Bob Johnston, project founder, told The Post-Journal that a trolley catcher has been donated by a Pittsburgh man who is over 90 years old.

“Our car No. 93 had been stripped of its catcher long ago,” he said. “Our search for one led us to some varied experiences, but finally a call from the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum put us in touch with Elmer J. DePra. He was originally from Johnstown, Pa., and now resides in Pittsburgh.”

Johnston said DePra used to deliver newspapers as a boy in Johnstown and he would “sneak” a ride on the trolley.

“He would jump on the cowcatcher (metal platform used to remove animals from the track humanely), then grab onto the trolley catcher to help stabilize himself,” Johnston said. “Years later he stopped by the trolley offices and asked for some memento related to the trolleys of his youth. They gave him this trolley catcher and he has carted it around for most of his adult life. He felt it was time to ensure that it was safe from the scrap yard so we caught our catcher.”

A picture detailing the location of a trolley catcher on a car. Submitted photo

Johnston said several years ago the Warren Rail Car Service in Warren, Pa., donated a trolley pole and trolley pole base to the restoration project.

“It was at that time that we realized we were lacking a trolley catcher,” he said. “Trolley catchers attach to the front or back of the trolley car and house a spring-loaded rope attached to the end of the trolley pole near the trolley wheel. For the electric trolley car to run, electricity is drawn from a bare power wire suspended above the track. Electricity flows from the wire into a grooved trolley wheel, then down the trolley pole where it is directed through an insulated cable down to the electric motor under the trolley car.”

A heavy spring on the trolley pole base keeps pressure on the trolley pole so that the trolley wheel stays pushed onto the overhead power wire,” Johnston said.

“Occasionally, the wheel jumps off the cable,” he said. “What happens next, the spring-loaded trolley catcher rope, ‘catches’ the now released trolley pole and keeps it from springing into the air. With no electricity getting to the motor, the trolley comes to a stop. The car operator turns off the trolley car and using the trolley catcher rope, pulls the trolley pole back down and positions the trolley wheel back onto the power wire.”

Contributions to the trolley restoration project can be made by visiting crcfonline.org or by contacting the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation at 661-3390.

The Jamestown Street Railway ended service in 1938. Johnston said bits and pieces of the long-gone local trolley era still linger, trolley car No. 93 is pretty much the last stand-alone Chautauqua County trolley remaining of the hundreds of cars that once serviced the county.

The restoration of the trolley car has been a project that has been ongoing for more than 25 years. However, restoration work really started to move forward on the trolley car in 2014 when the late Jim Mitchener, Jamestown Trolley Car No. 93 skilled carpenter, came aboard the project.

The trolley car restoration project first began in 1996 when Johnston was discussing his love of local history with a friend, Sam Lucariello. Lucariello mentioned his parents, Mauro and Harriet Lucariello, had an old Jamestown trolley car they used as a hunting camp near Dewittville. The family donated it to Johnston and the trolley car was moved back to Jamestown.

Many local businesses have provided materials and services toward the restoration, and many individuals from around the city, county and country have made contributions to both the endowment and non-endowment funds at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

The Jamestown Street Railway Trolley Car No. 93, sometimes referred to as the “Swede Hill” trolley, was purchased by the street railway in 1926 and was in operation on the Willard Street Route until the end of service for the line in 1938.

Johnston said anyone or group wishing to learn more about the project or wanting to see trolley car No. 93, can contact him at 338-5051 or can visit its website at jamestowntrolley.org.