(2/7) Though the old trolley returned
to Thurmont, a question seems to remain as to
whether it will be going somewhere else from
here.
When asked at a recent Thurmont town
meeting about the status of the old Thurmont
trolley car that is sitting on East Main
Street near the entrance to the carnival
grounds. The trolley has been there since
August 2006 when a group of citizens brought
it from the Rock Creek Trolley Museum in Rock
Creek Furnace, Pa.
John Kinnaird, who has been spearheading
the effort to restore the trolley said things
were at an “impasse” because he considered the
ownership in doubt.
The Rock Creek Trolley Museum donated the
trolley to the Hagerstown and Frederick
Railway Historical Society. However, they were
unable to move the trolley from the museum so
they donated the trolley to Thurmont First.
Once the trolley was in Thurmont, Kinnaird
said, “They’ve said to me twice no we’ll just
come and take it away when we’re ready for
it.”
Kinnaird said he has wheels and track ready
to use to restore the trolley, but the railway
historical society wants only authentic parts
used, which are much more expensive. Because
of this, Kinnaird said he thinks it would be
irresponsible to ask people to commit more
time and money for a project that might be
taken from the town.
Chief Financial Officer Bill Blakeslee said
that there are no ownership papers for the
trolley and officers of the railway historical
society were told that the trolley belongs to
the town.
Town Commissioner Glenn Muth suggested
sending a letter to the railway historical
society thanking them for their donation to
the town. If the letter is not contested, then
it would be seen as the railway historical
society agreeing that the trolley was donated
to the town.
Blakeslee considered this move unnecessary
because of his conversations with the officers
that the town now owned the trolley car.
The town has also applied for a $25,000
grant from the state, which would pay for the
all of the needed renovations to the trolley.
