Pennsylvania Trolley Museum & Bert's Hot Dogs

Yesterday, Sunday, May 20th, Bryon, our close friends, and I took a 200-plus mile ride (round trip) with the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum as our main destination. It's set outside of Washington, PA, southwest of Pittsburgh. I found it on Google Maps when I was planning the riding 2018 trips for our little group of riding friends.

We took PA Route 18 all the way. Sure some people like the Interstates, or maybe could make their way in a convoluted fashion on more obscure roads (I had one of those mapped out too), but Route 18 became the path of choice when low and behold, the vision of a hot dog shop appeared on the map when I zoomed in!!! If you know our friends, they are eaters. Burgers and dogs, dogs and burgers, throw in some french fries and go back for seconds and thirds.

We all know the saying, Ride To Eat, Eat To Ride.

After meeting for breakfast at 9:30, we headed out in the fine mist left behind after the morning rain. The more we rode, the better the weather got. Route 18 is a nice road that goes through countryside, small towns, big towns, crosses rivers like the Ohio with blue steel structured bridges, and watch out - some of the directional signs are faded or non-existent.

When I saw the sign for Burgettstown, I knew we were about to eat lunch. There it was on the right hand side, Bert's Hot Dog Shop. Been there 60 or so years slinging food literally beside the road.

We parked and made our way to the order window (if you're tall, you'll have to stoop). They only serve footlong hot dogs; I had a chili dog. There's also burgers, and all kinds of fried foods, plus ice cream and milk shakes. Hammer and Bones ordered twice, and I think Tiny did too. Growing boys.

It wasn't much longer until I got us lost for two minutes when I couldn't figure out which road was 18, but after some anger and turning around, we found ourselves turning off of N. Main Street and into the museum lot.

Once parked, we went through the entrance, paid the $10 admission fee, and perused the gift shop and found what every biker wants - patches! Yes, they had Trolley Museum patches, so we scarfed up some of those and pins, and exited toward the trolley ride that's included with admission. When you cross the tracks, there are giant banners explaining the history of trolleys, their growth and death, and their revival.

Two trolleys were running, an open sided yellow one, and a closed but with windows orange one. Well, the orange one had a whole load of kids on it bouncing from one seat to another and a screaming baby who's head got hit on a pole when the father tried lifting the mother onto the trolley. We exited that trolley stage right, and waited for the yellow one.

That was a breezy ride, rickety and rattley and nostalgic. So it took us up the rail path to the museum building where the majority of vintage trolleys are on display. They are HUGE!!! Wow, and made from wood or metal, and were geared toward workers or city visitors or the wealthy.


The museum has on the grounds several buildings that were on the paths of active trolleys and have been restored and filled with pictures of their history.

















We got lucky and had a volunteer historian take us around to tell us about the trolleys. Some they still use like the one with the lift boom and crane, and another that has three dump hoppers.

Everyone there was very nice, and you can find more info about the trolleys inside the main building. Before leaving, I went back and bought a commemorative mug to go with my patch and pin.

If you go, when leaving, exit left and after the tracks turn right onto Arden Mines Road, and left on Cross Roads Road; their a little bit of fun riding under the trees. Cross Roads exits at Rt. 18, so just turn right at the stop sign to go north. AND... stop again at Bert's like we did for round two of dogs and burgers. I had a cheeseburger and chocolate ice cream this time. That was tasty. The boys, well, they had more food that a human should, but they were VERY happy, and that's all that matters.

When the sun started setting the air chilled. There are plenty of gas stations along the way, too, and at the last stop we put our leathers back on and soon found ourselves facing a blue and pink cotton candy sunset. In New Wilmington, we stopped to say our parting words, hopped back on the bikes and headed for home. It was a super nice day with the best of friends, and we hope that everyone who reads this finds the same for themselves.

~ Holly