In an earlier post, I reported the wire through the Crown Ave. tunnel in Scranton was now in service to Stafford Ave.

The Lackawanna County Trolley Museum is qualifying crews and public operation will commence soon, after a formal opening ceremony.

Why a formal opening? See previous posts about public entities and advertising - free publicity!


Electric City Trolley Museum Association

I've got a question about the ECTM fleet. Actually, I have several questions, but I'll stick to one here. What does the ECTM operating fleet consist of? The only car I've seen photos of in operation is #76, but I have seen pictures of freight motor #401, interurban #46 and suburban car #80 sitting outside the barn, and when I visited all looked to be in good condition. I'd like to know if these cars are operational, or if they might be within the next few years.

Frank Hicks

fullparallel@wideopenwest.com

> In an earlier post, I reported the wire
> through the Crown Ave. tunnel in Scranton
> was now in service to Stafford Ave.

Service throught the tunnel was being provided during Railfan Weekend. It was fun to see the old Red Arrow car notched out running through the tunnel, (though the Kid From Brooklyn was mindful of the consequences of running wood cars at speed through tunnels...)

The ride terminates shortly after exiting the tunnel, then stops at the remains of the blast furnaces on the return trip. (Nice view of the Steamtown excursion going past the Lackawanna Station from the furnaces, by the way).

I expect it will be much more interesting once the line is extended to Montage Mountain.

PS - I'm a little curious why the trolley operation doesn't operate directly from their museum buildings. It appears the intent was to establish a loading platform in a central area between their buildings, but of course, the excursions leave from the Steamtown loading platform, and the wire from the museum buildings ends after about 300 feet.

johni@warwick.net

76, 80, 46 and 401 were in the operating fleet at Penns Landing. However, several years of storage have intervened.

80 in currently being readied for service as the alternate car. It says a lot about the reliability of the old cars that having one car has not been a problem thus far. The operating barn at Cedar Ave. holds two cars so return of a third car to service will be a way off.



Electric City Trolley Museum Association

The track layout from the Trolley Museum building to the operating line makes it difficult to move equipment from one to the other.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

I ran all three of these cars in Philly, though the summer I volunteered I always seemd to draw #80. She's neat, but a glorified bus. #46 was the most fun, though #76 could kick her heels up. I would love to run one of them a little wider-open on the Laurel Line ROW.

Big GRIN!

As for the trolley wire location, the museum team explained it to me last year as another case of politics and the NPS knowing all about safety. I have a feeling there were other considerations including the frieght operations and the qualification of the crews, but in the end, you have a trolley museum with a trolley ride, but the wire does not connect them.

Couldn't this have been avoided?

Rob

> PS - I'm a little curious why the trolley
> operation doesn't operate directly from
> their museum buildings. It appears the
> intent was to establish a loading platform
> in a central area between their buildings,
> but of course, the excursions leave from the
> Steamtown loading platform, and the wire
> from the museum buildings ends after about
> 300 feet.


Ahead of the Torch
trains@robertjohndavis.com