Oct 28, 2018 2 min read

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Natalie Reid Miller/Observer-Reporter

The new access road starts at North Main Street and will lead to the museum’s East Campus. Access was made possible by museum neighbors Eaton Crouse-Hinds, which donated 2.75 acres to the museum.

Natalie Reid Miller/Observer-Reporter

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An artist’s rendering of the future East Campus Complex at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum

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It wasn’t a trolley, but a 1957 GMC transit bus that delivered guests to the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum’s newest amenity Tuesday.

“There’s a lot of work underneath us,” said museum Executive Director Scott Becker over the motorcoach’s PA system.

The bus and its occupants were sitting on almost 400 tri-axle dump truck loads of dirt that were brought in to fill the abandoned strip mine donated by neighbors Eaton Crouse-Hinds. Almost three acres were given to develop an access road that will eventually lead to the museum’s new East Campus, which will include a new welcome and education center.

The access road is the latest development in the museum’s comprehensive plan to expand and increase programs and events.

Those involved with the project and elected officials attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony and heard about plans from Becker and Larry Lovejoy, director of engineering.

Natalie Reid Miller/Observer-Reporter

“I lived and breathed this project for three years,” said Lovejoy, who added that the project was not an easy one.

The museum formally launched the “On Track for the Future” campaign in June, and has raised more than $12.5 million toward a $16 million goal. About $2.5 million is a commitment from the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), and will be used to open the Welcome and Education Center and to construct Trolley Street, a brick two-track street.

A second-phase goal of $3 million will be used for further enhancements.

The campaign will fund interactive displays as well as a shift of the main entrance from 1 Museum Road, across from the Washington County Fairgrounds, to the new access road.

Becker has said the museum, which has about 21 acres to work with, has outgrown its current facilities.

The museum draws more than 31,000 visitors a year who can view a 50-car collection and take a ride on one of 20 operational cars on four miles of track. According to the museum, a study done by AECOM estimated the museum’s expansion would increase attendance, and by-extension tourism, to 53,000 annual visitors.

Construction on the welcome center is expected to begin in 2019 and take about a year to complete.

Natalie Reid Miller/Observer-Reporter