CERA's 2nd Friday, May 8, 2026 Zoom Presentation: Harvey Laner: Keystone State Traction

CERA 2nd Friday Zoom Presentation

CERA’s May 8, 2026 7:00 pm CT Zoom Presentation

Newer shorter Zoom Link  https://tinyurl.com/2ndFridayCERA

Older longer link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88929318526?pwd=ICg6ZpFwsa6fpHIQ7PDvgowdyzD1HV.1 

Meeting Number 889 2931 8526 Passcode  022656

ANOTHER WORLD PREMIERE

Harvey Laner’s Keystone State Traction

Run Time: 1h35m

The program begins in the early 1950s with movies from Harvey Laner’s collection of the last days of the Lehigh Valley Transit Company interurban. Coverage includes scenes of the Jewett Car Company-built 800 series and the all-steel 700 series cars purchased from Southern Car Company in regular service as well as on a farewell fantrip. The thirteen former second-hand cars purchased from the abandoned Cincinnati and Lake Erie Railroad are included as well, with brief scenes of them operating on the Norristown High Speed Line. Next, in 1957 six Orange Empire Trolley Museum co-founders traveled back east to railfan as many of the nation's remaining streetcar operations as possible. This part of the program showcases the traction properties that were visited in Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Johnstown and the greater Philadelphia area on that memorable trip back in 1957. In September of 1966, railfan Ralph Cantos, a native Southern Californian made his first trip to the eastern part of the United States. Ralph, an avid PCC fan was having withdrawal with the closure of the former Los Angeles Transit Lines streetcars by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority on March 31, 1963. By 1966 Ralph needed a good PCC streetcar ride “fix”. With his 16mm movie camera and lots of film, Ralph took a three-week trip that had him filming and riding rail transit in and around the PCC hotspots in the eastern part of the country. The program covers what he saw while traveling through Pennsylvania. Ralph narrates part of the program.

The program wraps up with an assembly of lineside scenes and an on-board ride on the Norristown High Speed Line featuring the last of the Brill Bullet Cars. Harvey spent the early part of Saturday July 23,

1988, getting lineside scenes from 69 th St Terminal to Norristown. He then boarded a Bullet Car at 69 th St for Norristown to get forward view scenes of the line…at speed. But this was not just any ride on a Brill

Bullet Car. As a bonus, the operator was very willing to have him video her operating the car. Her technique really made the ride extra special. With the audio benefit of early consumer video, enjoy the

sights…and unique characteristic sounds of the Brill Bullet Cars, captured for posterity near the end of their service

There will also be a short In The News program preceding the regular program.

This program is open to all CERA members, their guests and the public.

Mark this date on your calendar!

Still time to Join our Fan trip to East Troy Railroad Museum

Saturday, June 6, 2026

If you have not yet paid your 2026 CERA Membership dues please do soon or contact me

for more information: Elmer Haneberg

elmer@corpevent.com

(773) 972-0470