Category: Gifts & Grants

Video: Our support for PTC 8042

Posted onAuthorRoger DuPuis II

Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys recently presented the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum with a $3,000 check toward the ongoing restoration of Phila. Transportation Co. Peter Witt car 8042, as seen above.


Pictured Left to Right: From the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum: Scout Becker, Executive Director; Bruce Wells, Director of Restoration; Chris Golofski, President; From Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys: Bill Monaghan, Founder & Director; Harry Donahue, Founder & Director; George Rich, Volunteer

Watch the video about the project by Operator Logan on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xosVMXOrP58

FPT presents $5,000 donation to PTM for 8042 project

Posted onAuthorRoger DuPuis II

FPT Director Harry Donahue, at right, recently presented a check for $5,000 to Pennsylvania Trolley Museum Executive Director Scott Becker for the restoration of Philadelphia Transportation Co. 8042.

This donation will be double-matched by Washington County Cares and 20th Century Electric Rail.

PTM volunteers also have rebuilt 8042′ s controller as part of the work, as seen here.

Red Arrow fans rejoice: FPT aids Car #24 project at PTM

Posted onAuthorRoger DuPuis II

Red Arrow “St. Louis” cars 14 and 24 are seen in MU operation at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. (Bill Monaghan photo.)

In a sight that is sure to warm the hearts of Red Arrow fans, two of the system’s former St. Louis streamliners ran in multiple-unit operation last weekend at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, and FPT is helping bring one of those cars back into shape after a period of storage.

The Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys provided a $500 grant to the museum for the preservation of Red Arrow Lines/SEPTA Car #24 on Saturday, June 2.  This grant recognizes the efforts of a group of volunteers at PTM who have recently taken on this project and returned the car to operating condition and provide a funding base for further efforts in the future.

And, as noted, FPT members and other guests were treated to seeing 24, which wears SEPTA’s “Gulf Oil” paint scheme, operating in MU with sister car 14, which the museum has beautifully restored to its original livery.

FPT’s Directors are interested in continuing to support the Car 24 project. Just think of the impact if everyone on this page would send FPT $5 (or more) towards this car.  We could raise $7,000 with just this simple step.  Grants provided to museums for projects like this enable  opportunities for matching grants from other organizations, which can lead to doubling of the money contributed by FPT.

Here’s where your donations go!

Posted onAuthorRoger DuPuis II

Photo courtesy of Scott Becker.

We are pleased to share another image showing how work is really getting underway on Philadelphia car 8042 at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum.

Built by J.G. Brill in 1923, car 8042 has been on display at PTM, in Washington County, Pa., since 2005.

The museum’s Board of Trustees last year approved moving ahead with front platform work, which is intended to be phase I of a larger project. Your donations are helping FPT support this very worthy endeavor.

If you or anyone you know might be interested in helping the cause, please click on this link to download and print our donation form.

Saluting Jerry Evans

Posted onAuthorRoger DuPuis II

Jerry Evans admires the detail on his newly received model of Red Arrow car 23. (Roger DuPuis photo.)

Jerry Evans is a familiar face to many in our group, and at trolley museums throughout the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

Jerry, who recently retired from SEPTA after 38 years as a trolley mechanic and electrician, has been putting his skills and experience to use by offering technical advice and assistance on the maintenance of many museum cars, particularly PCCs. As a personal token of appreciation from members of several groups that have benefited from Jerry’s generosity, he recently was presented with a very special gift.

Jerry Evans holds up his model, in its protective case, as John Engleman, left, and Harry Donahue look on. (Roger DuPuis photo.)

Jerry grew up in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, and has been a lifelong fan of the Red Arrow trolley system. With the help of John Engleman, a St. Petersburg Tram Collection model of Red Arrow “St. Louie” car 23 was obtained for Jerry. Painted in the original livery worn by these cars, the model carries a Sharon Hill destination sign.