Also on display was Locomotive 89. Dave led the restoration and regauging efforts on this vehicle. PTM surprised his family by naming the locomotive after Dave. Dennis Lavender, pictured on the left in the group photo below, was also a leader in its restoration. We’d like to thank volunteers Bruce Wells, Sarah Wells, Kim Freithaler, and Brett Freithaler for working together to design and paint this addition to the locomotive.
Thank you to Dave’s sons, Scott Hamley and Mike Hamley, for planning this beautiful day. Dave will be greatly missed at PTM. The following obituary is by Executive Director and CEO Scott Becker:
Long-time PTM Volunteer Dave Hamley passed away on December 18, 2024, at age 84. He had volunteered at PTM since 1960 (he was member #47) and was one of our longest serving volunteers. Dave was a transit design engineer specializing in train control/safety systems. He started with Union Switch & Signal, then worked for Westinghouse and Adtranz, and then retired from Bombardier Transportation.
Dave was often called “Mr. Goodwrench” and really enjoyed that moniker. He was involved in so many projects at PTM over that time that it is hard to list them all! Chief among them was the restoration of the three PCC’s by Adtranz at Elmira, NY – PTC 2711, PRyCo 1711, and PRyCo 1138. Dave had proposed the idea to Ray Betler at Adtranz, and Ray appointed him project manager for all three cars. I don’t think these cars would have been restored without Dave shepherding the process. He was truly an expert on PCCs and, up until recently, was working with Dick Rhoton to regauge the trucks for Shaker Rapid #94 from standard gauge to broad gauge.
He was very involved in all aspects of diesel propulsion and spearheaded the work on Pennsylvania Transformer diesel 1311 and the restoration of diesels RG-2 and 89. #89, a 25-ton GE Locomotive was donated as a shell, and Dave worked with Dennis Lavender, who graciously donated the missing diesel engine, generator, and compressor. Dave took on the complex task of regauging this locomotive from standard gauge to broad gauge. It took all his engineering ingenuity to figure this out- I don’t think it had been done before! Another major project was his “frame up” restoration of former Union Railroad Fairmont A8 speeder #396. Dave restored it in his garage and regauged it to PTM’s broad gauge using spacers. It is used often by our track crew.
He also served as Museum President, Vice President, and Trustee and started the Mobile Equipment Dept, where he was the longtime manager. Dave had the unique ability to see the opportunity to turn cast-aside equipment found at Federal Surplus in Harrisburg into usable pieces. He was able to turn other people’s junk into PTM’s treasures! This included the Hyster Forklift, Pettibone and Galion Cranes, and the large Case Bucket Loader. This equipment has proven extremely useful to PTM in many projects, both large and small. In 2014, we were able to honor Dave with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of service to the Museum – well deserved!
Dave was very easy-going and fun to talk to. He had a wealth of information as well and was happy to share that information with whoever needed it, including those in other museums. His generosity was amazing! The Museum is much better because of Dave Hamley’s presence, and he will be missed!
