Back in November, the Rockhill Trolley Museum in Rockhill Furnace, Huntingdon County, acquired the historic electric trolley car body of Lewistown car 23 from the collection of the late Wendell J. Dillinger at the Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad in Middletown.

The museum also acquired York Railways trolley car 162. Last week, both cars made the 80-mile trek to the museum by flatbed truck.

“Both cars add their own significance to the museum collection. Lewistown car 23 is especially unique in that it operated less than 35 miles from the museum,” explained Joel Salomon, president of the Rockhill Trolley Museum and head of restoration.

“York car 162 is a sister car to our restored York car 163, which has been operating at the museum for over 35 years,” Salomon added.

Photo courtesy of ROCKHILL FURNACE TROLLEY MUSEUM
Once it arrived in Rockhill Furnace, a crane is used to hoist Lewistown car 23 from a flatbed truck onto a base of wheels.

Upon their arrival at Rockhill Furnace, Lewistown car 23 was the first to be unloaded. A crane was used to place it on trucks — a base frame with wheels — for the first time since 1933. The York car 162, which still had its wheels intact — was then unloaded onto museum rails.

The Lewistown car will need extensive restoration to enable it to return to operation and carry passengers once again as it did more than 90 years ago.

Car 23 was built by the J.G. Brill Co., of Philadelphia. in 1914 for Jersey Central Traction Co. A year later, it was purchased by the Lewistown and Reedsville Electric Railway (L&R). The L&R operated on about 12 miles of track between Lewistown, Burnham, Yeagertown and Reedsville.

Car 23 ran in Lewistown until 1933 when the last trolleys sounded their bells as all trolley operations were abandoned in favor of bus service. The car then began a second career as a summer home near Lewistown until 2002 when it was acquired by Dillinger, president of the Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad in Middletown, where he had hoped to have the car restored.

Unfortunately, Dillinger passed away before he was able to restore the car, which was made available to the Rockhill Trolley Museum by officials of the Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad. Rockhill Furnace volunteers began making the necessary arrangements to move car 23 and bring it to the museum, which is located less than 35 miles from where the car operated in Lewistown.

Photo courtesy of ROCKHILL FURNACE TROLLEY MUSEUM
Unwrapping the protective covering from Lewistown car 23 at the Rockhill Trolley Museum on Friday.

The museum also acquired York Railways trolley car 162. It already has sister York Railways car 163 restored and operating. The museum plans to restore car 162 to a cottage to show visitors what often became of old trolley cars after their trolley days were over. Visitors can also take a ride aboard the restored York Railways car 163.

“While this sounds like a daunting task, the museum has already accomplished this type of restoration with York Railways car 163, which was also used as a summer home before being restored to an operating trolley,” Salomon explained.

Preparing the cars for transport took place in Middletown, where the cars were stored, on Thursday in the bitter cold and snow squalls which fortunately did not add up to any significant accumulation, Salomon said.

“Car 163 is a testament to show that it is possible to restore an old trolley missing all its mechanical and electrical components and interior fittings back to an operating trolley car, Salomon said.

Lewistown car 23 was raised using hydraulic jacks to ensure the car was high enough for the trailer to be backed underneath the car body. Car 23 has been stored indoors at the Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad since its arrival there around 2002.

Photo courtesy of ROCKHILL FURNACE TROLLEY MUSEUM
Both Lewistown car 23 (left) and York Railways trolley car 162 on track five at the Rockhill Trolley Museum.

Car 23 had been stored on blocks, without trucks but needed to be raised up about a foot. Volunteers also had to add some plywood to cover holes in the floor inside York 162.

The museum hired a contractor to shrink-wrap both cars, so they were protected during the trip to the museum.

“A huge thank you to the volunteers that took vacation days to help load the cars in Middletown and unload the cars at the museum site,” he added. “Thankfully, the unloading weather was much better with temperatures above freezing. It is a huge accomplishment to get both cars to the museum.”

Contributions are still needed to cover the cost of the transportation phase of the project, which carries a price tag of $6,000. Once the transportation costs are met for each car, contributions will be placed in the specific car funds for future restoration or stabilization work.

“The museum is staffed by volunteers with a passion for preserving trolley cars and your participation is encouraged,” Salomon added. “Volunteers are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the museum and its facilities.”

Photo courtesy of ROCKHILL FURNACE TROLLEY MUSEUM
Lewistown car 23 (right) and York Railways trolley car 162 are shown with restored York car 163 at the Rockhill Trolley Museum.

A restoration fund for Lewistown car 23 has been established. To donate, visit rockhilltrolley.org/contribute/donate-funds.