Your donations keep us moving!
Your generosity in the form of monetary contributions to the following projects is always greatly appreciated. As we are a 501(c)3 organization with an annual operating budget under $100,000 and an all-volunteer organization without paid staff, all contributions go directly to the work of the museum.
Donations of funds are accepted through our partners, PayPal or Fareharbor.
General Fund – The General Fund is the most important of our financial accounts. It pays the routine expenses necessary to keep the museum in operation and supports various programs around the museum site. In particular, a healthy general fund will allow additional improvements to the museum’s equipment, grounds and buildings as we move into the future.
DONATE TO THE LEWISTOWN 23 FUND
Lewistown & Reedsville car 23 – Car 23 was built by the J.G. Brill Company in 1914 and was last operated in 1933. Having originally operated in revenue service less than 40 miles from the museum, car 23 will be the most local car in the collection.
Car 23 will need a complete restoration to make it an operating trolley car. This is a daunting, but not impossible task. It will be the second summer home returned to an operating trolley car at the museum.
York Railways car 162 – York Railways 162 served as a summer cottage after it ceased being an operating trolley car in 1939. Many trolleys met this fate of becoming summer cottages or homes. York car 162 will be preserved as summer cottage.
DONATE TO THE OPEN CAR 1875 FUND
Open Car 1875 – Among the most popular trolleys in the collection, this car is undergoing a thorough mechanical overhaul of the trucks (wheels and axles) and motors to insure that it can operate safely for a long time into the future. The project is underway; the trucks have been removed from underneath the car and disassembled; machine work on the trucks is underway.
Unfortunately, the museum suffered a major setback when the electric motors were in a disastrous fire at Huntingdon Electric Motor Service in May, 2020 after they were sent there for servicing and maintenance. Their replacement will significantly raise the cost of this project, a cost that our small insurance recovery on the motors will not begin to cover.
All donations are greatly appreciated as we overcome this potentially huge setback in the efforts to return this car to service.
Chicago Aurora & Elgin 315 – Our restoration shop workers are making progress on returning our interurban from Chicago back to its original 1909 condition as closely as possible. The new ceiling panels with paint and gold leaf decorations have been installed in the ceiling of the car. Projects for the future include seat frame restoration and upholstery. Your continuing support for this project is appreciated.
DONATE TO THE VALLEY RWYS 12 FUND
Valley Railways Car 12 – As other projects in the shop reach their conclusion, the future restoration of Valley 12 gets closer to reality. A healthy project fund is important so work can commence in earnest once the car is moved into the shop.