Pittsburgh's Terrible Trolley makes a comeback after restoration

When Kimberly Sever was 9 years old, she came up with an idea for how the city could honor her beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.

Following her grandmother’s advice, she wrote a letter to then–Pittsburgh Mayor Richard Caliguiri.

“I had this idea that maybe the city could have a trolley painted black and gold that says, the Terrible Trolley. If the city doesn’t have the money for a new trolley, you should just paint one of the old trolleys, black and gold,” the letter said.

Now — 45 years later — Sever’s childhood dream lives on again as the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located in Washington County, unveiled a fully restored Terrible Trolley on Tuesday morning.

Here comes the Terrible Trolley! ⁦@TribLIVE⁩ pic.twitter.com/Ibi2CP27P6

— Megan Trotter (@meganktrotter) August 12, 2025

The trolley, was owned by Port Authority Transit, now known as Pittsburgh Regional Transit. It was painted in the 1970s to the to celebrate the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Super Bowl wins and became a symbol of Pittsburgh.

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum bought the car in 2023, after it had been privately owned in Ohio for over 20 years.

It built in 1949 by the St. Louis Car Co. and ran on Pittsburgh Railway’s Washington and Charleroi interurban lines.

The restorative project began in February 2023 after a KDKA producer called Scott Becker, former executive director, CEO and ambassador emeritus to the museum, about the trolley for a story. This inspired the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum to buy the streetcar and begin fixing it up.

“I’m just really proud of everything that the Trolley Museum has accomplished here,” Sever said to TribLive.

The restoration project had a large number of people involved in making the streetcar run again.

Restoration Project Manager, Michael Buchta led the team of volunteers through the process of restoring the historic trolley car.

Everyone involved in the ⁦@PATrolleyMuseum⁩ “Terrible Trolley” restoration project. ⁦@TribLIVE⁩ pic.twitter.com/Cggr01e73v

— Megan Trotter (@meganktrotter) August 12, 2025

During the restoration, the team cut and welded new steel to replace deteriorated sections, fully rebuilt the areas where the floor met the car’s sides, updated the electrical system, installed flag holders, and replaced the center step.

“To say that this project was challenging, driven and intense would be a gross understatement,” Buchta said.

The entire restoration crew celebrated the car by taking a the Terrible Trolley out for its first drive with passengers.

The first group to ride the Terrible Trolley. @TribLIVE #Steelers #terribletowel #pittsburgh #trolley pic.twitter.com/nCmiXpYw7Q

— Megan Trotter (@meganktrotter) August 12, 2025

Also in attendance at the unveiling was former Steelers defensive lineman John Banaszak and State Sen. Camera Bartolotta, who sported a Steelers commemorative purse.

Executive Director and CEO of Pennsylvania Trolley Museum Jeanine DeBor said the streetcar represents a time of transition.

“We had lost the steel mills, but we had Mayor Caliguiri and his vision of Renaissance. And so we were moving to business — building the skyscrapers, the Steelers were winning. There was a lot of hope. This car came out and caused a lot of excitement amongst Steeler Nations. So bringing it back, we believe that Steeler fans, young and old will want to see this car,” DeBor said.

On roll out day The Terrible Trolley made a short city route, but DeBor said that when it is cooler the trolley will probably run a longer route.

“Pittsburgh was a tough town, and we leaned on our sports teams to give us that inspiration, and they taught us that hard work and dedication could make you the city of champions, and that same spirit is what brought a Pittsburgh icon back to the area,” said Michael Kendlick, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum president.