Hello, I wanted to post an update on Scranton Transit trolley #505, our 1929 Osgood Bradley Electromobile. The car body recently returned to Scranton after several years in Honesdale. This latest phase saw the completion of approx. 100 fabricated parts, including the installation of flooring supports and sill troughs for the electrical.

Restoration on the car’s original trucks is progressing, including new 26” wheels from McKees Rocks Forgings and axle work by Lyons Industries. Our volunteers spent a good chunk of 2023 rebuilding the truck frames. The trucks will rejoin the car body in early 2024 thanks to a new pair of CNC’d bolster bearing assemblies.

It’s been a long road but we finally have a stable foundation to work from. This spring should see a start to both the woodwork for the main roof and fabrication of the brake hardware. We are concurrently working on component restoration and already have a compressor, brake cylinder and other parts ready to hang.

None of this work has been cheap, as I am sure most of you know. Our materials cost has gone up 30-60% since 2019 and the longer this project takes, the more it’s going to cost. We have been fortunate with grants but we still survive on small donations, so please consider sending a few dollars our way if you like what you see.

Thanks,
ECTMA-Project 505
PO Box 20019
Scranton, PA 18502


Thanks to Road Scholar Transport for the lift




New wheels from McKees Rocks Forgings.


Wheel and axle work by Lyons Industries.




Volunteers Ron Walker and Dick Berk tackle the truck frames.

First pair of motors are done. Thanks, Lyons!

My compliments to the Scranton Transit #505 team for the noteworthy progress. The work looks very impressive and the restored car will be an amazing transformation.

Having prepared the car for its shipment from Rockhill Furnace to the Scranton area some years back and seeing first hand the condition of the traction motors prior to overhaul, the work performed looks like Lyons Industries typical high quality work. Lyons Industries is currently in the midst of a PCC truck overhaul for National Capital Trolley Museum which is particularly complex due to the badly deteriorated condition of the trucks (flooded at least twice decades ago). Lyons’ work has been superb, and their partnership with NCTM in breaking the work into definable phases and offering recommendations on methods to reduce cost growth due to market factors has been extremely helpful. Happy to be their customer!

Again, great work Scranton Transit #505 team!

Best wishes,
Matt Nawn

Thanks, Matt. It’s hard to believe those motors were sitting outside for the better part of 70 years!

I love those CNC milled center plates.

Question on the WH510 motors: did you have to rewind the armatures, after they sat outside for so long? What about the commutator?

The armatures tested ok but needed new bearings and to be reinsulated. Fields and interpoles had to be rewound. If the comms needed anything it wasn't notable enough to list on the work order. The brush holders needed a lot of help.

The two motors from the second truck seem to be a little worse for wear, we'll know the full story soon.