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The Annual Association of Railway Museums (ARM) conference is always a highlight of the year, and ARM 2007 was no exception. Hosted by the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington, PA (just out of Pittsburgh), this year’s event was well organized, informative and full of new learning.
And so, I was off on Air Canada from Vancouver on Tuesday, October 8th, changing at Toronto and then continuing to Pittsburgh airport. Here a stroke of luck occurred, as I met another participant – Don Scafe from Edmonton – and he had a car. So, we were able to travel together to Washington, PA. Checked in at the Holiday Inn Meadowlands (the conference hotel) and we were set to go. The weather was spectacular – sunny and mid 80’s temperatures – it would stay that way all week!
Wednesday, October 3 We were off on the “Pre-conference” trip, out to Altoona and the Railroaders Memorial Museum, and Sherry Elchuk was also along and an attendee at the Conference. Our conveyances were chartered buses, and a good crowd went along on two buses. I had been here before, but enjoyed the tour and background of the museum given by their Executive Director Scott Cessna. They continue to have fine exhibits in their main building, but lots of work to do on their rolling stock collection.
A couple of new exhibits were highlights – the recent installation of their 105 foot turntable for one, as it mirrors the work that WCRA is doing to install ours at the Heritage Park. Also recently arrived was Pennsylvania observation lounge car Mountain View which was very nicely original in its interior, and fully open for inspection. (Photos, Page 27)
From the museum’s site in Altoona, we headed up to Horseshoe Curve, an engineering marvel to watch mainline railroading (Norfolk Southern) as trains struggle to conquer the Alleghenies. Three mainline tracks remain in operation here, and pushers are used on all
Altoona, PA—view from upper level over turntable area, interior of PRR Mountain View
upgrade trains. They then drift back down to Altoona as light engine movements and await their next “push” assignment. We then returned to the conference hotel on the buses.
The Conference officially opened with the reception starting at 7:00PM and here the organizers shone, as there was lots of food as well as a lovely venue for the mixing and meeting of old friends. Over 150 were in attendance, and that would swell to almost 180 as the week progressed. Following the reception, there was a “Show and Tell” event and your editor showed some photos of the Royal Hudson’s April 15th trip to White Rock as well as new developments at our West Coast Railway Heritage Park.
Thursday, October 4 The first full day of conference activities got underway with an opening session, and then the first two sets of conference seminars. This is always where valuable learning takes place and ideas are hatched to bring back to our own museum operation. Many topics are covered, from volunteers to museum management to restoration to marketing etc.
At 1230k we were back onto the buses with boxed lunches, and off for a great afternoon and evening in Pittsburgh. Much of the afternoon was spent at Pittsburgh’s Heinz History Center, a great facility named after the “Heinz Ketchup Man” which was founded in Pittsburgh. The great museum (and sports history center) is housed in an old ice house building which is very cleverly preserved and integrated into a new building on the west side. It has six floors of history exhibits and is very well done. In the main hall downstairs are some interesting transportation exhibits including a Pittsburgh PCC streetcar, a stainless steel 1937 Ford, and more. For dinner we were treated to a real treat – a diner cruise on the “Three Rivers” – the Monongahela, the Allegheny, and the Ohio, from which the city gets
its nickname as “River City”. The spectacular weather again made for a great time, good food, warm temperatures a spectacular sunset and then – as we were nearing the dock at the end – a first class fireworks display. Future ARM Conference committees have something to try to top!
Friday, October 5 Once again the day started out with more seminars, including one presented by your editor on Strategic Planning for Railway Museums. After lunch, a selection of field trips was offered; I selected the tour of the Port Authority light rail shops and line tour. While the shops were similar to others I have seen, the ride was delightful, as the modern LRV’s travelled a traditional interurban type line through small communities and the through the tunnel into downtown Pittsburgh.
We ended up at Station Square – a shopping / hotel complex along the Monongahela River across from downtown. There were lovely views of the city, which became spectacular ones as one rode the Monongahela Incline to the lookout at the top.
After this, the evening was capped as we dined in the old Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad station, which has been fabulously restored inside and out. CSX still passes by on the mainline out front with modern rail action while one enjoys a great meal in the concourse and all its glory.
Saturday, October 6 Saturday is traditionally the host museum’s day, and so we headed over to the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum’s site and had a most enjoyable day. This museum was started with the acquisition of a four-wheel trolley in 1949, and a section of
abandoned Washington Interurban right of way was acquired in 1953. The museum laid track, got more exhibits ready, and opened to the public in 1963. Today, the museum boasts the only broad gauge trolley operation (5 foot 2 ½ inch) and has over 46 trolleys plus other standard gauge rolling stock (including the oldest operational diesel electric locomotive, Armco Steel’s B-73 built in 1930 as a Westinghouse / Baldwin joint venture.) (photo above) Streetcar operations are steady today over the 2 mile line, which traverses the museum grounds in the middle. To the north, the line travels through lovely forest and makes a very pretty site at the north loop (cover photo of PCC). The line then returns past the Washington County fairgrounds and heads out paralleling the freight rail line (still active today) to the Trolley Display Building (opened in 2005) and a loop at the south. The building houses 30 trolleys of the collection, including some fully restored and some awaiting their turn, and nicely houses the bulk of the collection. The remainder is housed in the Car Barn and the Visitor Center Buildings, so all the collection is under cover.
A unique and well thought out Party Car is operated and very popular. This beautifully restored PCC car includes not only the party conveyance itself, but it arrives for the party with the birthday child’s name in the car’s signboard. (photo below, party for Travis)
Our time at the Trolley Museum was well spent and most enjoyable. We finished off with the conference group photo at the loop, with three different cars as or backdrop. Then, after more looking, around we headed back to the hotel and a most enjoyable wind up banquet.
Sunday, October 7 After attending ARM’s General Meeting and a short board meeting, it was time to head home. Thanks to Ellen Fishburn for the ride to the airport, and then Air Canada for an on-time return trip again via Toronto.
ARM Conferences are a wonderful way to learn more about railway preservation, and to see some other fine examples and facilities throughout North America. In 2009 it will be WCRA’s turn again, as we will host the annual conference at our facility in Squamish.
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