EXCLUSIVE: NON-PROFIT TRIED TO RESCUE GLEN ECHO STREETCAR 3 YEARS AGO, WAS REBUFFED BY NPS

SAN DIEGO PRESERVATION GROUP

WANTED TO GIVE A HOME TO

PARK'S NEGLECTED TROLLEY,

MOVED TO CHEVERLY SCRAPYARD

TUESDAY

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

The plot, as they say, thickens.  As I reported yesterday, Glen Echo Park's beloved 1947 PCC streetcar was abruptly hauled away by a scrap metal company, by order of the National Park Service and the GSA.  This after the GSA tried to sell the trolley on Ebay (as you can tell from yesterday's entry, I'm not making this up, folks!).

The NPS initially did not respond to my inquiry Tuesday, and gave an "exclusive" to The Gazette, which printed an NPS-centric version of events.  Needless to say, the additional exclusive details I uncovered were not quite as flattering to Glen Echo and the NPS.

Wednesday, I finally got a response by contacting the park manager.

I am still waiting for some follow-up communications today about questions that remain unanswered.  NPS and Glen Echo should hardly be surprised that people who care about streetcars and history are understandably upset about the way this was handled.  

Right now, what I've heard from NPS gives me more questions than answers.

One disturbing point is that the NPS apparently sent the streetcar off believing it would be destroyed for scrap metal.  In fact, it was sent to a scrapyard.  The scrapyard owner, however, is quoted saying he wants to keep and restore the car in his scrapyard.  It's entirely possible that the purchaser paid nothing for the car but the cost of moving it.

But this is where it gets interesting.  The NPS has claimed it attempted to raise funds to restore the car, and that it could not afford what it said is a $100,000 restoration of SEPTA Car 2732.

Later, among the feedback I received on yesterday's post, was a very interesting and enlightening email from Harry Donahue of Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys.  Needless to say, these folks know SEPTA trolleys, and are a far more authoritative source than NPS on restoration.

Remember the claims of failing to find donors, $100,000 restoration fees, and there being no alternative but to have the GSA "remove excess government property," a.k.a. the People's Streetcar?

The NPS statement said, "We had sought grants to restore the streetcar...two different donors expressed interest...Each of them later changed their minds."  Ultimately, NPS says, no money was available.

But according to Donahue, FPT "tried to rescue this car 3 years ago."

He says that the San Diego Electric Railway Association would have loved to adopt the Glen Echo streetcar at that time, and still wants it today.

"Unfortunately, we could get no answers from Glen Echo/NPS," wrote Donahue, adding that they sent an FPT member to the park in person, "to no avail."

The claim of $100,000 restoration by NPS?  Donahue's group has restored another SEPTA PCC for the Baltimore Streetcar Museum for "just under $40,000."  He included a photo, and SEPTA car #2168 literally looks like it just rolled off the assembly line!  Incredible work.

As far as outreach to the public or streetcar fans and restoration groups?  Yesterday, I challenged the NPS to show us the articles or ads to prove these efforts, because I've heard not a single word that we were in danger of losing our streetcar.

It turns out that FPT's sole mission is raising money to restore former Philadelphia streetcars - of which our #2732 was one!

Did NPS reach out to this most logical source of funds?

"We never heard anything (about NPS) seeking funding for #2732," reports Donahue.

I think NPS and the directors of Glen Echo have more explaining to do.  Particularly the way this was handled.

It's a sad day in Glen Echo and Bethesda without our streetcar.  But very heartening to hear from this group and Mr. Donahue, who are doing all of this work for free to restore streetcars, so that history can be remembered, and for the enjoyment of others.  FPT's work helps to create new generations of streetcar fans each day.  I hope people consider supporting this and other preservation groups.

The information he has shared is extremely helpful, as we in the community try to get answers about how and why we lost our streetcar, and were not consulted about its sale/giveaway - when we, the People, own it!

To summarize, we had a fully operational PCC streetcar, Glen Echo and NPS neglected it, NPS ignored offers from groups who would restore the damage so it could remain at Glen Echo, and - if not - even had a specific home for it in San Diego where it was wanted, and would actually be run on an active streetcar line(!!)...

And, instead, the streetcar is spirited away with no public warning, and now sits in a scrapyard?

What is this world coming to, ladies and gentlemen?

It's outrageous.

SEPTA #2732 - and Bethesda - deserve better.  The indignity!