PCC Cars Rolling

 

On March 2, several volunteers from the Rockhill Trolley Museum took a break from projects there to assist the Baltimore Streetcar Museum with work on two of their PCC cars.  Or, would it be more appropriate to say a group of BSM volunteers focused back on work at their home location?  Or how about a little of both...

There is great cooperation between Rockhill Trolley Museum and Baltimore Streetcar Museum in many areas, perhaps mostly significantly, with regards to work on PCC cars.  A group of volunteers who are active members of both organizations comprise a large part of the group which keeps the PCC cars in good repair at both of these great museums.   

Thus, on March 2, the crew focused on work at BSM.  Primary focus for the day was former SEPTA PCC Car #2168, which was suffering from sticking shaft brakes as well as having problems with #3 door.  Supporting the efforts was Bill Monaghan, Jerry Evans, George Rich, Harry Donahue, Steven Goehring, Matt Nawn, and Matty Nawn.  Ed Amrhein worked on several projects that day but still found time to assist with the PCC work as well. 

Steven blows the accumulated filth away from the shaft brakes on #2168.

 

First order of the day (after car shuffling to get #2168 over the pit) was to get the shaft brakes working properly on #2168.  Removal of accumulated filth and lubrication solved the problem for 3 of the 4 shaft brake actuators and associated linkages, but the left rear still gave significant problems.  After repeated soaking with penetrating oil and assistance from a large hammer, the linkage was freed.  The part of the mechanism that opens and closes the shoes had frozen itself solid from accumulated filth.  Once corrected, the crew proceeded with a several braking tests which confirmed resolution of the problem.  During one of the tests, a recently married couple posed with #2168 for a photo!

 

Final checks are made before a road test.  Look at those Cats Eyes!

 

With the braking work completed, the crew turned its attention in the afternoon to two other projects, #3 door of #2168 and an electrical servicing of BTC #7407.  After significant troubleshooting, it was determined that the #3 door motor was grounded and a replacement was found in BSM stock and installed.  Meanwhile, #7407 got some pit time for a much needed cleaning and servicing of all contactors as well as preventive maintenance to its motor controller.

 

#7407 waits patiently for its turn over the pit.

 

Most cars in the picture contest.  Actually, while PCC work was taking place at the pit, a number of other volunteers worked on a clean up of the barn, hence why so many cars are outside on this date.

 

Car #417 (lower right) helps identify the scene.  All photos on this post were taken by 8 year old Matty Nawn, who also kept the team moving as the tool runner all day.



 

Hard work, but an enjoyable day nonetheless!  Volunteers make these things happen.

 

Best wishes,

Matt Nawn







One Month of Progress for JTC #311 Pays Off

The month of March has been a busy one at the Rockhill Trolley Museum.  Efforts with regards to car projects have had one primary focus - the ongoing heavy overhaul of Johnstown Traction Company #311.  Volunteers have been at the museum working on the car for at least part of every weekend from March 1 through March 24, with the contractor support of Keith Bray present as well for the weekends of March 9, 16, and 23.  Substantial progress has been made.

The photos below present a chronological synopsis of the work over the past month.

Rick Hoffmeister emits "showers of sparks" (like the warning labels used to say on old fireworks) as he burns off the remains of an old rivet to allow a new underfloor structural beam to be installed.

 

 

By the afternoon of March 1, two new structural beams were installed and heavy structural work to the underframe was now completed.

 

A major morale boost came on March 16 when one new side was hung on the "shop" side of the car.  The new side sheets are slightly heavier gauge than the deteriorated ones that were removed.

 

This is how the new sides look from inside the car with the seats, window sill, and interior trim removed.  Like peeling back an onion, as the project has progressed, the scope has grown.  The decision has been made to replace the significantly deteriorated floor as part of the overhaul. 

 

This is a close up of the floor condition.  Look carefully and you will see some significant cracks besides substantial wear to the top layer.  Note the vapor barrier between the floor layers.

 

Now we are starting to look like a trolley again!  Installation of new window sills is completed and the letterboard is hung and the first new hot rivets are in place.

 

Another view of the new window sills.  These were custom fabricated to a pattern we provided as a donation by our friends at UTCRAS (www.utcras.com). 

 

The rivet furnace keeps the process moving. 

