I like things that go, things that move people, things that help us travel through our daily lives and can potentially take us to places far away. Planes, trains and automobiles are favorites as well as hot air balloons, ships, bicycles, stagecoaches – you get the picture.
But vehicles that take you distances that cannot be measured are my very favorite. In other words, old planes and cars can double as time machines if you allow your imagination to run wild.
Last month, my imagination got a workout at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum where I got to see, touch and board a large assortment of trolley cars that very easily could have met a scrapyard doom rather than a museum spotlight.
This museum features a visitors’ center with exhibits, restrooms and classroom space as well as a preserved train depot and a large building packed with trolley cars. Visitors are invited to climb aboard, sit, dream, and to touch. Well, you’re encouraged to touch a lot of things but they prefer you keep your hands to yourself in the operator’s area! Most are restored. There was one in particular that hasn’t been restored that shows just how damaging time and deterioration can be.
They have a small army of volunteers who keep the place running as docents, trolley drivers, restorers and more. One such gentleman was Mike, a retired teacher and former trolley operator with a flair for storytelling that made us want to pull up a chair for a long chat.
There are trolley cars with local connections and some from much further away including a streetcar named Desire. Remember the old Marlon Brando flick? Yup. This streetcar operated on New Orleans’ Desire line which was made famous by the Tennessee Williams play turned film “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
If you’re a fan of Mr. Rogers, you can sit on the same steps of a Philadelphia streetcar where he sat when filming an episode of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood in the mid eighties.
You’ll notice vintage advertising for things like cigarettes, rodeos, electric mixers and secretarial schools geared toward women. You’ll notice different decor like stained glass in some older cars and less comfortable seats in newer ones.
They tell the story of how the trolley system became obsolete thanks to the city bus, the automobile and other cultural influences. I didn’t realize that when Judy Garland sang “clang, clang, clang went the trolley” in the 1944 film “Meet Me in St. Louis” that the streetcar was already an endangered species.
They tell the story of this mode of transit in its heyday too. Plus, you can ring a real trolley bell using a foot pedal like the trolley operators did back in the day. You’ll learn about the difference between a streetcar and a trolley and there’s great signage that tells stories about each car.
They offer a long trolley ride and a short ride periodically throughout the day and the depot is well worth a visit too. All of this is included in the price of admission.
My friend, whose sons are grown men now, talked about how fun it was bringing her boys when they were small because this was a museum where they could touch and not hurt things. Their curiosity was encouraged and she could breathe easy while they explored. That’s a real gift to parents of curious children.
I’ll share some pictures on the Make the Journey Fun Facebook page and I imagine I’ll revisit some other stories from this museum in the future. Incidentally, this is where we saw the amazing Legotown and a stupendous model train exhibit that were available for viewing through the holidays.
Visit their website to learn more and to plan your trip!
