Trolley Bus Department

Over the past several weeks, the Motor Bus Department has been focusing on the CMC 605.  Vince Allen, Fred McGullam and John LeBeau have been concentrating on finding a troublesome issue in the fuel system.  Last weekend they finally found it - a cracked section of the fuel line.  After much struggling to get the damaged section out, a new section was purchased.  When they went to install it, the connector on the older section they were attaching it to broke off.  Next weekend it's back to the parts store for more line material.  They HOPE to have it completed by Labor Day weekend and a visit from the Omnibus Society.  Although we can't give group rides due to insurance limitations, we would like to have it (and a couple other coaches) operating and moving around the grounds for the group.

On the trolley bus side, preparations continue for our scheduled operation on Saturday, September 05 and Saturday, September 19.  The plan is to operate Chicago Marmon-Herrington 9553 on the 5th, and if repairs on the 9631 are complete, both Chicago Marmons on the 19th.  Repairs are a little behind schedule so we can't make any promises.

On a completely different front, over the past year or so, the staff at the Strahorn Library has worked feverishly to get it presentable for the ATRRM Convention we are hosting in mid-September.  Curator Barbara Lanphier along with her volunteer staff; Dave Anderson, Arlyn Booth, Jan Galayda, Jim Griffith, Carla Harms, Carl Lanz, Cheryl Lint and Gary Olson have done a remarkable job in making the library a place we can all be proud of.  There are several benefits from this effort.  Not only does the Strahorn look neat and organized, but it also projects an image of confidence to potential donors who may be looking for a worthy place for their collections.  They have also just about completed the inventory of surplus books.  Some of these are sold through the Used Book Store to benefit projects around the museum and others are sold directly through the library, which benefits its continued operation.  Look for a sale list very soon!!!  If you get a chance, stop in and see the progress (and maybe buy that elusive book you have been looking for).  We think you will be VERY pleased.  The library is open on Wednesdays from 10:00am until 2:00pm.

Strahorn Library volunteers Jan Galayda and Julie Piesciuk sort and inventory the surplus books for sale to benefit the library and projects around the museum 08/13/2015.

We were thrilled to have Bill Wagner visit from Dayton, OH on Saturday.  He is responsible for funding the trolley bus west loop, now named in his honor.

Bill Wagner at the wheel of CTA Marmon-Herrington 9553, breaking through the banner, officially dedicating the Wagner Loop 08/08/2015

After the ceremony, Richard Schauer went into service with the 9553 and gave rides to visitors all day. Special transfers were designed and handed out to each rider, commemorating the day. Bill was presented with a plaque containing a smaller version of the event announcement that was posted around the museum as well as commemorative transfer #1.

Trolley Bus Superintendent Ray Piesciuk presents the commemorative plaque to Bill Wagner 08/08/2015

Attendees included Bill's fellow Daytonian and long-time member Doug Oaks, another long-time member Pete Schmidt, President Joe Stupar and "first lady" Gwyn Stupar, B&G Superintendent and Facilities General Manager Dave Diamond, Director Joel Ahrendt, Executive Director Nick Kallas, Car Dept Superintendent Rod Turner, Trolley Bus/Motor Bus Department volunteers Richard Schauer, Nick Espevik, Fred McGullam, Vince Allen, John LeBeau, Julie Piesciuk and Superintendent Ray Piesciuk, Strahorn Library volunteer and VTE Coordinator Cheryl Lint, Passenger Coach Superintendent Paul Cronin and volunteer Mark Gellman, B&G volunteer Jerry Lynn, former Museum Secretary Bill Wulfert, and a few others that I'm sure I neglected to mention.  Thanks to EVERYONE who attended!!!

A representation of the crowd on hand for the dedication 08/08/2015

Thanks to a great deal of hard work from Richard Schauer, Vince Allen, Fred McGullam, John LeBeau, Nick Espevik, Julie Piesciuk and others, we were able to have TEN coaches open an available for visitors to walk through during the 25th Annual Vintage Transport Extravaganza yesterday.  Five were staged just south of the Wagner Loop - Chicago Motor Coach GMC Motor Bus MC 605, Seattle MAN Articulated Trolley Coach 4020, Chicago Transit Authority Marmon-Herrington Trolley Coach 9553, Janesville Transit Motor Bus 412, an Miami Valley RTA (Dayton, OH) Flyer Trolley Coach 925.  In and behind the Hoffman Garage, also open for inspection were Chicago Transit Authority Propane Bus 8715, Chicago Surface Lines White Motor Bus 3407, Montebello 17 (Painted Chicago West Towns 343) Ford Motor Bus, Regional Transit Authority GMC Motor Bus 8006 and Chicago Transit Authority GMC Motor Bus 9799.  A HUGE thank you goes out to John, Julie, Fred and Vince who spent their day stationed at each area where the buses were to answer questions or just talk and reminisce with the visitors.  We received a large number of positive comments from visitors and members alike, which we greatly appreciate.  We hope to do something similar to this on Member's Day next month PLUS running motor buses to photograph and trolley buses to provide service throughout the day.

The five coaches that were stationed just south of the Wagner Loop on VTE 08/02/2015

Just a reminder that the Wagner Loop dedication will take place Saturday, August 8th at 11:00am with the Chicago Marmon going into service immediately afterward.