Category: FPT News

FPT’s work preserving Philadelphia trolleys — and particularly our efforts with PCC 2168 in Baltimore — are the subject of a new article published by HeritageRail Alliance.

“There are a handful of foundations and other organizations that provide financial and other assistance to railway preservationists,” it states. “One of the more specialized is the Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys, which has donated over $200,000 toward the restoration of hometown streetcars.”

This piece, by Matt Nawn and Harry Donahue, gives FPT an excellent opportunity to explain our mission and accomplishments to date, and puts that story before the eyes of fellow preservationists who may benefit from that experience — and perhaps have expertise to share with us.

Be sure to check it out here: https://heritagerail.org/2020/10/friends-of-philadelphia-trolleys-and-pcc-2168/

On March 2, 2019, Baltimore Streetcar Museum and Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys members started working on Matthew E. Nawn’s Eagle Scout project to renovate 1923 vintage Philadelphia Rapid Transit snowsweeper car C-145.

Phase I (exterior restoration) was completed on September 19, 2020 with more than 1,100 hours spent on this project by a dedicated team of volunteers, seen posing with the sweeper in the attached photo. You can watch Operator Logan’s video from the completion ceremony here.

The team replaced 70 percent of the outer body with new tongue and groove boards, made structural repairs, restored the exterior hardware, installed 16 new windows and frames, and completely repainted the exterior.

PRT C-145 is restored to its 1926 through 1940 appearance.  The Baltimore Streetcar Museum and The Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys extend their mutual thanks to all supporters of this project!

More good news from Baltimore! Check out the status of restoration of Philadelphia Rapid Transit sweeper C-145 in the latest video from Operator Logan here.

Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys is launching a campaign to top off the restoration of PRT/PTC 8042, a 1923 Brill-built Peter Witt car preserved at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum.

In particular, the rear wood structure is in need of extensive work, and the car’s ceiling panels will be replaced. You can donate to the effort and watch a video about the project by visiting our new GoFundMe page here.

Alternatively, you can donate by more traditional means by printing out the attached flyer — you can click on the photo to bring up a printable PDF — and mailing it back to us with your donation.

These cars were workhorses of the Philadelphia fleet until the late 1950s. You can read about the history of 8042 and its sisters at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum site here.