CERA NEWS a Publication of the Connecticut Trolley Museum Incorporated 1940

CERA NEWS A Publication of the Connecticut Trolley Museum Incorporated 1940

February, 2017 Volume 75, Issue 1

Winter is upon us, but we do not hibernate at the Trolley Muse- The Connecticut um. There is still a lot going on as we prepare for our best sea- Electric Railway Association, Inc. son ever in 2017! Officers: Ted Coppola, Chairman Upcoming Events James Miller, Vice-Chairman Galen Semprebon, President/CEO  April 1st- Opening Day Celebration Larry Bryan, Vice-President  April 8th & 9th Tim Lesniak, Secretary Stephen Taylor, Treasurer 14th & 15th- Easter Fun Days  May 20th- Fire Truck Show Board of Directors John Arel Larry Bryan June 1st- Homeschool Day  Robert Brogle Ted Coppola Sara Garthwait Tim Lesniak Steve Mitchell James Miller Bryan O’Leary Edward Prajzner Opening Day April 1 Galen Semprebon Stephen Taylor

We will be open 7 days a week beginning June 18th! Business Manager Gina Maria Alimberti

Our thanks to the Beck family and Richard Newsletter Editor Steve Mitchell Plank for the donation of a portrait of Richard’s Grandfather Clemens Beck, who was a Motor- Connecticut Trolley Museum man for the Hartford & Springfield Street Rail- PO Box 360 way from 1905 to 1926. A resident of Ware- East Windsor, CT 06088 house Point, Mr. Beck operated cars on the Tel. (860) 627-6540 H&S’s Warehouse Point to Rockville branch, FAX. (860) 627-6510 the Right of Way on which the Museum now E-MAIL: [email protected] operates. Included with the donation of Mr. The Connecticut Electric Railway Association, Inc. Beck’s portrait was a framed map Published (CERA) is an educational, tax-exempt organization 1905 titled “Connecticut Valley Electric Transit within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to CERA are Routes: Hartford, Connecticut to Greenfield, deductible to the fullest extent provided by tax Massachusetts.” These wonderful additions to laws. our collection will be on display in the foyer of Incorporated in 1940, CERA is the owner and operator of the Connecticut Trolley Museum. Leadership of the organization is a twelve-member board of directors. Meetings are on the 3rd Tues- day of every month at 6:30 pm in the library. Survey Says: We at CT Trolley Museum work hard every day to provide an outstanding visitor experi- Inside this issue ence. But we rely on the honest opinions of members like you to tell us how we can Where in the World? ...... 2 improve. We hope you will assist our best intentions by completing the survey that was Another Eagle Soars ...... 2 recently emailed to our members. Contact Gina for more information at Museum Planning ...... 2 Maintenance of Way...... 3 [email protected]! Signal Department ...... 4 Car 3001...... 4 From the Shop ...... 5 The POV…………………………………….6 Volunteers at Work ...... 7

1 From the Editor— Where In The World?? I was lucky enough to be in New Orleans for New Year’s Day, and to ride the historic streetcars and modern replica cars around the City. It is hard to describe how it feels to watch the 900 series cars being operated the same way they have been for 90 years—and to see how that compares to our own 836, which is operationally identical.

This issue goes to press with the museum closed for the winter, but it is packed with the many activities of the volunteer mem- Can You Identify This Trolley Car? (answer on page 7) bers working on cars, track, dis- plays, signals, the visitor’s center, and on and on. So much happens behind-the-scenes! Our tactical Eagle Scout Sully Mrowka Makes and strategic plans for improving the visitor’s experience are being Repairs on Car 1201 worked on by many, and we in- Sully Mrowka, a junior motorman at the Con- vite you to be a part of the muse- necticut Trolley Museum recently completed um as we move forward! Don’t his Eagle Scout project here at the museum. Sully took on a project involving replacing the miss out on your chance to be a ceiling panels inside Cleveland Railways car part of carrying our past into the 1201, a 1915 center entrance car on display future! inside the visitor center. Also part of Sully’s project was putting together an informational display on the history of the car for placement “All Aboard!...” inside the car. Other supporting work, including installation of the original light fixtures inside the car, is being completed this winter Steve Mitchell, Editor by the shop. We will have a nicely improved display car that our visitors can enter, thanks to Sully. Congratulation on obtaining your Eagle Scout rank, and on graduating from the Junior Motorman program. Planning For the Future, TODAY From Ted Coppola, Museum Chairman

