History was made on the M&H RR on September 27, 2007 when Rio de Janiero Tramway Single Truck Open Car #441 (built 1908) became the first trolley car to operate on the M&H RR. Now we have steam, diesel, and traction on the railroad. At approximately 6 p.m. Motorman Wendell Dillinger rang the gong and took a point and the car moved out of its carbarn onto the carbarn lead. This was the first time the car moved on its own in at least 25 years. The car arrived on the M&H circa 1980. The compressor, air brakes and motor all did well considering their long sleep. The work culminated a marathon restoration effort begun early this year to ready the car for a run up Brown Street for the Middletown Autumn Fest. Unfortunately that goal was missed but the final bugs were worked out 5 days later. The car was powered by an Onan Generator Car acquired from the Charlotte Trolley. Restoration efforts so far have included refinishing the woodwork on the walk over seats, painting the car body and trucks, and electrical work on the compressor, motors, and controllers. Additional body work, complete restoration of the B Motorman area, and work on the second motor still needs to be done. It is expected the car will be used during the 2007 TRAIN convention in November and enter revenue service no later than the 2008 tourist season.

Charlie -

Thanks for the report. And congrats on the restoration! Is #441 the car that was at the museum in South Elgin many years ago? I recall in my short time working there, that Wendell had an open car on the property. I also think that he had an electric freight motor of some type, but I may be mistaken on that.

I assume by the report that, with 441 getting its power from an Onan Generator Car, there is no trolley wire involved. Are there any plans to eventually install overhead on the M&H?

Les

I could be mistaken about all of this, and/or it might have been just a railfan rumor......... but what I was told years ago was that the M&H originally planned for both steam and electric operations, but were thwarted in the latter by the fact that PennDOT wouldn't let them string catenary wire over the Rt. 230 crossing north of the yard.............. funny part is, if you're not trying to string overhead down Mill St. in Middletown or all the way to Indian Echo Caverns, that's one of only three crossings at most the RR has to deal with............

One story has it that the former name of the present railroad company was Mason City & Clear Lake. After Iowa Terminal, now Iowa Traction RR, bought the property from that trolley line, Wendell bought the company itself, had it buy a branch from the Reading Company, and changed to name to match the new line!

Charlie,

Please see a private message I sent to you on RyPN.

Wesley

Sorry for the late reply. I have been busy this week cutting wood for Civil War re-enactors and working the Civil War weekend steam train. You are correct. This is the car that Wendell had in Illinois. Running traction has been a dream of Wendell's and several other of us volunteers on the M&H. This is a way for us to give the motorman, conductor and passengers the experience of a street car without stringing wire. The generator car is well muffled and very quiet. You can hear the sound of the traction motors, gong, etc. very well above the slight generator diesel sound . That is not to say some wire may not eventually be strung but with the price of copper and the thievery going on right now I do not think that is a near range option. We can run the car in the yard and on Brown Street to give passengers the experience of street running street cars. When we get a heavyweight restored like the Brill Master we could run that over PA Rte. 230 crossing. The railroad does have an electric freight motor #66 (Kansas City Public Service, G.E. 1948) that was brought to the property when Wendell bought the railroad. It is not currently a candidate at the top of the list for restoration.