Mister Rogers still big in Pittsburgh

Sloan · **Posted:** Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:57 am

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/us/17 ... tml?src=me

Fred McFeely Rogers (1928—2003) was a composer, musician, and Presbyterian minister who founded and hosted the popular and influential PBS TV show Mister Rogers Neighborhood (1968—2001). One episode took place at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. David Newel who played Mr. McFeely, the speedy delivery character as well as the purple panda, made an appearance at the Rockhill Trolley Museum.

Celebrity appearances at museum do help build brand name awareness.

Sloan

tomgears · **Posted:** Wed Mar 17, 2010 12:27 pm

They spent $3 million dollars on a ten foot tall statue of Rogers. That would restore a lot of trolley cars, the PRR T-1 at the bottom of that quarry, or maybe even the 1361.

Steve Freer · **Joined:** Tue Nov 09, 2004 1:24 pm **Posts:** 380

Whoa...now it's a T-1 in the quarry???? Cool!

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3011

$3 Million for a 10 foot statue? Wow, you have to wonder what Mr Rogers would say about that!

In any case, Mister Rogers even has his own themed land at Idlewild Park near Ligoneer, PA (In the mountains east of Pittsburgh).

Quote:

Based upon the popular children's show, this one-of-a-kind attraction takes children and parents on a life-size trolley ride through the well-known "Neighborhood of Make-Believe". Guests can meet and converse with many of their Neighborhood friends

http://www.idlewild.com/in_the_park/

The trolley looks to be standard gauge, but I'm only guessing. I don't know how long the track is, or who built the trolley.

EDM · **Posted:** Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:35 pm

I heard it was a huge quarry, large enough to contain any number of PRR and NYC engines. I think the PRR 0-6-0 was the proverbial tip of the iceburg-

o anderson · **Posted:** Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:02 pm

Its in Pennsylvania - so that means the 0-6-0 is the tip of an iceburgh

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2606

I grew up watching Mr. Rogers, but in 50 years, those of us who had him as a daily companion will be gone or going. Three mil is a lot for a statue, and not exactly fitting for a guy who thrived on simplicity and the frugality of his sweater. I'd rather see the $ go to preserving his programs-kids get so little of that innocence anymore.

Stationary Steam · **Posted:** Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:17 am

Statues and worthless pieces of high priced art seems to be the craze these days. Here in Youngstown a local benefactor gave a quarter million for a statue of our university's founder. Thats a nice gesture, but there are other more pressing needs.

In the South Side of Pittsbugh, $200,000 was spent on an abstract sculpture that is called a "steelworkers Memorial". It looks like a cross between a Lionel Coal tipple and a treehouse. For 200K a hot metal car siting a few blocks away could have been brought to the site and restored and would have been much more appropriate. Right now when I see that albatross on the south side my impulse is to get out my cutting torch and put it out of its misery.

j32885 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 25, 2010 1:29 am

I went to Idlewild years ago with my folks en-route to a LOTS Convention in Scranton, PA. I recommend taking in the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood of Make-Believe experience if you ever go to Idlewild.

EDM · **Posted:** Thu Apr 01, 2010 3:56 pm

I just received a PM, from one of my friends in marine preservation, that Robert Ballard, who led the team that discovered the Titanic, will be exploring one of Pennsylvania's "inland seas". He will be looking for that PRR 0-6-0..... AND the swibble pin.