The Board of Directors plans for the Museum’s future in two different, but related ways. Tactical Planning (short term) is what most members see, and it is used to generate the annual budget. Strategic (long term) Planning is more of a wish list - things that we would like to accomplish in the future. However, if the two plans are not aligned, then the foundation needed to accomplish your dreams is never built.

The Board of Directors is examining these two activities with a sense of urgency. We have identified several tasks that need to be accomplished quickly so that a road map to the future can be achieved. Several new committees have been established and initially staffed by directors. However, we look to the general membership for input and to strengthen these committee tasks. We will attempt to keep these committees small and flexible, and we are establishing timelines to adhere to. These include: Publishing, Communications Department - Responsible for periodic publications, news letters, and bulletins, (printed and electronic). Computer Department - Determining CTM’s computer and network requirements, supporting the gift shop, email and domain registration. Collections Committee - Responsible for the maintenance and disposition of our collection (operational, static, storage, disposal). Storage Committee - Determining the museum’s short and long term physical storage requirements and soliciting quotations for facilities. Exhibit Department - Responsible for designing and deploying exhibits in the Visitor Center. Fund Raising Committee – Investigating sources of funding, including State, Local and Federal programs, institutions, and activities. Bylaws Committee - Reviewing the current bylaws and making recommendations for changes or improvements. Membership Department - Responsible for cataloging and organizing our membership and volunteer ranks.

We hope to report to you on the activities of these committees in upcoming newsletters and on line. If you have any interest in any of these activities, please contact Gina in the business office, and we will get you connected with the appropriate committee chairs.

2 Winterfest 2016 Maintenance of Way Department News

By Dave Coppola Track Superintendent

In the autumn of 2016, forty brand-new railroad ties arrived on the property for installation in Kelly Yard. Five of the ties were inserted before events and cold weather made it impossible to continue. Preparation and installation of the re- maining ties will continue in the spring of 2017, once the ground has thawed.

In addition, switch timbers and “head blocks” will be replaced on several switches within the yard limits. Head blocks are special long ties that support and secure the switch stand, the lever mechanism that operates the switch. Many of the head blocks have deterio- rated so badly that it is necessary to use a pry bar to move the rail points in order to "throw" the switch. All six switch timbers delivered in late 2015 will be used in this effort.

Another project that has been ongoing is upgrading of the Northern Barn tracks. In 2015, Northern Barn Track 2 was completely relaid and upgraded with heavier rail in anticipation of the barn seeing regular use. The track or "leads" up to the barn received some tie work but still require additional work to re- grade the track to be level with the barn. This will create a smooth transition onto the shop lead. In the future, Northern Barn Track 1 will receive the same attention as Track 2, making both tracks usea- ble on a regular basis.

