PA Trolley Museum

Santa Trolley
2023-12-17 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-12-16 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-12-10 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-12-09 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-12-03 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-12-02 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-11-26 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-11-25 09:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum’s stockings are hung by the trolleys with care with the knowledge that Santa Claus will soon be there! While aboard a beautifully restored antique streetcar, visitors will get to meet Santa Claus and a few of his friends! Santa will be happy to have visitors take his picture, so make sure you remember to bring your camera. You can also stop by the museum’s large Lionel toy train layout, view the wonderful LEGO layout built by Steel City Lug, Pittsburgh Area’s Adult LEGO User Group. Children can do a holiday craft and everyone can enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and cookies. Tickets include a second festive trolley ride aboard the Yuletide Shuttle. For the first time, we will also have our Trolley Display Building open during Santa Trolley so visitors can enjoy the rest of our collection as well!
We are grateful to our Santa Trolley Diamond Sponsor, Washington Financial Charitable Foundation, for their generous support.
This is a rain or shine event. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time. When you arrive at the museum, check in at the ticket desk. Please note that children ages 2 and under require free tickets and must ride in the lap of an adult. The number of children under 3 cannot exceed the total of adult/senior tickets in your group.
Please note that this year, Santa Trolley will be our first event to utilize our new Welcome and Education Center – the address is: 1 Electric Way, Washington, PA 15301.

Tickets on sale for members starting Monday, October 2nd! On sale for the general public starting Monday, October 9th.
Adults $20, Seniors $19, Children $18, 2 and under require free tickets and must ride in the lap of an adult.

Trolleys and Toy Trains
2023-12-15 10:00 - 16:00, 2023-12-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Pennsylvania Trolley Museum – New Address, 1 Electric Way, Washington, PA, 15301, United States
On Fridays during the month of December, see the toy trains at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum during the annual Trolleys and Toy Trains event! From 10 AM to 4 PM (last ticket sold at 3:15), visitors will be able to ride a festive trolley and view the holiday Lionel toy train layout and a seasonal LEGO display from Steel City LUG. Regular admission rates apply. Admission includes trolley rides and access to train layouts.

Please note that for the first time, this event will be based at our new Welcome and Education Center! The address is: 1 Electric Way, Washington, PA 15301.

Regular admission: Adults $13, Seniors $12, Children $11, 2 and under free. Tickets are available on site and advance tickets are not needed.

Trolleyology: Hoosier Heartland Trolley Co.
2023-12-13 19:00 - 20:30
Join PTM staff, volunteers, and members for our Zoom series, Trolleyology! These programs feature Pennsylvania transit history topics and tales of our collection that you can experience from home. Registration is required but free of charge. Donations are welcome and encouraged.

Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company: Preserving and Reviving Indiana’s Electric Railway Story
12/13/2023 – 7 PM ET – Presented by Cameron Nichols and the Hoosier Heartland Trolley Co.

REGISTER HERE

The Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company is an Indiana nonprofit founded in 2018 to save some of the last remaining railroad cars representing Indiana’s rich electric railway heritage. The organization exists to spark imagination in people across all walks of life regarding the art, science, culture, technology, and economic empowerment of Indiana’s electric railway industry from the 20th century – at one time moving 7 million passengers annually across more than 2,000 miles of railroad to connect cities and rural communities.
The Indiana nonprofit is developing the state’s only electric heritage railway to immerse Hoosiers in authentic transportation experiences as a community asset for education, placemaking, and economic development. Join us and the Hoosier Heartland Trolley team to learn more about Indiana’s electric railways, the current restoration of an Indiana interurban that is now operable after 80 years of slumber, and what the future holds!
More information regarding Hoosier Heartland Trolley Co.’s preservation efforts, news, and development can be found at hoosiertrolley.org.

This program will be recorded and available at a later date on the PTM YouTube channel.

