In Memorium: George M. Hart

K.R. Bell · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:37 pm **Posts:** 295

I received word that George M. Hart passed away this morning in Lehighton, Pa. George was the founding Director of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (1969-1983) and an active participant in railway preservation, having owned and operated Rail Tours, Inc., and served as President and Treasurer of the Stewartstown RR. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of railroad history and if it were not for his efforts in 1970s, the PRR Historic Collection would have been broken up forever.

Godspeed, George. You're in a better place now.

K.R. Bell

Strasburg31 · **Joined:** Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:49 pm **Posts:** 4

George, thank you for all you did!

You will be missed.

Paul

robertjohndavis · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:10 am **Posts:** 2499

Rest in peace, George. I will remember you fondly.

Rob Davis

K.R. Bell · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:37 pm **Posts:** 295

The arrangements for George's services are as follows: There will be a viewing Sunday, April 20th at 7:00PM to 9:00PM. Viewing and service Monday the 21st starting at 11:00AM.
Services to be held at the Edward F. Melber Funeral Home
524 Centre St.
Jim Thorpe Pa 18229
Phone 570-325-3921
Internment should be in the family plot in Doylestown, Pa., will know for sure by the time of the services.

K.R. Bell

Rob · **Posted:** Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:57 am

Very sad news. George was one of the last of the group of people who really started the Railway Preservation movement. Besides his knowledge, his vision to preserve and operate equipment in a traditional manner and amass a collection privately, without a major backer, is amazing. I first met George in 1986 at Jim Thorpe whe I was asked to fire #972 during a fall run to Haucks. That day showed to me what true gentleman George was. He was very accomodating and treated his employees with respect. Again, in 1994, when #1098 was operated, George provided a pleasant environment to work in. Even though I wasn't a "formal" employee, George was very friendly and engaging.

Rest in peace George.

Rob

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:00 am

A man of vision, who rescued and employed steam locomotives for a world of railfans, tired of Diesels. We all owe George Hart a debt of gratitude.

steamerdon · **Joined:** Sat Oct 02, 2004 1:45 pm **Posts:** 68

May all you signals be Green, George, rest in peace. It was an honor and a pleasure to have known you, a truly amazing man.

JimBoylan · **Posted:** Sun Sep 25, 2022 3:21 pm

Biographies:
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hart-20580
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/G8HP-QWN
He's distantly related to photographer and author Bert Pennypacker through the Rittenhouse family and other connections. Hartsville in Bucks County, Pennsylvania is named after his ancestors.

co614 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 25, 2022 8:25 pm

George was a good friend and a devoted steam lover. In his last years his very close friend the late John Willever and I did our best to see that George left some of his considerable estate to steam preservation.

Despite our efforts he left nearly all of his estate to the town of Doylestown,Pa. and close to none to railway preservation.

Sad but true. Ross Rowland

In Memorium: George M. Hart

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