3 Car 3001 Restoration Begins

The Trolley Museum’s car shop has been very busy over the last few months, and is involved in some exciting new projects. As featured in the March, 2016 newsletter, Car 1326, a 1910 Connecticut Company wood trolley car was introduced back into service in Septem- ber, 2016. This allowed the shop volunteers to turn their attention to some other restoration projects in addition to the regular tasks of keeping the fleet operating for the Winter- fest season. A new restoration project has begun on Connecticut Company Car 3001. Car 3001 and her two sisters, 3000 and 3002, were built in 1922 in Springfield, Massachusetts at the Wason Manufacturing plant as double ended, double truck Birney safety cars, weighing just under 30,000 pounds. These lightweight cars used 25 hp. motors and were designed for very economical single-man operation. The cars were built for the Torrington Division of the Connecticut Company, an 11.3 mile long line that ran from the south end of Torrington to West Winsted along the side of the From Ray Nobile— road. This single track line was unusual in that it had no connection with any other Con- necticut Company or railroad tracks, and so its three identical cars ran in isolation from the In an effort to resolve some of our rest of the system. After only seven years serving Torrington, Winsted and Highland Lake, signal problems, we are developing a service was discontinued on January 5, 1929. "rail bonding program". With the closure of the Torrington Division, all three cars were moved to New Haven, where The most important part of good the original door arrangement of one single bi-fold door at each end (to the right of the signal maintenance is known as electrical redundancy. Simply stated, it is the ability to continue an electrical path from one end of a circuit to another. One way this is accomplished is by cad weld bonding the rail joints—the places where wires are attached to the rails.

The program will be underway short- ly. We have the material, tools, and equipment we need. However, we are missing one vital element - your help. This project requires a minimal amount of heavy lifting but a lot of desireHow to get our it systems Works... back up and running smoothly.

For all who would like to join us in this most important project, please contact Gina and someone will get back to you soon. Remember, this project helps not only the museum operations but also assures our riding guests a safe and enjoyable experience. operator) was supplemented with an additional bi-fold treadle door to the left of the operator. At that time, the wooden slat seats were replaced with rattan seats. The cars operated on low volume lines and as school trippers until trolley service was abandoned on Septem- ber 25, 1948. Once more, Car 3001 was moved, this time to the Connecticut Trolley Muse- um. In the meantime, Car 3000 found a home at the Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven, and there are unconfirmed reports that the body of 3002 still exists in the New Ha- ven area. Car 3001 operated at the museum for many years, and was running well into the 1980’s before it was removed from service. Car 3001 is significant as a double truck Birney car, and it is a light weight car that will be easy on the Museum’s electric bill. With front windows that open, it will be an excellent car to use in the summer, and it will be a fitting addition to the museum’s representation of

Continued on Page 6 4 The Latest From The Shop

In 2010, I was appointed car shop manager; at the time I thought this would be an interim position. After six months it occurred to me that the Museum’s idea of interim and mine might not be same, so I began to institute changes in the way the shop operated. First I insti- tuted the idea of continuous maintenance, so that cars were kept operable unless a problem was otherwise indicated. Then I moved to- ward continuous restoration and overhaul, using a team approach. This admittedly seemed delusional at the time, since for all practical purposes I was the entire shop. However, eventually more volunteers joined and the ideas began to operate more productively.

Today, projects are proposed, taking into consideration what will have the best short and long term benefit for the Museum. These projects are put before the board of directors for approval. Once approved, the shop manager prioritizes and comes up with an approach for handling the project, along with an allocation of resources. If the project is a large one the shop manager may choose a project lead- er to control it and see it through.

Volunteers will find themselves working on many different projects as the need arises from week to week. Maintenance is ongoing, but incidental repairs must be handled along with the longer term major projects. Two major projects are general- ly underway at the same time. For the past few years these have been Car 1326 (1910 Osgood Bradley) and Car 169 (1894 St. Louis car Company). As this time, Car 1326 has just completed its test runs for return to operation, so for the next several months the shop will focus on Car 169. Work is continuing on the body, with significant reconstruction of the end platforms, installation of a new floor throughout the car, and restoration of the side panels and interior woodwork. Kelly is heading up this project with a lot of help from Bruce. As these projects wind down, it will be a Galen Semprebon and John Pelletier work on a motor good time to clean out and better organize the shop so that we can begin our next from 1326 major project, the restoration of Car 3001. (See article, Left). This will be a full restoration, including metal body work. Planning is already underway for equipment acquisition and personnel training.

While 3001 and 169 are being worked on as the shop’s major restoration projects, other projects will continue, including:  Restoration of the interior woodwork of the Northern, the 1909 private car inside the visitor center from the Northern Ohio Traction and Light Company. The beautiful mahogany woodwork is being carefully stripped and re-varnished to bring out its original luster and opulence.

