Enjoy a fun trolley trip into the past at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington, Pa.
The museum is a non-profit organization that shares the history of the trolley era and relies on its many dedicated volunteers to operate and maintain over 50 trolleys in its collection.
PTM started with three trolleys in 1954.
Now the collection has 52 cars and welcomes over 38,000 visitors each year.
Josue Lopez, a freshman at West Virginia University, volunteers part-time as a trolley operator, traveling an hour each way. He was drawn to the museum by a trolley from New Orleans, which holds sentimental value for him and his aunt.
Lopez feels that volunteering at the museum allows him to be part of history, both personally and for the public who visit to learn about streetcars.
The New Orleans Public Service 832, on display, was once featured in Life Magazine and was delivered to the museum in 1964. Built in 1922, it seats 52 passengers and was restored in 1998.
Brett Freithaler, a 10-year volunteer, is excited about the spacious new museum location.
The museum is now open year-round in a larger location at One Electric Way, close to its former site. This move was made possible by a fundraising campaign that raised over $17 million.
The Welcome and Education Center has new interactive galleries and exhibits, a dedicated classroom, and event rooms spanning 21,000 square feet.
Freithaler notes that this expansion has greatly improved the visitor experience, allowing for self-guided tours and unlimited trolley rides with a day pass.
Visitors can ride two trolleys on different lines, with the longer route covering about two miles.
Guests are encouraged to interact with conductors and volunteers, and admission includes trolley rides, a guided tour, exhibits, a video presentation, free parking, and access to a picnic area.
At the Trolley Simulator, guests can operate the trolley pole, just like a real operator. There is also a Trolley Display Building and Car Barn to explore, and a visit typically takes at least two hours.
The earliest car in the collection is the Pittsburgh 101, which is a horse car from the 1870s. Horse cars were used in Pittsburgh from 1859 to 1923.
Trolleys ultimately lost popularity in Pittsburgh and in the 1960s, bus lines started to replace trolley routes. The Port Authority bus system is still running. In Pittsburgh, streetcars were in operation until 1999. Joyce Hanz | TRIBLIVE
“They dedicate over 30,000 hours at the museum. They enjoy sharing and it’s fantastic when people share their excitement with others. We couldn't manage without our volunteers. Their talent is remarkable,” she said. “It’s great to have so much space. We have 25 trolleys open and many of them are operational. Each visit to the museum might provide an opportunity to ride a different trolley.”
Volunteer Boulevard is a fully brick-paved street with 33,000 hand-laid bricks that enable the trolleys to operate in both directions.
Married volunteers Wayne and Nancy Young recently operated a trolley together for a small group. The couple are in their 18th year of volunteering and drive more than 100 miles round trip to contribute as conductors to the museum.
“It’s enjoyable and we love the camaraderie. The kids want to know what makes the trolley go, so we teach them how to plug in a trolley,” Wayne Young said.
Volunteers are honored at an annual Volunteer Reception Dinner, and PTM volunteers logged over 27,700 service hours in 2022.
Nicholas Tonarelli, 11, of Peters Township, learned firsthand about the electricity needed to operate the trolleys after a tutorial from the Youngs.
“This is my first trolley ride. I learned that the ads on the inside of the cars were a way for the trolleys to make money,” Tonarelli said.
The Youngs remembered that people used to dress up to ride the trolley.
“It wasn’t as casual as it is now,” Nancy Young said.
Guests are welcome to take a selfie at the trolley featured in an episode of “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood” that showcased his visit to the museum.
The museum is anticipating the upcoming introduction of The Terrible Trolley, a Steelers-themed car, into the collection. Acquired last May, The Terrible Trolley was constructed in 1949 by the St. Louis Car Company and operated on Pittsburgh Railway’s Washington and Charleroi interurban lines.
In 1980, it was repainted to honor the four Steelers’ Super Bowl Championships during the 1970s.
Dining Destination Down The Road
Broasted chicken is the signature food sold at Countryside Deli in Washington, near the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum.
Owned and operated by father/son duo Dan and Corey DiGiovanni, the deli at 935 Henderson Ave. in Washington provides dine-in and takeout options as well as beer and wine.
The chicken keeps people coming back, according to Dan DiGiovanni.
"It is made using a special hand breading method and is broasted and cooked in a pressure cooker," he stated.
Joyce Hanz | TRIBLIVE
"Everything is made from scratch here. We are the go-to spot for lunch," Corey DiGiovanni stated. "We want people to step back in time (visiting the museum) and enjoy great food and excellent customer service as well as hearty, comforting dishes."
Enjoy an enjoyable time exploring the transportation history with a Daycation Destination trip to the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington, Pa.