Trolleyology presentations will continue on a regular or semi-regular basis. Interested in presenting? Email Kristen at kfred@patrolley.org! We’re specifically looking for programs related to the Trolley Era in general, Pennsylvania transit history, or stories about our collection. Please join our e-mail list to stay up-to-date with program announcements and other PTM news!
*For the best experience, we recommend downloading Zoom in advance.
NOTE: This is a virtual event

Trolleyology: Philadelphia Subway-Surface Transit 1858-1968
2023-11-14 19:00 - 20:30
Join PTM staff, volunteers, and members for our Zoom series, Trolleyology! These programs feature Pennsylvania transit history topics and tales of our collection that you can experience from home. Registration is required but free of charge. Donations are welcome and encouraged.

Philadelphia Subway-Surface Transit 1858-1968
11/14/2023 – 7 PM ET – Presented by George Gula

REGISTER HERE

Join Pennsylvania Trolley Museum volunteer George Gula for a journey through the history of Philadelphia surface and subway transit from the first horsecars in 1858 up to the start of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in 1968. This program received rave reviews when it was previously shared during the Hoosier Traction Meet – but if you have to miss out, this presentation will be recorded and available on PTM’s YouTube Trolleyology playlist!

This program will be recorded and available at a later date on the PTM YouTube channel.

Trolleyology presentations will continue on a regular or semi-regular basis. Interested in presenting? Email Kristen at kfred@patrolley.org! We’re specifically looking for programs related to the Trolley Era in general, Pennsylvania transit history, or stories about our collection. Please join our e-mail list to stay up-to-date with program announcements and other PTM news!
*For the best experience, we recommend downloading Zoom in advance.
NOTE: This is a virtual event

Scout Workshop: Engineers in the Making! Merit Badge Workshop
2023-11-04 13:00 - 16:00
This merit badge workshop is open to any youth in 1st – 5th grade. We will be meeting all requirements for the following badges:

Webelos Engineering
Girl Scout Brownie Race Car Design Challenge
Girl Scout Junior Balloon Car Design Challenge

Scouts participating in this workshop will study real-life engineers, use the Engineer Design Process, design blueprints, then investigate potential and kinetic energy to design and race air-powered vehicles!
Pre-registration is required: Click here to register.

Scout Workshop: BSA Signs, Signals, and Codes Merit Badge Workshop
2023-11-04 09:00 - 12:00
BSA Signs, Signals, and Codes
Saturday, November 4th
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
This workshop has unfortunately been postponed. Please check back in the future to see additional dates.

Trick or Trolley
2023-10-29 10:00 - 16:00, 2023-10-28 10:00 - 16:00
As summer winds down and fall approaches, it means one thing: fall fun at the Museum! The Museum will host our annual Trick or Trolley event. Visitors are invited to experience the fall season with rides on trolleys that are outfitted with autumn decorations. Visitors can ride to the Trolley Display building where they can tour the large collection of trolleys. Visitors are encouraged to wear their costumes as children trick or treat at local businesses and organizations stationed throughout the Museum. There will be children’s games and complimentary fall themed refreshments.
Admission includes tours of the museum and unlimited rides on the trolleys. This is a rain or shine event. Advanced tickets are encouraged. Visitors are encouraged to arrive 10-15 minutes before their ticket time.
Buy Tickets Here!
Adults $15, Seniors $14, Children $14, 2 and under require free tickets and must ride in the lap of an adult.
In addition to this great event, we will once again offer park and ride service to the Washington County Fairgrounds during the Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Christmas Festival. Visitors can park in the museum’s parking lot and ride to the fairgrounds. This service does not represent or include the Pumpkin Patch activities nor admission to the Museum. Park and Ride service will be $5 per person.