 Repairing the damaged wiring on Centerville Albia & Southern Ry. Co. (Iowa) Car 101. This is a freight express car that was one of the cars vandalized a few years ago. Vandals cut out valuable wiring and an electrical control panel inside the car that allowed the car to run on either 600 or 1200 volts. Luckily, our friends at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum were in the process of scrapping the sister car to our 101 and gave us the panel from their car along with some other parts. Much appreciation goes to the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum for their help! Now we are in the process of tracing out the wiring and reverse engineering to figure out where to connect the wires.

 Iowa Southern Utilities #1 is a line car, which is used to repair and maintain the overhead wiring on the trolley line. Presently, we have only one line car and a bucket truck. Putting #1 into service will provide a valuable second line car when needed for large projects, and take some of the strain off our present Car S193.

As you can see, we have a lot happening on shop projects. Although it is largely invisible to our visitors, the productivity and quality of the car shop’s maintenance, repair and restoration activities is vital to the Museum’s mission of displaying and operating trolley cars. The volunteers in the car shop play a crucial, behind-the-scenes role in the Museum’s long term success. All of us in the car shop look forward to our upcoming season, and hope you will stop by to see our work – and consider joining us in keeping the fleet running!

If you are interested in helping out in the shop, and would like to get involved either on a regular basis, or occasionally when we have a specific large project for the day, please send your contact information to the Museum’s office, and Gina will get the information to the shop.

As one of our volunteers pointed out, “It’s like watching a mountain climbing movie, where all you see is the last 500 yards to the summit; you never see the 5 months of the Sherpa’s hauling tons of stuff up from the base camp.” - John Pelletier, Lead Sherpa.

5 Wason Car 3001 (continued) The Wason Car Company Connecticut Company cars. Charles and Thomas Wason moved to Spring- Car 3001 will present some challenges to the restoration shop. It is the first car in field, Massachusetts in 1845, and opened recent memory that re- shop on Cyprus Street dressing timbers for quires fairly significant railroad bridges. Seeing the rapid growth of steel work. However, this the railroads gave the brothers the idea to is fairly straightforward, expand their business to the repair of freight and it will provide useful cars. They began building new rail cars, although their shop was so small that the cars experience for future more did not entirely fit inside. Seeing future possi- complicated steel work bilities led them to buy out the machinery and projects. Besides the steel shops of a recently defunct factory to build work, the body will need freight and passenger cars and posh private much (if not all) of the roof cars. Business increased rapidly and by 1867 wood replaced, restoration the company had about 300 employees. By of the interior woodwork, and other general restoration work to the body. Fortu- the time of Thomas Wason’s death in 1870, nately, the trucks and running gear are in good condition, so it should need minimal the Wason Manufacturing Company had be- mechanical work. come Springfield’s largest industry, supplying Above: Car 3001 before retirement in the 1980’s (William E. Wood photo) coaches to the trans-continental railroad and all over the world.

