Nostalgia & History > Another Baltimore Streetcar Memory - the Museum

When the Baltimore Transit Company (BTC) was purchased by the National City Lines Bus Company (NCL), all of the streetcars that remained in service began at once to be repainted in the NCL colors which was a yellow with a black tar roof on the older cars like Peter Witt Car 6119 in the photo along with PCC 7301 which was painted yellow with a gray roof.  When the group from the Maryland Historical Society were beginning to save the collection of the BTC cars, when Peter Witt Car 6119 was retired, the group acquired it for the collection.  Eventually this whole operation became what is now the Baltimore Streetcar Museum (BSM) in 1966.  Since the BSM desired to restore all of their cars back to when they were first purchased and operated in Baltimore, the Peter Witt Car 6119 was repainted back to the cream with red trim scheme from 1930.  In photo 2 we see the car on the museum track half way out the line.  Photo 3 we see one of their members in the process of repairing and painting the roof with cream paint.  When the weather was warm, the members often worked on the cars out in the open air as per the photo.  If you visit Baltimore, please take the time to visit the Baltimore Streetcar Museum located only a couple of blocks from Pennsylvania Station (Amtrak and MARC Commuter Trains).  The volunteers truly appreciate your visit.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

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Fascinating photos and background information. That both streetcars have open windows is a surprise. I did not know some PCC cars could pop open their windows like that.
Bob

refarkas Wrote:
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> Fascinating photos and background information.
> That both streetcars have open windows is a
> surprise. I did not know some PCC cars could pop
> open their windows like that.
> Bob
Thanks, Bob.  Yes, our Baltimore PCC Cars and our Peter Witts had windshields that opened which really kept the motorman and passengers cool with the breeze flowing through.  The cars also had rear windows that could be opened; however, the transit company had to lock them because of kids reaching out and pulling the ropes attached to the trolley polls as they could pull the trolleys off the wires.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

thank you john.  Your continuing pix of btc is magical 62 years post shut down.