The East Penn Traction Club, Inc.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

The East Penn Traction Club, Inc. (a nonprofit Pennsylvania corporation) is a group based in the Philadelphia Delaware Valley, USA, with over 300 members from the local area and around the country. Members share a common interest in the history and modeling of electric powered rail transit vehicles, known more affectionately as trolley cars. The models actually take their operating current off of the miniature overhead wire, just as the real ones do. East Penn is perhaps best known for its adoption and promotion of modular layouts, having refined the standards formulated by the late Everitt F. Wood in 1969. These standards allow individually-built, portable sections to be connected with each other. This concept allows the quick assembly of large layouts capable of complex operating possibilities. Modular layouts are well suited to the sharp curves, short trains and compact scenery typical of real electric transit lines. The layouts, built in 1:87 (HO gauge), 1:48 (O gauge), 1/2", and 3/4" scales, are familiar to those who have attended hobby shows along the East Coast, and have done much to introduce trolley, interurban, and rapid transit modeling to the general public.

In the spring of odd numbered years, the club sponsors the largest trolley-only model meet in the country. The meet draws the premier modelers and model trolley manufacturers from all over the country for a weekend of viewing models, layouts, films, photos, slides, model contests, and “how-to” clinics on subjects ranging from hanging trolley wire to modeling subway cars. In addition, the latest in trolley kits, parts, bodies, etc. are offered for sale as is prototype data such as photos and books. Check our Meet Page for the latest on this event.

The club also sponsors periodic fan trips over local transit systems featuring rides on everything from the latest state-of-the-art electric transit vehicles to carefully restored historical cars. A popular yearly trolley calendar featuring photographs of various regional trolley lines is also produced by the club and sold to members and the general public.

The club meets the first Friday of every month from September through June. Meetings are typically held at various members’ homes or public meeting places (church or fire hall, etc.). Members receive a monthly newsletter covering club activities and the location of the monthly meetings. Club dues are just $10.00 per year. If you would like to attend a meeting, join our group, receive a copy of the modular layout standards, purchase our calendar, or ask questions about our club, send an e-mail to the EPTC Webmaster at webmaster@eastpenn.org.

NEW! Club members only: view the EPTC Business Page.

(To contact the club via email, click on any of the following names which are underlined.)

The club officers and activity leaders for June 2011 through May 2013 are:

David Gallagher Photo
President - David Gallagher
I have been active in the East Penn Traction Club for over twenty years. My interest in the Trolley Hobby came from my dad, John J. Galla-gher who would bring me to East Penn events (I did not drive then). I normally bring several O scale modules to events that the club attends or hosts, however I also bring Port-A-Pike 2 (HO self-contained layout) and sometimes HO modules. This is my second time being president of EPTC, in my first term we (the club) took several steps forward. This included coordinating the Club's successful presence at the 2006 NMRA National Convention train show, purchasing the green skirting, producing EPTC tee shirts and a great push was made to add stop block protection (using relays) to modules which were previously manual. With a new term, comes some new and some old goals. As with any EPTC two year term, our club’s focus will be in planning the 2013 National Trolley Meet. Currently, we are working with the Expo Center at Oaks to pick the dates and hall that we will be using for this event. You may have noticed that I listed myself at the editor for this newsletter, I did not assemble this issue alone, I have been helped by a few members and am still hoping to find a newsletter editor (hint! hint!). Along with a new editor, I would also like to see more people contributing to the newsletter. Hopefully we can have one person or several take notes at the club meetings and report the discus-sions so members who are unable to attend a meet-ing and find out what is new. I also hope to see articles and photos of trolley modeling by our members at home and at meets this should include projects that went well and trolley modeling issues where help and advice would be welcome. Dave Rafferty Photo
Vice President - Dave Rafferty
My Name is Dave Rafferty the new Vice President of East Penn Traction Club. I am 55 years old. I have been a member of the club for two years. I am working on my first modules, HO Gauge freelance with a timeframe around 1945 to 55. I grew up in Havertown. I remember taking the trolley that ran from 69th Street to Ardmore to 69th Street to go shopping when we were kids. I would say that is where I got my interest in trolleys.

Charlie Long Photo
Secretary/Treaurer - Charlie Long
Adam Eyring Photo
Web Site Editor - Adam Eyring
I've been with the club for several years helping at the occasional show and recently took over managing the website. I do have a small trolley layout in the design stage, but I enjoy keeping the other members' layouts running at the shows.

Rich Allman Photo
Calendar Committee - Rich Allman Manny Reider Photo
Calendar Committee - Manny Reider

Andy Maginnis Photo
Calendar Committee - Andy Maginnis Rich Kerr Photo
O Scale Module Co-Coordinator - Rich Kerr
Tom O'Donnell Photo
HO Scale Module Coordinator - Tom O'Donnell

The following club flyers and materials are avilable here (in Adobe PDF format):

Club Advertising Brochure w/Membership Application
Getting Started with Trolleys Flyer w/Memberhsip Application
Membership Application

President - David Gallagher I have been active in the East Penn Traction Club for over twenty years. My interest in the Trolley Hobby came from my dad, John J. Galla-gher who would bring me to East Penn events (I did not drive then). I normally bring several O scale modules to events that the club attends or hosts, however I also bring Port-A-Pike 2 (HO self-contained layout) and sometimes HO modules. This is my second time being president of EPTC, in my first term we (the club) took several steps forward. This included coordinating the Club's successful presence at the 2006 NMRA National Convention train show, purchasing the green skirting, producing EPTC tee shirts and a great push was made to add stop block protection (using relays) to modules which were previously manual. With a new term, comes some new and some old goals. As with any EPTC two year term, our club’s focus will be in planning the 2013 National Trolley Meet. Currently, we are working with the Expo Center at Oaks to pick the dates and hall that we will be using for this event. You may have noticed that I listed myself at the editor for this newsletter, I did not assemble this issue alone, I have been helped by a few members and am still hoping to find a newsletter editor (hint! hint!). Along with a new editor, I would also like to see more people contributing to the newsletter. Hopefully we can have one person or several take notes at the club meetings and report the discus-sions so members who are unable to attend a meet-ing and find out what is new. I also hope to see articles and photos of trolley modeling by our members at home and at meets this should include projects that went well and trolley modeling issues where help and advice would be welcome.	Vice President - Dave Rafferty My Name is Dave Rafferty the new Vice President of East Penn Traction Club. I am 55 years old. I have been a member of the club for two years. I am working on my first modules, HO Gauge freelance with a timeframe around 1945 to 55. I grew up in Havertown. I remember taking the trolley that ran from 69th Street to Ardmore to 69th Street to go shopping when we were kids. I would say that is where I got my interest in trolleys.
Secretary/Treaurer - Charlie Long	Web Site Editor - Adam Eyring I've been with the club for several years helping at the occasional show and recently took over managing the website. I do have a small trolley layout in the design stage, but I enjoy keeping the other members' layouts running at the shows.
Calendar Committee - Rich Allman	Calendar Committee - Manny Reider
Calendar Committee - Andy Maginnis	O Scale Module Co-Coordinator - Rich Kerr
HO Scale Module Coordinator - Tom O'Donnell