CuZinBruce's October-December

PTM Year End Review

Farewell to Grampa Ellis

Well, we started October off with the dedication of the new Ellis Stop along the Museum's demonstration streetcar line. Named in honor of Mr. 104 (at that time) Art Ellis, PERC member #5 and Grampa to our Kids are featured in this photo along with his Kids Cindy and Artie.

Thanks to Jeanine for this photo.

Here he is, now Mr. 105, at his Birthday party at Arden on November 15. Thanks to Steve Chase for taking time to capture these photos.

Art's 105th birthday party, when we
celebrated just in time as we lost him to old age just 8 days later... May he Rest in Peace...

October 12 Artie (Arthur Wood Ellis) was working hard at Reliance, installing a digital read out which he donated on the Manford milling machine which he and I acquired at federal surplus in 2021.

As is tradition for Pumpkin Patch and Christmas Celebrations Laura Wells and the Steel City Lug set up their display in the Welcome and Education Center.

Around that time I got the new car I'd been threatening to buy.

I found this example of the proper connection used on trolley ropes by Pittsburgh Railways and Port Authority. Kevin is looking into purchase of the necessary crimp fittings.

October 24 Kcvin and Michael took down the sign from the West Campus. The sign will be repurposed for use on the flatbed truck for parades and festivals.

October 27 I was working in the future work area getting ready for work on 8042.
Inside the former gift shop area the ceiling has been removed along with one wall of the store office. The store office area is being added to the space being converted for use as a woodworking area for restoration of the cars being worked on track 22 on the other side of the wall.

Looking out through the glass doors I observed the changing autumn leaves along Museum Road.

November 1 found us at the Middletown and Hummelstown RR shop area taking advantage of a streetcar parts distribution under the auspices of the Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys. Car 83 renumbered 86 in the final year of operation on SEPTA. This car will become part of the PTM collection and fleet in 2025.

Following Thursday October 31 and November 1 at Middletown PA we visited the Electric City Trolley Trolley Museum in Scranton November 2 for their 25th Anniversary.

Above is the restored shell of Scranton Transit's Osgood-Bradley Electromobile 505.

November 2 while we were busy in central Pennsylvania Sarah Wells conducted an Operator for an Hour session for Nelson Rauscher.

November 9 Sarah and I accompanied Kevin O’Donnell and his group on an operator for and hour session on New Orleans 832.

Starting with his arrival November 8th, Illinois Railway Museum volunteer Steven Iversen came to work with me on Philadelphia Transportation 8042. Steve and I spent a very productive week moving work along on this project.

For the week we moved several of my personal woodworking machines to the new area so that wooden pieces could be prepared for cutting to various cross sections used for the work on 8042. We prepared new panels for the wainscotting and Steve carefully sanded and painted them with the final color. He also painted several of the fixed seats.

Here’s a good photo of Steve with his Hawaiian work shirt and decorative Kromer cap (seen above). Steve worked on many restorations with the late Frank Sirenek at IRM as well as a Muskogee Birney car at the local museum there in Oklahoma.

Above are some examples of Kromer caps from Wisconsin (I think).

A popular trademark for IRM volunteers

While spending the week working in the old visitor center Steve and I had several occasions when cars appeared in the parking lot with confused occupants looking for the museum. The sign that was taped to the glass door is shown on the left. Does it really tell the visitor what they need to know?

April 28 2025 update

To that end I prepared a new sign for the glass door identifying on an actual Google map screenshot the new location in relation to their current location. I made a sign for the glass door and the xEducation Room door. These are shown to the right. Recently I made an 11 x 17 of the map and added it to the glass door. As we are still getting an occasional lost visitor.

After painting Steve turned his attention inside the car where he removed last three fixed cross seats on the door (right side) of the car. We prepared rough stock for making the hollow wall frames which support the wainscoting and the seat frame. He cleaned and painted the steel after removing the hollow frames.

November 13 marked the submission of the annual calendar that I prepare

We spent day on November 22 working again at the Middletown site. It was cold and drizzling day and we were lucky to have young people to do the heavy lifting. Kevin, his Dad, Jack and Michael worked to remove pole bases, poles and step boards from the roof of the PCCs. Michael was anxious to retrieve flag holder fittings needed for the Terrible Trolley and Jack helped him out.

This is one of four interesting car cards that turned up in a Facebook post. We are hoping to get scans of the cards for use in our cars.

Saturday November 30, Beau, Laura and I took Beau’s truck and Kevin’s trailer out to Garrettsville Ohio to purchase and retrieve a 36 inch surface sander. This is needed to finish window frames for 73 and every other project that includes wooden window sash. I ponied up the $1500 and we returned it to storage at Reliance awaiting the opportunity to get it working.

These two photos illustrate the progress that has been made by the County inmate group. The before photo is on the left showing insulation incomplete with openings to the eves exposed. At the left Bernie and his crew has removed the duct and Bernie has fabricated sheetmetal adapters on the ducts. The rafters above the office and hallway wall was framed with 16” centers and insulation applied there. Thanks to all who are pitching in to provide the space. Lights provided by Beau were connected to remote switch outlets purchased at Menards at the Highlands.

On a cheery. artsy fartsy note I am including this photo I took upon exit from Sam’s Club December 7.

I dug out these two photos from my archives to provide for PTM social media post.

Finally, I have to say how much I was impressed with our Santa Trolley ride last Saturday. Wayne has a very impressive schtick, entertaining the riders along the way and his elves were very helpful and entertaining. The elves took this and several other photos of the family after our trip on the yellow brick road...SUCH CLEVEROSITY!

Santa was great as usual. If you haven’t ridden we highly recommend it!

Lastly, 1711 broke down so here’s 2711 with its decorations installed with Beau and Jeff’s wiring abilities and the agility of our young people stringing the lights on the exterior. Good news I that 1711 is back in service so we have two delightfully decorated PCCs.