Penna Turnpike #5 - International Bucket/Utility Truck used by the Turnpike 720 production run - Feb 2002 - The Pennsylvania Turnpike originally began as one man’s attempt to build a railroad. William Vanderbilt envisioned a high-speed line, the South Pennsylvania Railroad, which would cross Pennsylvania connecting the East coast with Pittsburgh and points West. When he was unable to obtain competitive freight rates from the Pennsylvania Railroad, he began construction of his own railroad in 1883 grading right-of-way and constructing tunnels. However, by 1885 Vanderbilt was forced to abandon the project due to financial and political considerations. Most of the right-of-way and eight of the nine tunnels remained unused for more than 50 years. In the 1930s, the Pennsylvania legislature was persuaded to study the idea of creating an “all weather” highway utilizing the abandoned right-of-way which resulted in the formation of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. The Pennsylvania Turnpike officially entered service October 01, 1940 utilizing most of Vanderbilt’s right-of-way as well as some of the tunnels. The collectible replica 1/34 scale 2002 International utility truck pictured here features authentic Penna Turnpike markings. These trucks are used today to maintain lighting systems, signs, and tunnels along the turnpike.