Following Thomas’ death, Wason built a huge modern plant north of Springfield. It had a 45 foot wide, 1000 foot long transfer table with a "Yes - I am a POV now" 12 horsepower steam engine. Are you a Member, a Volunteer, or better yet, a Volunteer/Member? I decided that it was time to promote myself from Board Chairman & Officer to a Volun- Around 1900, Wason concentrated on manu- teer/Member. Ted has done a great job of taking over the Chairmanship with facturing streetcars, for which the company a very strategic view as to where the Museum should go. built all the parts except the motors. The Now that I am a POV, I really haven't slowed down, but I’ve changed where I company became a subsidiary of J. G. Brill in concentrate my efforts. I still spend much time at home on the accounting for 1906. With the advent of the automobile the the Museum, but am trying to work on orphan projects, those that most aren't market for streetcars declined and Wason interested in. tried manufacturing other transportation vehicles, including busses, automobile bodies, All of us have our favorite project(s) and I know you have something that will airplane parts, motorboats, and even all-steel really interest you at the CT Trolley Museum. Let Gina know what it is. You diners. However, in 1932 Brill closed Wason’s may not want to manage the project but would be very interested in helping doors for good. for one day or multiple days. The Museum needs you!!! Become a Volunteer/Member An interesting side note is that in 1856 Wason - Fred Stroiney, a Plain Old Volunteer hired a draftsman named Milton Bradley to do the drawings for a luxurious private railroad car constructed for a Prince of Egypt. His work on the lithography for that project stimulated him to found his own lithographic shop in Springfield. Business, however, was slow, so he filled his time by inventing a game called The Checkered Game of Life. By 1864 his success with the game allowed him to found Milton Bradley & Company. Among his many accomplishments, Milton Bradley established Springfield’s first Kindergarten and published the first American book on the subject in 1869. Milton Bradley’s company re -released his original game as The Game of Life in 1960. The Wason Car Company, Springfield Massachusetts C. 1875

6 Where In The World?? Did You Know? The PCC car on Page 2 is pretending to Car 3001 is a double truck “Birney Safety Car”. It is be an Illinois Terminal car, like our own one of several thousand similar single truck and 451 (Right), but it is actually a former double truck cars that were produced by many Dallas Streetcar now working in revenue streetcar manufacturers between 1915 and 1930. service in San Francisco. San Francisco It was developed by Charles Oliver Birney in the 1910’s as an answer to several financial woes that MUNI operates a fleet of PCC’s, each of were facing streetcar companies at that time. which is dressed in the livery of other cities’ original streetcars. These popular Prior to World War I, streetcars were designed for cars are a tourist attraction as well as an two-person operation. There would be a motor- important part of San Francisco’s trans- man to operate the car and a conductor to take portation network fares, make change, and see to the customers on the car. Because of ever increas- ing demand, the vehicles also grew bigger and bigger, making it difficult for any but the largest

Goings On... cities to run them economi- cally. Following Left: Members move equipment in the World War I the visitor’s center getting ready for Win- trolley compa- terfest decorating. Yes, we actually nies sought ways jack up and move cars by hand! to operate the cars with only a single motorman/ conductor due to significant in- creases in work- force wage.

Right: After months of working The Birney was a step back to a smaller, lighter on the donated 1987 Ford snow vehicle, with a single truck and a single door, which plow, Pat McCann was able to allowed the motorman to collect fares as well as get it working in time to clear the operate the car. Several “safety” features, were snow from the Feb. 9 storm. Pat introduced, including an “open door” lock-out and still has work to do on “The a “deadman” that would not allow operation if an Beast” but after countless days of unsafe condition existed. With single-person oper- struggling with it, he’s glad we’re ation and light weight, the car provided much need- finally able to put it to work. ed economical operation. By the 1920’s, a larger Thank you Pat! double truck version, like our 3001 was also offered.

Birneys were licensed to several manufacturers, and represent the first standardized design to be adopted by the streetcar systems. The Birney was an economic success for the streetcar companies, but the small cars suffered from poor ride quality, due to the single truck design. The last Birneys were built in 1930, and few single truck versions were still in service by World War II. However, many of the Birney’s safety features became stand- ard equipment on transit vehicles and continue to be used throughout the industry today.

Above: The “Crew” at the Amherst Railway Society Annual Big E Train Show.

7 New Birneys Welcome… Several “Heritage” streetcar lines are now in operation To our newest Business Partners: throughout the United States (the closest being in Lowell, Mass.) using new replica cars such as those being produced by the Gomaco Trolley Compa- ny, which uses the Birney double-truck pattern. Although physically very similar to their older cousins, their mechanical systems are completely modern.

Connecticut Trolley Museum PO Box 360 East Windsor, CT 06088

Phone: 860.627.6540 Fax: 860.627.6510 E-mail: [email protected]