News

A concentrated recovery effort in the aftermath of the remnants of Hurricane Ivan has put the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum back on dry ground -- and back on track.

The drenching storm on Sept. 17 brought 18 inches of water into the museum's main building, located at 1 Museum Road, Washington, wiping out the exhibit modules in the Visitor Education Center. In addition, flood waters also washed out sections of trolley track, damaged equipment in an adjoining restoration shop as well as old records and photographs being stored in a nearby building that was donated for extra storage space.

"One of our concerns," said Executive Director Scott Becker, "was the Visitor Education Center where dozens of photographs that made up the exhibit, 'On the Car Line: Pittsburgh and Points South,' were featured. The waters damaged all of the chipboard exhibit modules, but we were able to salvage the photographs and captions."

Becker added that the bottom section of the walls had to be replaced, along with the insulation. "Fortunately," the director said, "the images and captions in the exhibit were undamaged and have been remounted utilizing a new wall mounting system installed by a neighboring plant, Master Woodcraft Corp."

Trolley motors and other equipment in the restoration shop were saturated and had to be taken apart, dried and cleaned. "We had a mess," he said.

An army of volunteers responded to the flood-soaked museum grounds. "We actually had approximately 20 volunteers a day from as far away as Cleveland and Lancaster working to dry things out. They realized we had to work as fast as possible, and some were here the evening of the flood. Many tons of rock were needed to fill in the washouts along the two miles of track, and this was all installed by volunteers."

"In fact," he said, "after being shut down for a few days, the museum was in limited operation within a week and in regular operation by the end of November."

Damage left in the storm's wake was estimated in excess of $100,000, "but thankfully our most treasured archives were spared -- saved."

Becker said there is some insurance money, "but not enough to cover all the damage." The educational museum has applied to the Small Business Association for a loan and is also seeking funding support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "We're just hoping to recoup some of our losses."

On a more positive note, he said, "We have since received more than $15,000 in donations from individuals who heard of our plight and share an interest in trolley history."

Recently, Ed Lybarger, the museum's exhibits curator, and Janis Lougee, a volunteer worker from McMurray, were putting the finishing touch to piecing the Pittsburgh and Points South exhibit back together.

Making note of the new exhibit mounting system, Lybarger said, "This system allows for more viewing area for the images as well as more floor space for our visitors."

The exhibit vividly portrays the history, decline and rebirth of rail transit in Pittsburgh's South Hills, focusing on the interurban trolley lines that ran from Pittsburgh to Washington and Charleroi. These lines, according to Lybarger, began operating a century ago in 1903 and the Washington County portions were abandoned 50 years ago in the summer of 1953.

The exhibit features photos in both urban and rural regions of these lines as well as local streetcar operations in Washington.

"This trolley system," he said, "served as an important link for South Hills residents who traveled for work, shopping, school and recreation."

The story does not end in 1953, though, for the Port Authority of Allegheny County still operates what is now called light rail transit from Library and South Hills Village into Pittsburgh's downtown. The includes the reopening of the Overbrook Line this past summer.

The museum is also a proven popular stop for visitors today. Last year, Becker said, more than 21,000 stopped for an educational tour of the complex and a ride into the past on a restored vintage trolley. "We have kids of all ages visiting us."

For more information on the museum's operations, call 724-228-9256.

• Most Read
• Most E-mailed
• Latest News