On Tuesday, March 20, 2012, National Capital Trolley Museum accepted delivery of Capital Transit Company (CTCo) 09, a vintage 1899 snow sweeper from the collection of Rockhill Trolley Museum in Rockhill, PA. Part of a trade between the two museums involving a similar car from Iowa and other parts, CTCo 09 replaces CTCo 07 which was lost in the 2003 fire at National Capital Trolley Museum.
Matt Nawn, Vice President of Rockhill Trolley Museum commented “I'm really glad CTCo 09 is headed home to Washington, DC. I believe that our directors' unanimous decision is a reflection of the fact that Rockhill Trolley Museum felt it was truly the right thing to do.” Ken Rucker, President of National Capital Trolley Museum, has been working for several years to locate a suitable replacement for the car lost in the 2003 fire. Rucker notes, “We designed Street Car Hall, the Museum’s new exhibit space, to showcase cars from the Museum’s collections. The acquisition of CTCo 09 from our friends in Pennsylvania allows us to display one of these unique cars along with others from the Washington Street Car Collection.”
Built in 1899 by the McGuire Manufacturing Company in Chicago, Illinois, CTCo 09 is part of an order of ten cars purchased by the Columbia Railway for the Washington Traction and Electric Company, a predecessor of the Capital Transit Company. The fleet of sweepers faithfully served Washington for 63 winters until the end of street car service in Washington on January 28, 1962. In addition to CTCo 09, CTCo 010 is preserved at the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor, CT.
McGuire-Cummings constructed IT 3 in 1913 for the Mason City & Clear Lake. The sweeper was later transferred to Iowa Terminal Railroad and was stored at the Iowa Threshers operation for a time in the 1970s before returning to Mason City as part of the collection at Iowa Trolley Park. National Capital Trolley Museum acquired IT 3 in 2004 and contracted with Shore Line Trolley Museum for painting and mechanical work. The sweeper remained stored at Shore Line until the recent trade.
A special bell salute to Bill Wall for his assistance with this project.
Wesley
CTCo 09 and IT 3 meet for the last time at Rockhill Trolley Museum. Joel Salomon photo.
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