Railcar born anew
WEST NEWTON - The doors of a 64-ton abandoned railcar that once carried passengers and cargo along the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie railroad tracks soon will reopen to the public.
However, its passengers will not ride the rails. Rather, they will use its resources to study the Youghiogheny River's environment.
People can view the results of a six-year effort to restore the 80-year-old railcar 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 12.
The 70-foot car is located on a 2.1-acre site adjacent to the Yough River Trail on Collinsburg Road.
The combination passenger-baggage car soon will begin its second life - as an interactive classroom, environmental lab and community activity center.
The Blazing New Trails program at Belle Vernon Area High School will host the event.
Blazing New Trails is a state Department of Education community service program for schools with alternative education programs.
"At the open house, the public will be invited into the railcar to see the results of thousands of hours of time put into the extensive restoration of the railcar's exterior and interior ... ," said state coordinator Diane Koneffko, of Rostraver Township.
She said the event will feature free miniature train rides for young children, popcorn and give-a-ways.
The reclaimed railcar is part of the Yough River Environmental Education Center, which also includes a reproduction of a P&LE Railroad Station and an adjoining wooden platform overlooking the river.
The grant program was designed as an enhancement program for students who have been expelled or suspended from school and must perform community service.
The railcar will be equipped with computers, testing equipment and a weather station. Yough School District science teacher Jason Kramer, who, along with his students, will oversee the environmental learning center and install the weather station.
The 1:30 p.m. dedication ceremony will feature comments by Don Schwenneker, WTAE-TV meteorologist, and music by the Phisbins.
Blazing New Trails volunteers installed new light fixtures -similar to those used when the car used for rail transportation - and electrical wiring.
"A great deal of planning and effort went into making this abandoned railcar suitable for student occupancy," Koneffko said. "All interior and exterior surfaces were sandblasted to remove lead-based paint, the asbestos-horsehair insulation was replaced with fiberglass, and rusted structural and trim members were replaced or repaired.
Koneffko said the students helped in a variety of ways - from computer research to the actual restoration.
They learned to work with adults outside the classroom setting, and they saw the value of community service, Koneffko said.
Students from Yough Middle School and Ringgold, Monessen, Belle Vernon Area, McKeesport and Yough high schools worked to restore the car.
Koneffko said Ringgold students refurbished a baggage cart that will be on display at the open house. Students from Monessen built bike racks that are located along the trail.
Yough High School students built lexan and mahogany windows and created computer-aided models and architectural designs.
Koneffko, said an "Over the Hill Gang" of Westmoreland-Yough Trail Chapter members inspired the students to engage in community service.
"The community will also learn about additional benefits that they will see in the near future both in the railcar and with other projects, such as a primitive campground along the local trail and the weather station being incorporated into the railcar," Koneffko said.
Belle Vernon Area teacher Don Paradise also is a state coordinator for Blazing New Trails.
The concept for an environmental classroom wsa born in 1998 by Yough Middle School students involved in the LINCS Program.
The railcar was moved from Buddtown to West Newton on Earth Day 1998. The restoration project was supported by a $110,000 state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant.
The Westmoreland-Yough Trail Chapter of the Regional Trail Corp., Mon Valley Education Consortium, Westmoreland Intermediate Unit, Allegheny Power and CSX also took part in the restoration project.
Koneffko said the finish work on the railcar marks the successful completion of phase one of the local Blazing New Trails project.
Blazing New Trails has 31 schools or private providers participating in projects connected to the "Rails to Trails" initiative.
The projects are being fueled by a $600,000 community service grant administered by Westmoreland Intermediate Unit 7.
The open house will coincide with the West Newton Community Festival, scheduled for Sept. 10-12.
"We're going to let Blazing New Trails do their thing," said Leslie Pierce, office manager for the West Newton-based Regional Trail Corp.
"I think it will be very nice. They will be showing a video on the history of the railroad that will be interesting to watch."
