Very nice footage! When I think of the quintessential small town USA trolley line, JTC. is at the forefront.
Incidentally, while JTC 350 is preserved at the PA Trolley Museum it can't operate because of a gauge difference (JTC had standard gauge- Pittsburgh was 6" wider).
Your best bet is at the Rockhill Trolley Museum (by East Broad Top Railroad in Orbisonia, PA). They have 350's sister- 355 (which was recently restored) and double truck Birney car 311 (which is also in this movie).
The Johnstown PCC's were unusually long. The basic PCC design allowed for variations - muti-unit (Cleveland, Boston), three sets of doors with two man crews (Chicago), underground current collection (Washington DC), foot petals bs hand controls
In one shot , the back end of the turning PCC has so much overhang in back it intrudes into the the space of the tracks in the opposite direction.
General Motors encouraged many cities to get rid of their trolley systems so they had a steady stream of bus orders. the trolleys were rarely replaced and kept running with spare parts for years. the tracks came up almost immediately after decommission with the West penn Railways so they couldn't change their minds!
Wow. I didn't realize the trackless trollies ran until 1967. They were fascinating critters. I wonder who else used them. Note to jjason23296 -- Johnstown has fallen on hard times, but it is not a slum by a long shot.
I alway wondered what Car 350 looking like when it is running. PTM is hoping someday to restore 350 to operating condition. It is to bad that none of the Johnstown PCC's were preserved. I would have enjoyed them.
I used to ride these cars when I grew up in Johnstown in the 50s. It was a fun way to get around, esp. for a kid. It was special if I got to ride in the "streamlined" PCC cars. Usually just the old Brills went my way. But, I got to watch the motorman turn it around - even "help" him!
Bye-bye heyday of Johnstown & trolleys. I had to leave because of layoffs. Today no jobs and light rail is just a gov't boondoggle.
This video reflects the period at the end of the streetcar operation. It has nothing to do with today, so any comment about whether or not the streetcar system should or should not be rebuilt is meaningless.
For a time the Traction Company introduced "trackless troliies," which were rubber-tired electric buses that drew power from the trolley power line, but did not use the tracks. I don't recall those lasting terribly long.
So what happened after 1960? I suppose streetcar system was closed... But what was the reason? It is a pity that so many US cities deleted streetcars! I hope more streetcar and LRT will return. I like PCC. I live in Czech Republic in Central Europe. Our tram systems survived and we are still using your PCC conception.
It is very bad idea to destroy tram system in the city. Trams are space effective, environmentally friendly. They usually encourage people to use public transport. I wish every city to have good tram system. Trams create cities much more human and nice...
@krizvasa I think by then parts were getting scarce for the decades-old cars, but from what I have read, the official reason given was that Johnstown was about to introduce one-way traffic patterns to downtown.
Most of the routes were tracks embedded in the street for which bus service could easily replace the trolleys. Johnstown does have some unusually wide streets, though, which is a carryover from the days of the trolleys.
Very nice footage! When I think of the quintessential small town USA trolley line, JTC. is at the forefront.
Incidentally, while JTC 350 is preserved at the PA Trolley Museum it can't operate because of a gauge difference (JTC had standard gauge- Pittsburgh was 6" wider).
Your best bet is at the Rockhill Trolley Museum (by East Broad Top Railroad in Orbisonia, PA). They have 350's sister- 355 (which was recently restored) and double truck Birney car 311 (which is also in this movie).
trolleyjolly 4 months ago
The Johnstown PCC's were unusually long. The basic PCC design allowed for variations - muti-unit (Cleveland, Boston), three sets of doors with two man crews (Chicago), underground current collection (Washington DC), foot petals bs hand controls
In one shot , the back end of the turning PCC has so much overhang in back it intrudes into the the space of the tracks in the opposite direction.
ArtStone 7 months ago
General Motors encouraged many cities to get rid of their trolley systems so they had a steady stream of bus orders. the trolleys were rarely replaced and kept running with spare parts for years. the tracks came up almost immediately after decommission with the West penn Railways so they couldn't change their minds!
theqman1956 7 months ago
Comment removed
jjason23296 11 months ago
@jjason23296
the section 8 houses are slum, the rest of the city isnt bad
smokeythebear13 8 months ago
Excellent video, but now I feel like having a Pepsi...
jlhilden 1 year ago
Wow. I didn't realize the trackless trollies ran until 1967. They were fascinating critters. I wonder who else used them. Note to jjason23296 -- Johnstown has fallen on hard times, but it is not a slum by a long shot.
Glentrasna 1 year ago
I alway wondered what Car 350 looking like when it is running. PTM is hoping someday to restore 350 to operating condition. It is to bad that none of the Johnstown PCC's were preserved. I would have enjoyed them.
piratef2004 1 year ago
I used to ride these cars when I grew up in Johnstown in the 50s. It was a fun way to get around, esp. for a kid. It was special if I got to ride in the "streamlined" PCC cars. Usually just the old Brills went my way. But, I got to watch the motorman turn it around - even "help" him!
Bye-bye heyday of Johnstown & trolleys. I had to leave because of layoffs. Today no jobs and light rail is just a gov't boondoggle.
Thanks for posting. Fun to watch.
KutWrite 1 year ago
This video reflects the period at the end of the streetcar operation. It has nothing to do with today, so any comment about whether or not the streetcar system should or should not be rebuilt is meaningless.
NobHillBorn 1 year ago
Wait johnstown pa! Never saw these b4
horserder2 2 years ago
For a time the Traction Company introduced "trackless troliies," which were rubber-tired electric buses that drew power from the trolley power line, but did not use the tracks. I don't recall those lasting terribly long.
Glentrasna 2 years ago
@Glentrasna The trackless trolleys ran from @1951 to 11 November 1967. Then, they ceased operations.
catfan 1 year ago
So what happened after 1960? I suppose streetcar system was closed... But what was the reason? It is a pity that so many US cities deleted streetcars! I hope more streetcar and LRT will return. I like PCC. I live in Czech Republic in Central Europe. Our tram systems survived and we are still using your PCC conception.
krizvasa 2 years ago
Comment removed
jjason23296 2 years ago 2
It is very bad idea to destroy tram system in the city. Trams are space effective, environmentally friendly. They usually encourage people to use public transport. I wish every city to have good tram system. Trams create cities much more human and nice...
krizvasa 2 years ago
Comment removed
jjason23296 2 years ago
@krizvasa I think by then parts were getting scarce for the decades-old cars, but from what I have read, the official reason given was that Johnstown was about to introduce one-way traffic patterns to downtown.
Most of the routes were tracks embedded in the street for which bus service could easily replace the trolleys. Johnstown does have some unusually wide streets, though, which is a carryover from the days of the trolleys.
pantsanat 1 year ago
I have ridden the Morrellville trolly, great footage!
MarBro1889 2 years ago
Thanks for uploading Richard's film. Love seeing the colour footage.
FlyerE901 2 years ago
JTC car 350, which is featured in the first part of this video has been preserved at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington Pa.
Cordicron 2 years ago 2
Excellent coverage..thanks for sharing.Canada.
dickinsonstarkey 2 years ago