The Rockhill Trolley Museum, a cultural resource of central Pennsylvania since 1960, is located in Huntingdon County, about 90 minutes west of Harrisburg. Among its collections and exhibits is a rare find – the former Harrisburg Railways Company trolley car #710.
Built in Philadelphia by J.G. Brill Company in 1913, it served Harrisburg until the end of trolley car service on July 15, 1939. The car was then stripped of its wheel assemblies, known as trucks, and nearly all of its other running gear and sold to become a summer home near Mount Holly Springs. It remained there until 1986 when it was acquired by the museum and, after removal of the structure built around it, moved to the museum shortly before it would have been lost forever.
Since its acquisition, the museum has ensured the car is kept protected from the elements and has actively searched for the components necessary to restore the car, an effort which continues today.
The car will require a tremendous amount of effort to return to running condition again but is in the museum’s long range plans. An individual or corporate entity interested in sponsoring the restoration of this historic car would help accelerate the restoration process. Car #710 is the only former Harrisburg trolley car preserved anywhere in Pennsylvania.
The trolley museum is also home to two other unique and historic central Pennsylvania trolleys; former York Railways car #163 and former Valley Railways car #12. York #163 was built in 1924 and after streetcar service ended in York in 1939, spent 33 years as a summer cottage before the museum restored the car over a 17 year period. Beautifully restored, the car has regularly carried visitors since 1989.
Also in the museum collection is former Valley Railways car #12, which served in the Carlisle area. This car was also used as a home after 1923 and was acquired in 1985. Built in 1895, it is the oldest car in the museum collection and, like the Harrisburg car, components are actively being collected for its eventual restoration to running condition.
For rail enthusiasts or the genuinely interested, the trolley museum is a good day trip from Harrisburg.
Matthew W. Nawn is First Vice President of the Rockhill Trolley Museum, 430 Meadow St., Rockhill Furnace, Pa. For more information on the museum, visit www.rockhilltrolley.org.
