Open Car Flying Under The Radar. Since 1999, Third Avenue Railways car 651, a 12-bench open car built by J.G. Brill, has been at the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton, PA. The car has spent significant time on display at the Museum's building in Scranton on the grounds of Steamtown National Historic Site, but was moved to the Moosic shop in recent years to undergo cosmetic and mechanical restoration. ECTM states that its restoration includes obtaining the last known "Eureka"-style maximum-traction trucks from Lisbon, Portugal. On Saturday, August 30, 2025, I had the opportunity to see the progress of 651. It is projected to be operable in the near future, so stay tuned for updates from the museum.

Full resolution pics and prints: https://www.riverrailphoto.com/ectm

Note: There is conflicting information about the car's build date, listed in some places as between 1898-1903, and others as 1908, with the size of the order and numbering also disputed.

Lineage:
Third Avenue Railway System (New York, New York) 651 (later 931), ?-1914
Five Mile Beach Electric (Wildwood, New Jersey) 24, 1914-1945
Trolley Valhalla (Tansboro, New Jersey) 24, 1960-1975
Buckingham Valley Trolley Association (New Hope, Pennsylvania) 651, 1975-1999
Electric City Trolley Museum (Scranton, Pennsylvania) 651, 1999-present