Railroad history preserved in Taylor Township
Oct. 3—Members and volunteers at the Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historical Society have a passion for the railroad.
Michael J. Zilka Sr., a board member, said through his work he helped design, survey and lay out railroad tracks. Society president and secretary Bruce Lightcap has been interested in trains and railroad history for more than six decades, while treasurer and show chairman Tom Bianculli remembers seeing smoke coming from trains and hearing the switching of train tracks at night growing up.
"We're into real-life trains and into hobby model trains. It's just a passion for trains," Zilka said.
It's that passion for trains and the railroad that led to the formation of the society and, for nearly 20 years, working to renovate the former 1908 P&LE passenger train station in West Pittsburg to transform it into a museum and event center.
Zilka said there were periods of rocky history over the years with the society, but said members are working steadily to achieve their vision.
"Mondays are our work day. We're totally volunteer," Zilka said. "It's taken a few years to get where we've got."
Zilka said the society hopes to host more events and demonstrations next summer.
In the meantime, the society is hosting a fall train show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Chippewa Township Fire Department social hall at 2568 Darlington Road. To RSVP early, call (412) 585-3614 or email tjbian64@gmail.com.
The society started in Rochester, and over the years hosted historical programs for the community before deciding to acquire the station and the four-and-a-half acres of surrounding property in 2005.
The station was used as a storage facility beforehand. Zilka said a reason for the longtime redevelopment is due to the society having a hard time receiving grant funding.
Still, the society has done other work over the years.
This includes acquiring the former B&O "UN" switch tower that had stood in the former New Castle rail yard for 100 years. It was later moved to its current location along Cherry Street in Mahoningtown in New Castle in summer 2000.
Members also acquired a GE 50-ton diesel locomotive, a 1940 Brookville diesel rail bus and a Fairmont Speeder, all operational, as well as a flat car and two Pennsylvania Railroad cabooses.
Bianculli said the rail bus is special because it was found completely dilapidated in a junkyard and was completely refurbished. There are only two of that model rail bus remaining.
Lightcap said members built their own quarter mile of railroad tracks to give rides to people along their property, and are also in the process of restoring and placing the former station signal tower.
The public got the chance to see the fruit of the society's labor during the Taylor Township 170th anniversary celebration in August, where visitors got to tour the building, see the vehicles and partake in demonstrations/rides.
Lightcap said a lot of people were fascinated by how the old trains operated.
He noted some residents were old enough to remember the station being operational in the township before it shut down in the 1960s.