 

The inside of the new letterboard.  Note the first of the new rivets are in place.

 

Besides the structural work, work is being done in many, often out of sight, but equally as important to the completion of JTC #311.  Volunteers have been busy sorting parts, stripping and refinishing the roof boards, cherry trim for the interior, disassembling air brake piping (to facilitate floor removal), marking of wires and removing the resistor grids, and organized what has been removed to facilitate an organized reassembly once the carbody work is completed.  The museum has even located a set of large diameter headlights similar to those used on the car around 1950 which will be overhauled and installed in the finished car (the current smaller headlights were later substitutes).

 

Many volunteers have been assisting with this project, including Rick Hoffmeister, Budd Blair, Matt Nawn, Joel Salomon, Phil Sauerlender, David Brightbill, Nicholas Brightbill, Fred Wagner, Courtney Brown, and Valerie Robbins-Rice.  Keith Bray has been working alongside our volunteers as a contractor.  Any omissions from this list are purely accidental and solely the fault of the author.

 

The next work session will be April 6 - new volunteers always welcome!

 

Best wishes,

Matt Nawn

 

 





Next JTC #311 Work Session: March 22 and 23

Substantial Progress has been made over the past three weeks on Johnstown Traction Company #311.  One new side has been fabricated and hung on the car, the letterboard has been hung on the same side, the replacement of deteriorated underfloor beams has been completed, floor removal is in progress, and the wooden roof boards and cleats have been stripped. 

Your help can keep this progress moving forward.  A JTC #311 work session is scheduled for this coming Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23.  Hot riveting of the letterboard, continued floor removal, and disassembly of the "wall" side of the car are planned. 

If you plan to attend, please contact me in advance so we can align your volunteer help with an appropriate project.

A more detailed report on the recent progress of JTC #311 (complete with photos), as well as an update on other projects including NJ Transit #10, cooperative work with our friends at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum, a update on PTC #2743, even some very positive information about Liberty Liner "Independence Hall", and information on a new acquisition, is forthcoming within the week.  Stay tuned!

Thank you for your interest in and support of the Rockhill Trolley Museum!

Sincerely,
Matt Nawn

Upcoming Work Sessions for JTC #311 and NJT #10

Spring is here...well soon enough we hope.  Rockhill Trolley Museum's Maintenance Department has scheduled the following work sessions on the dates below:

- Friday, March 1.  Session starts 9:30AM.  Focus is JTC #311 underbody work to include drilling holes in new transverse beam and installation of beam if time permits.  Work Session Leader is Matt Nawn.

- Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9.  Friday session starts at Noon; Saturday session starts at 9:00AM.  Focus is treatment and preservation of remaining sections of JTC #311 underbody and disassembly of "wall" side of car.  Work Session Leader is Joel Salomon.

- Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16.  Friday Session starts at 9:30AM; Saturday session starts at 8:30AM.  Focus on Friday is electrical work on NJT #10.  Focus on Saturday is JTC #311.  Work Session Leader is Matt Nawn.

We hope to see you at one of our upcoming work sessions and look forward to reporting on the progress made.

Best wishes,
Matt Nawn

Work Continues on JTC #311

Although it has been several weeks since I have updated this site, it does not mean that work on JTC #311 has come to a standstill. 

Budd Blair braved the winter cold on January 19 to keep the project moving.  Budd accomplished the following on this date:

- Cut the new transverse outbound end beam to length using old transverse beam for measurement.

 

- Using the old beam as template, Budd located holes to be drilled and center punched the same.

Thanks to Budd's efforts, as manpower is available the beam is ready for drilling and subsequent installation.

 

Along with Budd's efforts, David Brightbill, Joel Salomon, Bill Monaghan, and The Nawns have all assisted with project planning and acquisition of items needed to keep the restoration moving over the past several weeks.

 

We recently acquired a photo of JTC #311 that illustrates the goal we are working towards - the car in its last color scheme in Johnstown but without the rot, rust, and deterioration it displayed in its last years.  We estimate the date of the photo below to be about 1948.  Look carefully and you'll note the sides do not show the deterioration of later years. 

 

Photo from the William Nixon collection, used with permission. 

 

I look forward to our next work session!

 

Best wishes,

Matt Nawn