York Railways car 162 is an exact sister car to car 163, which was restored and is operating at the Rockhill Trolley Museum.
York Railways #162 Car No. 162Stored, pending future restoration as a cottage exhibit | Previous Owner: York Railways Previous Location: York, PA | Car Type: City & Suburban Car Car Style: rare curved-side | Builder: Brill Year Built: 1924 |
York Railways #162 poses outside carbarn 2 with sister car York Railways #163
Built in 1924 by the J.G. Brill car Co. in Philadelphia, 162 is a rare curved-side car.
Brill built only five curved-side cars because doing so infringed on a patent owned by the Cincinnati Car Co. Brill ceased production after Cincinnati sued. York 162 is the only other preserved trolley from the York Railways system besides the museum’s 163.
York Railways stopped all streetcar operations on February 4, 1939, and car 162 was sold to be used as a summer home along with 163.
York #162 as a summer home near Conewego Creek
The bodies of both cars survived along the Conewago creek north of York until 1972, when Hurricane Agnes completely flooded them.
Wendell Dillinger, owner of the Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad, acquired and hoped to restore car 162, but this never happened.
York #162 while in the collection of Wendell Dillinger
The Rockhill Trolley Museum was able to acquire the car following his death. As an exhibit for our museum visitors, we plan to refurbish York 162 as a cottage so visitors will be able to see and learn what often became of old trolley cars after their trolley days were over. Details can be found at rockhilltrolley.org/contribute/donate-funds.