EPTC 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 Mail to Gary Reighn (webmaster@eastpenn.org).

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

The club officers and activity leaders for June 2009 through May 2011 are:

Bob Dietrich Photo
President - Bob Dietrich 		David Gallagher Photo
Vice President - David Gallagher
Charlie Long Photo
Secretary/Treaurer - Charlie Long
 Gary Reighn Photo
Newsletter & Web Site Editor - Gary Reighn
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
Getting Started with Trolleys Flyer
Membership Application

Return to home page Return to Top of Page