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

Taking a torch, hammers, and scrapers to Johnstown Traction Company #311

A significant amount of progress was made towards the restoration of Johnstown Traction Company #311 on Friday, January 11 and Saturday, January 12 at the Rockhill Trolley Museum.  The amount of work accomplished definitely helped the museum get closer of its goal to substantially complete the restoration work by July 6, 2013, which is 50 years to the day of Rockhill Trolley Museum's official Grand Opening Celebration.

The focus of work was underneath the car.  Most arduous, challenging, and time consuming was the removal of the two substantially deteriorated transverse underfloor structural member.  The web of each member was nearly destroyed in two locations each by wheel wash, namely, the splattering of water, mud, dirt, road salt, etc. at the wheels rolled along the streets of Johnstown.  During the car's service days in Johnstown, a "repair" of sorts was attempted by filling the holes with body filler and then covering the repaired area with a wooden beam at each repaired located.  Sound ridiculous?  Yes, we thought so too when we uncovered this!  But, every car has a story to tell and usually doesn't reveal its secrets until its is torn down for restoration. 

The deterioration can be seen on the right side of the beam.  Removal of the wooden beam sistering it revealed a gaping hole.

Rick Hoffmeister and Joel Salomon started the work on Friday by cutting off most of the rivets holding the first (inbound) of the two beams to the car.  This is long and tedious work; even if the torch is used to cut the heads off of the rivets there is still substantial hammer and chisel work required due to the tight confines encountered.  This work on Friday gave the Saturday crew an excellent head start on further progress.

On Saturday, Matt Nawn, Andrew Nawn, Phil Sauerlender (a new volunteer to shop projects; welcome Phil!), Budd Blair, and Jim Cohen joined Joel and soon the team developed a good flow of work.  Matt and Joel did the cutting and hammering to remove the beams, Phil and Budd did the work with the machine tools to cut the new channel stock to size and drill holes for new fasteners, and Jim cleaned and presevered the underfloor areas with POR-15 on the steel structure and wood primer on the underside of the floor.  Andrew got the crew its tools when needed and did the "supervision".



The "supervisor" pauses for a moment for a photo. 

 



Matt uses the torch to cut off rivet heads to enable the beam to be broken free and removed.

 





Joel burns off the remains of a rivet so the old beam can be used as a pattern.

 

Joel heats the rivet so Phil can pound it out with a hammer.

 

Budd and Phil lay out the fastener holes in the new beam while Andrew supervises.  Note the hole in the old beam!

 

Jim primes underfloor areas that have been cleaned and prepared.  Maintenance Department is thrilled to be able to actually see under the the car during future maintenance after the car is in service.

 

By the end of Saturday, both deteriorated beams were removed and one replacement fabricated and ready for reinstallation, and large portions of the underbody were cleaned and preserved.  This is the sort of progress and teamwork needed to get our first car back in service.  My thanks and compliments to all who made this possible.

 

Dirty Jobs could film its next feature at Rockhill Trolley Museum with the JTC #311 work crew.  I sure hope this guy cleaned up before he went home.

 

Along with the work at the museum site, our friends at UTCRAS in Morton, PA advised us this week that they are in the process of making new window sills and associated components that will be needed when the car sides are replaced.  They used sample material provided by us to make drawings of the parts and then move to fabrication from these drawings.  This work is being done at no cost to the museum.  Thank you, UTCRAS!

 

Future work sessions will be announced as soon as they are scheduled.  New volunteers are always welcome; please do not hesitate to contact me for further information.

 

Historical Footnote - Why Did Rockhill Trolley Museum Acquire #311?

 



The common railfan myth is that #311 was preserved because it was the last of its class on the property in Johnstown and the last Birney-type car in service anywhere.   Actually, it was acquired by more or less by default.   By the time the five individuals who became the founders of Railways To Yesterday decided to approach JTC to purchase a car, all of the 350 series cars available had already been spoken for or set aside for a special purpose.  #311 was the only car available, and since it had wheels that were less than a decade old, it cost $50 more than the other cars at $300.   However, as the late Tod Prowell told me, our founders knew that if nothing else, #311 ran, however seedy it looked.

Then a debate arose as to the scope of work once the car arrived in Rockhill Furnace.   A local metalworker was hired to replace some of the worst of the rotten side sheeting and the structural members under what is today the outbound end.   The car was repainted.   However, the crew realized that the project could go on forever if they allowed it to, thus the car was improved, but never really restored, and made ready for service.  In August 1962,  it became the first trolley car to operate at any museum in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with Member #2, the late Tolbert (Tod) V. Prowell, at the controls. As the saying goes, the rest is history! 

 







Upcoming Work Session on Johnstown Traction Company #311: January 11-12, 2013

Happy New Year!

With the holidays coming to a close, the efforts of the Rockhill Trolley Museum to complete the restoration of its first car, Johnstown Traction Company #311, are moving forward again.

There will be multiple work sessions in the winter and spring of 2013 to complete the project and return this historic and popular car to public operation.  The first of these work sessions in Friday, January 11 and Saturday, January 12, weather permitting.

