Century-old trolley under restoration

SWOYERSVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Restoration is underway to a 100-year-old trolley in Luzerne County.

28/22 News is with 90-year-old Emil Augustin and next to him is Wilkes-Barre trolley car 790, a trolley he used to ride when he was 14 years old.

“Back in 1946, 47, 48, rode it from Nanticoke to Wilkes-Barre,” said Emil Augustine, Treasurer, Anthracite Trolleys Inc.

“As you were riding and if you wanted to get off at a certain stop, then you would pull the cord that went from the front to the back of the trolley.” continued Augustine.

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It has been 100 years since its creation, but the trolley was not only used for transportation.

“in the early 50s, it was converted into a cottage, where it remained until about 2019,” said Peter Baut, the Baut Studios President/Anthracite Trolleys Inc. Chairperson.

That’s when James and Peter Baut’s father ‘Conrad’ started the ‘Anthracite Trolleys’ nonprofit, making it his goal to restore the trolley car to its old-fashioned glory.

“It was a really important thing to our father. His passing, two years ago, really drives us to complete this project,” said Peter.

Now getting worked on at Baut Studios in Swoyersville, it’s an around-the-clock project.

“We learned that a lot of the steel in the trolley is in good condition and it’s a good base for us to build from,” said James Baut, Restoration Manager, The Baut Studios/Anthracite Trolleys Inc.

On the trolley is the original red and yellow paint from when the trolley was in service. The Baut brothers tell 28/22 News many of those original parts led to some challenges during the restoration process.

It required the removal of asbestos and lead paint and replacing rivets.

“The main thing for us is it’s a riveted construction so it’s kind of something that we’re not really used to. We do a lot of welding…It’s definitely very labor intensive, but it’s definitely fun and we enjoy it,” said James

They tell 28/22 News the project still has a long way to go, but they hope for members of the community to step up and help bring this piece of history back to life.

“It’s something very outstanding to think that I was one that rode it and now we found it, and we’re going to restore it,” said Augustine

The Anthracite Trolleys nonprofit is hosting an open house on Saturday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Wilkes-barre trolley car. It will run from 10:30-2:30 in Swoyersville.

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