L.B. Foster Sponsors the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
- Dec 13, 2023
- Rail
In November 2023, John Kasel, President & CEO, Greg Lippard, Senior VP, Rail, Patrick Guinee, Executive VP and General Counsel, Brian Kelly, Executive VP, Human Resources & Administration, Brendan Verni, VP, Information Technology, and Anthony Vagni, Applications Specialist attended a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington, PA, sponsored by L.B. Foster.
The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum was established in 1953, with roots reaching as far back as 1946. When it first opened, it featured three cars and a 2,000-foot railroad track. In 1963 the Museum, then called Arden Trolley, began to offer public rides on the track. Today, the Museum owns 52 cars stored in 5 buildings, offers a 4-mile round-trip ride, and occupies a 66,000-square-foot building that includes parts storage, archives, and a workshop.
The Museum went through a major 7-year capital campaign that funded the construction of a new $15 million Welcome and Education Center on the campus. Ray Betler, Chairman of the Board of L.B. Foster and VP of the Museum’s Board of Trustees, led the fundraising efforts and had the honor of cutting the ribbon at the Center’s opening ceremony. The Center spans 21,000 square feet and is home to history exhibits, event rooms, a classroom, a theater, and interactive displays.
Led by Andy Vickers, Director of Security and Enterprise Architecture, working closely with Janet Poague, Manager, Network Services, Anthony Vagni, and Brendan Verni from the L.B. Foster IT Team, the group participated in a considerable amount of volunteer work for the Museum to implement a new secure network, install a new phone system, and make considerable IT upgrades throughout the facility.