Pumpkin Patch Trolley
2023-10-22 10:00 - 17:00, 2023-10-21 10:00 - 17:00, 2023-10-20 10:00 - 17:00
As summer winds down and fall approaches, it means one thing: fall fun at Museum! We will host our annual Pumpkin Patch Trolley. Visitors are invited to experience the fall season with rides on trolleys that are outfitted with autumn decorations. Visitors can ride to the Trolley Display building where they can tour the large collection of trolleys. Children can select a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch and then take it to the events room where they will be able to decorate it. Each purchase of a child’s ticket includes a pumpkin; those who would like to purchase an additional pumpkin may do so for an additional cost. There will be children’s games and complimentary fall themed refreshments. Add to the fall fun by dressing up in your favorite costume. The last trolley of the day will leave for the pumpkin patch at 3:30PM.
Admission includes tours of the museum and unlimited rides on the trolleys. This is a rain or shine event. Advanced tickets are encouraged. Visitors are encouraged to arrive 10-15 minutes before their ticket time.
Buy Tickets Here!
Adults $15, Seniors $14, Children $14, 2 and under require free tickets and must ride in the lap of an adult.
In addition to this great event, we will once again offer park and ride service to the Washington County Fairgrounds during the Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Christmas Festival. Visitors can park in the museum’s parking lot and ride to the fairgrounds. This service does not represent or include the Pumpkin Patch activities nor admission to the Museum. Park and Ride service will be $5 per person.

Trolleyology: Cemetery Transit: A History of Death Riding the Rails
2023-10-10 19:00 - 20:30
Join PTM staff, volunteers, and members for our Zoom series, Trolleyology! These programs feature Pennsylvania transit history topics and tales of our collection that you can experience from home. Registration is required but free of charge. Donations are welcome and encouraged.

Cemetery Transit: A History of Death Riding the Rails
10/10/2023 – 7 PM ET – Presented by Allison C. Meier

REGISTER HERE

Transportation and the cemetery have been linked for centuries, from 19th-century ferries carrying the dead in New York City to early 20th-century funerary street cars in Mexico City. Every city had to find a way to move its departed citizens to their final stop, such as Pittsburgh’s Citizens Passenger Railway Horsecar, which in 1859 established a route between Fifth Avenue and a cemetery. This online talk led by Allison Meier, the author of Grave (Bloomsbury, 2023) and a cemetery tour guide, will chronicle these surprising connections between the dead and transit both in the United States and around the world, including a look at some historic curios like the London Necropolis Railway and presidential funeral trains.

This program will be recorded and available at a later date on the PTM YouTube channel.

Trolleyology presentations will continue on a regular or semi-regular basis. Interested in presenting? Email assistant@patrolley.org! We’re specifically looking for programs related to the Trolley Era in general, Pennsylvania transit history, or stories about our collection. Please join our e-mail list to stay up-to-date with program announcements and other PTM news!
*For the best experience, we recommend downloading Zoom in advance.
NOTE: This is a virtual event

Scout Workshop: BSA American Heritage Merit Badge Workshop
2023-10-07 13:00 - 16:00
This merit badge workshop is open to any youth in grades 6th – 12th grade and is designed to help BSA scouts meet requirements for the American Heritage merit badge. We will be covering requirements 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, and 6.
Scouts are responsible for the following pre-requisites: 3c. Research your family’s history. Find out how various events and situations in American history affected your family. If your family immigrated to America, tell the reasons why. Share what you find with your counselor.
American Heritage Merit Badge Requirements
American Heritage Merit Badge Workbook
Pre-registration is required: Click here to register.

Scout Workshop: BSA Railroading Merit Badge Workshop
2023-10-07 09:00 - 12:00
This merit badge workshop is open to any youth in grades 6th – 12th grade and is designed to help BSA scouts meet requirements for the Railroading merit badge. We will be covering ALL requirements for this merit badge! While there are no pre-requisites, we strongly encourage participating Scouts to review the Railroading Merit Badge Requirements and workbook prior to the workshop. Requirements 8b parts 1 and 2 will be fulfilled by visiting the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Scouts should bring a camera or drawing materials.
Railroading Merit Badge Requirements
Railroading Merit Badge Workbook
Pre-registration is required: Click here to register.