Joel Salomon will be at the museum starting at noon on January 11 for any volunteer who wishes to get an early start on the weekend.  I will be joining him on early Saturday morning, January 12.

In the event of extremely cold or inclement weather, a cancellation notice will be posted to this site and an email sent to the RTY Maintenance Distribution list by 7AM Friday, January 11.

Prioritized goals for this session are as follows:

• Continue underbody preservation work (see photo below)
• Continue overhaul of door engines
• Move rebuilt 77E trucks from Carbarn 2 to Buehler Shop for pre-installation work and move 27F trucks for Valley Railways #12 into protected storage in Carbarn 2

If sufficient help is available, it would also be desirable to move STC sweeper #107 to the front of Carbarn #2 and P&W plow #10 to the front of Carbarn #1 in the event of heavy snows later this winter.  However, this is the lowest priority for the session.  We want to get #311 completed!

December 2012 Work on JTC #311

Additional progress was made on JTC #311 this past December 8, thanks to the dedication of Rick Hoffmeister with a little assistance by me (although the vast majority of work completed was due to Rick).  Progress made was as follows:

• Marking of underfloor members to be replaced in their entirety
• Preservation work in the area above the air compressor

The photo pasted below shows the area completed by Rick.

 

We hope to see you on January 11-12.  New Volunteers always welcome!  Feel free to contact me at mwntrolley@aol.com or Joel Salomon at jdstrolley@ptd.net for any questions.

 

Best wishes,

Matt Nawn

Summary of Work on JTC #311 and Upcoming Work Session

While crews worked this past weekend on car maintenance, that was certainly not the only work being done on our equipment!  Keith Bray was onsite to provide contract support for the ongoing work on Johnstown Traction Company #311 and was assisted by Joel Salomon and Fred Wagner.  The photos below provide a summary of the work completed.

Work in progress is not always beautiful, but this is the sign of progress.  Removal of seats and interior trim enables repairs to be performed on the car's structure.

 

With the side sheeting removed, work progressed on repairs to the lower structural members.

 

Fred cleans the corrosion from lower part of one of the window posts.

 

The outbound end with the side removed.  The copper tubing was a replacement after an accident decades ago.

 

 

 

 

Next Work Session: Saturday, December 8

 

Please help keep the progress going by joining us for the next JTC #311 work session on Saturday, December 8.  Work planned for the day includes:

• Cleaning and preservation of underfloor structural members
• Rebuilding of door engines
• Wood work on interior components

Thanksgiving Day is tomorrow.  One of the many things I am thankful for is the dedication and contributions of the volunteers and friends of the Rockhill Trolley Museum.  May you and your families have a very safe, healthy, and happy Thanksgiving!

 



5 Volunteers, 6 Cars, 7 Hours - Summary of Work Completed November 17, 2012

Along with routine maintenance tasks (and unanticipated repairs at times) throughout the year, an annual work session is scheduled for the middle of November to ensure our passenger cars are ready for the demands of the annual Polar Bear Express and Santa's Trolley Events.  These events draw hundreds of riders every year, and our cars must be ready.  Cold weather is typical for these events also, adding the to the demand placed upon our equipment.

Therefore, 5 volunteers set forth to tackle the servicing of 6 of our most heavily used passenger cars this past Saturday.  Work accomplished is as follows:

Johnstown Traction Company #355:  This car received the bulk of the attention during the day.  Budd Blair and Fred Wagner did a fairly substantial overhaul of both K-35 controllers, which had taken quite a beating during the operating year.  The controller work was extensive and kudos to Budd and Fred for spending much of the day at this task, which is not exactly ergonomic.  Matt Nawn, assisted by Fred Wagner, Bill Monaghan, and George Rich, checked the oil levels in all 12 bearings and added oil as necessary (most needed just a minor topping off with journal oil).  The gears were inspected as well, as a pack of crater grease was added to each gearbox.  The heat was tested as well and found to be operating perfectly (this is a warm car for a cold winter's day!).  Finally, the air governor (this turns the compressor on when air pressure drops and shuts it off as well when pressure builds up to a set point) filter was cleaned, repacked, and the contacts serviced.  After two test runs, the car was declared fit for service. 

Open Car #1875:  This might sound like the "influenza express" at first glance, but many Polar Bear Express riders will wait in line with blankets for a chance to ride this car at night through the lighted Christmas displays in a truly unique experience.  The air governor filter was cleaned, repacked, and the contacts serviced.

STCP #172 and #249:  Each of these car's air governors got the same work done as #355 and #1875.  By this point, Bill and George had become proficient and learning how to do basic servicing of an S-16 governor.  Rockhill Furnace is a long way from the Portuguese coast - these cars have no heat!

York Railways #163:  Along with the usual governor servicing, this car made two test trips to ensure the inbound K-68 controller functioned properly.  This controller has been giving problems this year but it appears Budd's latest work has corrected the problem.  The heat was also turned on and successfully tested.

