THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY FLECK, BENNINGHOFF, CALTAGIRONE, D. COSTA, DENLINGER, GABLER, GEIST, GEORGE, GILLEN, HARHART, HARRIS, HESS, KNOWLES, KULA, MAJOR, MILLARD, MURT, PICKETT, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, STERN, SWANGER AND VULAKOVICH, FEBRUARY 10, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 10, 2011  

AN ACT

Designating the Johnstown Traction Company's Car Number 355 as

the official State trolley of the Commonwealth.

The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1)  At its peak in 1918, trolley transportation was the

fifth largest industry in the United States. Although its era

may appear to be over, the trolley has come full circle in

many respects. Today trolleys still operate in several major

cities in America. Heritage trolley lines, using trolleys

patterned like older cars, have been built and now operate in

some cities. In addition, several cities, which had trolleys

but abandoned their systems years ago, are now building new

systems.

(2)  Johnstown Traction Company's Car Number 355 was

built by St. Louis Car Company in 1925 as part of an order

for five single-ended cars for the Johnstown Traction

Company. Following several years of service, Johnstown

Traction Company found a greater need for double-ended cars.

Accordingly, Car 355 of the 1925 order was modified in the

company shops for double-ended operation.

(3)  Car 355 was the latest trolley to enter the Rockhill

Trolley Museum in Rockhill Furnace, Huntingdon County,

Pennsylvania. This trolley operated in Johnstown until 1960

and has undergone a restoration totaling more than $300,000

and represents the typical 1920s era trolley found in many

cities and towns.

(4)  Car 355 is the most completely restored car at the

Rockhill Trolley Museum. Few cars at any museum have ever

been rebuilt to the extent of Car 355. Restoration of Car 355

dramatically changed with the receipt of a Federal

Transportation Enhancement grant for much of the remaining

restoration work in 2000. The project was awarded to Lyons

Industries in Ebensburg, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

(5)  Car 355 helps fulfill the Rockhill Trolley Museum's

educational mission through the remarkable story it tells to

visitors. The car represents the apex, decline and rebirth of

trolley cars in Pennsylvania.

(6)  Car 355 was one of a handful of older cars still

available for service on the last day of streetcar service in

Johnstown on June 11, 1960. Today it is one of only two cars

that remain of those that operated in Johnstown on the last

day of service.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Official State trolley.

The Johnstown Traction Company's Car Number 355 is hereby

selected, designated and adopted as the official State trolley

of the Commonwealth.

Section 2.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect immediately.