1Designating the Johnstown Traction Company's Car Number 355 as
2the official State trolley of the Commonwealth.

3The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

4(1) At its peak in 1918, trolley transportation was the
5fifth largest industry in the United States. Although its era
6may appear to be over, the trolley has come full circle in
7many respects. Today trolleys still operate in several major
8cities in America. Heritage trolley lines, using trolleys
9patterned like older cars, have been built and now operate in
10some cities. In addition, several cities, which had trolleys
11but abandoned their systems years ago, are now building new
12systems.

13(2) Johnstown Traction Company's Car Number 355 was
14built by St. Louis Car Company in 1925 as part of an order
15for five single-ended cars for the Johnstown Traction
16Company. Following several years of service, Johnstown
17Traction Company found a greater need for double-ended cars.

1Accordingly, Car 355 of the 1925 order was modified in the
2company shops for double-ended operation.

3(3) Car 355 was the latest trolley to enter the Rockhill
4Trolley Museum in Rockhill Furnace, Huntingdon County,
5Pennsylvania. This trolley operated in Johnstown until 1960
6and has undergone a restoration totaling more than $300,000
7and represents the typical 1920s era trolley found in many
8cities and towns.

9(4) Car 355 is the most completely restored car at the
10Rockhill Trolley Museum. Few cars at any museum have ever
11been rebuilt to the extent of Car 355. Restoration of Car 355
12dramatically changed with the receipt of a Federal
13Transportation Enhancement grant for much of the remaining
14restoration work in 2000. The project was awarded to Lyons
15Industries in Ebensburg, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

16(5) Car 355 helps fulfill the Rockhill Trolley Museum's
17educational mission through the remarkable story it tells to
18visitors. The car represents the apex, decline and rebirth of
19trolley cars in Pennsylvania.

20(6) Car 355 was one of a handful of older cars still
21available for service on the last day of streetcar service in
22Johnstown on June 11, 1960. Today it is one of only two cars
23that remain of those that operated in Johnstown on the last
24day of service.

25The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
26hereby enacts as follows:

27Section 1. Official State trolley.

28The Johnstown Traction Company's Car Number 355 is hereby
29selected, designated and adopted as the official State trolley
30of the Commonwealth.

1Section 2. Effective date.

2This act shall take effect immediately.