New Operator Training
2023-09-24 09:00 - 16:00, 2023-09-23 09:00 - 16:00 | Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, 1 Electric Way, Washington, PA, 15301, United States
Join the volunteer team at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum as a trolley operator!
This fall, the museum is offering two classes for those interested in educating visitors about the Trolley Era. Our New Operator Training offers a fun, hands-on opportunity to learn how to operate a trolley and qualify to be a museum operator. During Tour Guide Training, our experienced guides will teach students how to lead a successful museum tour. We encourage those interested in operating to attend both classes, but we are also looking for volunteers just interested in giving tours and sharing history with others.
As the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum prepares to open its new Welcome & Education Center, we are looking for lots of new volunteers! This is a great opportunity to meet people who share a passion for trolleys, transportation, and history education. If you or anyone you know is interested in attending a class, please see the following instructions to register. Please send all questions to Morgan Meer, Volunteer Recruiter and Coordinator, at mmeer@patrolley.org. Can’t wait to see you there!
New Operator Training
Class Dates:

Saturday, September 23
Sunday, September 24
An additional training day to be scheduled with our instructors at your convenience

Attendance is required on both dates. Class will be held from 9:00 am to approximately 4:00 pm. Please bring a copy of your driver’s license and lunch for both days. Materials will be provided, including a binder with an Operations Manual and other training info. If you’d like to get a head start, please reach out, and we’ll send you the materials! Interested operators are encouraged to register for a Tour Guide Training session in addition to New Operator Training.
All student operators will need to be museum members and submit up-to-date clearances (instructions below) by the time of training .
Sign up with the following form: New Operator Application
Space is limited so RSVP today!
Clearances
Volunteers in Pennsylvania and at PTM are required to have up-to-date clearances. For PA residents, that’s the Act 33 Child Abuse History and Act 34 PA State Police Criminal Record Check. If you’ve lived out of state within the past 10 years, you’ll also need the FBI fingerprint-based background check. The two PA clearances are free for volunteers! The FBI check is approximately $23, but the Museum has a limited budget to reimburse volunteers who provide a receipt.
Minors should complete the Minor consent form and Act 34 background check (email mmeer@partrolley.org for more information).
Instructions:

Child Abuse History (free)

Go to https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS
Select “Create a New Account.” When asked for a Keystone ID, you need to create your own username.
Complete all of the appropriate boxes and a temporary password will be sent to the email address that you have provided. Once you have the password, you re-enter the website and complete the request for the clearance.
If a clearance is not issued immediately, you can log into your account at a later time to see the status of the request.
To be safe, check the box requesting a written copy of your clearance in the event that you have trouble printing it. Print 2 copies of the clearance, one for your personal records and one for the Volunteer Coordinator.

PA State Police Criminal Record Check (free)

Go to https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp
Select “New Volunteer Record Check” and follow the prompts to complete the application
The security check is usually completed within a few minutes. Print 2 copies of the completed clearance form provided, one for your personal records and one for the Volunteer Coordinator.

FBI fingerprint-based Criminal Background Check

Only for those who have lived out of state within the past 10 years
Register at identogo.com/locations/pennsylvania .
Select Digital Fingerprinting.
The Service Code that is requested is 1KG6ZJ .
The fee can be paid using a credit or debit card.
You may choose the most convenient site to go to be fingerprinted, the site list can be found at the above mentioned website.
A photo ID is required at the time of fingerprinting.

Tour Guide Training
2023-09-17 13:00 - 16:00, 2023-09-09 10:00 - 13:00
We’re expanding!
The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum will soon be moving to the new Welcome and Education Center, opening Fall 2023. With the move, visitors will get to experience the Museum in a whole new way – the Trolley Display Building will be open for guests to explore at their own pace in addition to regularly scheduled guided tours.
We’re seeking a core group of volunteers with great people skills who enjoy history, transportation, technology, education, or storytelling! These volunteers may help not only with tours but also answering guests’ questions as they explore the museum and conducting museum programming such as ticket punch activities or “trolley talk” demonstrations.
Tour Guide Training
Session Dates (Pick One):

Saturday, September 9, 10:00am to 1:00pm
Sunday, September 17, 1:00pm to 4:00pm

Everyone, no matter their interest in operating streetcars, is welcome to attend! (Operator training is offered separately on September 23-24.) We’re specifically looking for those with an interest in history, transportation, technology, or education AND great people skills! This class will highlight important aspects of customer service and how to give a successful tour. Content-related materials will be provided along with other training resources.
All prospective volunteers will need to submit up-to-date clearances (instructions below) by the time of training. Museum membership is encouraged, but not required.