Public Service Coordinated Transport #6:  The backup controller contactors were cleaned and dressed, which corrected the problem of dynamic brake drag that had developed when operating the car from the backup controller.  The heat was also turned on and found to be in good working order.  A short test run was made late in the day to verify the car coasts properly in reverse.

Last, and certainly not least, Nicholas Brightbill helped late in the day with getting all of the equipment put away in the Carbarns.  His efforts were much appreciated by a work crew that was getting tired by this point.

The photos below illustrated some of the day's progress.  My thanks to all volunteers!

Budd toils away at the outbound controller of JTC #355

 

Proving your author does something other than tell other people what to do while George gives me some extra light.  Cleaning the governor contacts on #1875.

Two of our most popular orange cars sit outside Carbarn #1 while crews work inside of them.





Scranton #505 and the Rockhill Trolley Museum

This past Thursday, November 15, the badly deteriorated carbody structure and trucks from former Scranton Transit Company #505 departed Rockhill Trolley Museum for the Electric City Trolley Museum.  Preparing the car for shipment was a joint effort involving volunteers from three museums (as detailed in a previous post).  Additional volunteer efforts coordinated the loading and the multiple changes to the hauling schedule to ensure the car was able to depart for its new home.

The story of how, and why, Railways To Yesterday came to own the #505 for approximately 40 years is a story that probably has not fully been told.  The photos organized chronologically below tell the story.  All photos are from the collection of RTY, Inc. unless otherwise noted.

Nine year old #505 poses at the end of the Green Ridge Suburban line in 1938.

 

 

#505 leaves Nay Aug Park in June 1953

 

 

After the end of rail service in Scranton in December 1954, #505 and sweeper #107 were purchased by Dr. Stanley Groman for his Rail City Museum in Sandy Pond, New York.  Here the car sits along US-11 near Nicholson, PA as the flatbed trailer awaits a new axle. 

 

Another view of #505.  Although looking decent from a distance, years of hard use lurk beneath that paint job.  Like many cars from cities in the Northeast, years of running on salt covered streets leads to extensive corrosion.  If you look closely at the rear truck, you will also see one of the lower frame members is bent. 

 

 

Less than 5 years after it left Scranton, the car was looking pretty rough.  Here the car sits outdoors at Rail City in 1959.  Thankfully, sweeper #107 was kept indoors.

 

 

By the mid 1960s, #505 (and sweeper #107) had moved to the Magee Museum near Bloomsburg.  It was intended to be the first car to operate at Magee, but priority shifted to the ex-Rio de Janeiro open cars when they arrived.  The deterioration (note especially the drooping platform) was very evident by 1965.  The car was substantially disassembled at Magee but work did not progress very far.

 

Close up view of the platform condition in 1965.

 

 

This is how the interior looked prior to disassembly in 1965.  Note the gaping hole in the floor.

 

 

Hurricane Agnes flooded the Magee Museum out of existence in 1972 and the trolley collection was broken up.  Railways To Yesterday acquired sweeper #107 and the remains of #505.  Some parts were lost in the flood and aftermath (including one of the car's controllers, which the museum later acquired a replacement for).  However, the #505 was never acquired with the intention of restoring it.  It was purchased to serve as a possible source of trucks and other parts for the then "newly" acquired carbody of York Railways #163, which was in substantially better structural condition.  Enroute from Bloomsburg to Rockhill Furnace, the truck hauling the carbody got stuck on a highway on-ramp, and after freeing the trailer, the carbody was hauled to a salvage yard in Burnham, PA where it would rest until 1999.

 

 

The carbody was removed from the salvage yard in 1999 and hauled to the museum site for storage.  At the same time, parts formerly stored in a boxcar were moved into Carbarn 2. One end of the car was substantially removed before the car left Magee in 1972 and the other had collapsed to the point where it had to be removed before the car could be hauled to Rockhill Furnace.

 

 

Lower structural deterioration from years of salt damage, subsequent flood damage, and exposure to the elements. 

 

 

In 2003, the carbody, trucks, and components from #505 were traded to the Electric City Trolley Museum Association for what are believed to be the original Curtis trucks from SEPTA Tower Car D-39, which the museum acquired the same year.  In coordination with a series of other moves, and after both ECTMA had time to establish a storage location, and Rockhill Trolley Museum returned the trucks to the carbody, #505 finally departed Rockhill Furnace for a return trip to its home city.  Here Chuck Kumpas records #505 loaded on one more truck trailer.

 

It is only appropriate that #505 go to its original home for a potential future restoration (or re-creation).  It's the best hope this car has had in more than 4 decades. 

 

 

Northeastern Pennsylvania is still represented in the Rockhill Trolley Museum collection by Scranton sweeper #107, which is operable and still used when conditions warrant to sweep snow from the museum's demonstration electric railway.  This vintage view shows the car being unloaded at Magee in 1966.  For more recent scenes of this former Scranton car, including scenes of it sweeping, visit http://www.rockhilltrolley.org/roster/107