Sign up with the following form: Tour Guide Application

Clearances
Volunteers in Pennsylvania and at PTM are required to have up-to-date clearances. For PA residents, that’s the Act 33 Child Abuse History and Act 34 PA State Police Criminal Record Check. If you’ve lived out of state within the past 10 years, you’ll also need the FBI fingerprint-based background check. The two PA clearances are free for volunteers! The FBI check is approximately $23, but the Museum has a limited budget to reimburse volunteers who provide a receipt.
Minors should complete the Minor consent form and Act 34 background check (email mmeer@partrolley.org for more information).
Instructions:

Child Abuse History (free)

Go to https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS
Select “Create a New Account.” When asked for a Keystone ID, you need to create your own username.
Complete all of the appropriate boxes and a temporary password will be sent to the email address that you have provided. Once you have the password, you re-enter the website and complete the request for the clearance.
If a clearance is not issued immediately, you can log into your account at a later time to see the status of the request.
To be safe, check the box requesting a written copy of your clearance in the event that you have trouble printing it. Print 2 copies of the clearance, one for your personal records and one for the Volunteer Coordinator.

PA State Police Criminal Record Check (free)

Go to https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp
Select “New Volunteer Record Check” and follow the prompts to complete the application
The security check is usually completed within a few minutes. Print 2 copies of the completed clearance form provided, one for your personal records and one for the Volunteer Coordinator.

FBI fingerprint-based Criminal Background Check

Only for those who have lived out of state within the past 10 years
Register at identogo.com/locations/pennsylvania .
Select Digital Fingerprinting.
The Service Code that is requested is 1KG6ZJ .
The fee can be paid using a credit or debit card.
You may choose the most convenient site to go to be fingerprinted, the site list can be found at the above mentioned website.
A photo ID is required at the time of fingerprinting.

Trolleyology: Frank Who?
2023-08-29 19:00 - 20:30
Join PTM staff, volunteers, and members for our Zoom series, Trolleyology! These programs feature Pennsylvania transit history topics and tales of our collection that you can experience from home. Registration is required but free of charge. Donations are welcome and encouraged.

Frank Who?
8/29/2023 – 7 PM ET – Presented by Tom Laurenson

REGISTER HERE

Frank Sprague is an unsung electrical genius who was born in Milford, Connecticut. People traveling today in modern trolleys/streetcars/trams are doing so courtesy of his inventions, and anyone taking a train into Grand Central Terminal in New York can see another of his inventions, from 1903, in daily use. To find out more about this remarkable man and his influence on modern transport, join Shore Line Trolley Museum volunteer Tom Laurenson on August 29th. And what could be the connection between Frank Sprague and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art? Find that answer too!

This program will be recorded and available at a later date on the PTM YouTube channel.

Trolleyology presentations will continue on a regular or semi-regular basis. Interested in presenting? Email assistant@patrolley.org! We’re specifically looking for programs related to the Trolley Era in general, Pennsylvania transit history, or stories about our collection. Please join our e-mail list to stay up-to-date with program announcements and other PTM news!
*For the best experience, we recommend downloading Zoom in advance.
NOTE: This is a virtual event

Park and Ride to the Washington County Fair
2023-08-19 10:00 - 23:00, 2023-08-18 10:00 - 23:00
Take part in the 112 year-old tradition of riding a trolley to the Washington County Fair. During the dates of Saturday, August 12 through Saturday, August 19, the Museum will shuttle guests from the Eaton parking lot at 2800 North Main Street to the Fair from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM. In addition, visitors can purchase Park ’N’ Ride tickets or regular admission tickets at the Museum’s main location of 1 Museum Road, across from the Fairgrounds. Trolleys will depart every 10-15 minutes and tickets are good for multiple trips throughout the day of purchase. The trolley takes you to the newly rebuilt and enlarged Fairgrounds Trolley Platform which is conveniently situated at the front entrance to the Fair and features a covered canopy to shelter riders during inclement weather.
Those interested in riding the trolley to the Fair will pay $5 per person round trip and children aged 2 and under are free. This fee does not include admission to the Fair. It also does not include admission to the museum. Visitors interested in a tour of the museum may upgrade their Park ’N’ Ride pass to the regular admission.
