Connecticut Trolley Museum

Connecticut Trolley Museum

File:Nopsi836.jpg A New Orleans streetcar stops at the Isle of Safety (originally at State St, Hartford)
Established	1940
Location	58 North Road East Windsor, Connecticut
Type	Railroad museum
Website	ct-trolley.org

The Connecticut Trolley Museum is the oldest incorporated museum dedicated to electric railroading in the United States, as it was founded in 1940.

The museum is located in East Windsor, Connecticut, and is open to the public April through December, featuring static and moving displays, and self-guided tours of the state's trolley history.

Also located on the same property is the Connecticut Fire Museum which exhibits antique fire apparatus and motor coaches.

Heritage railroad

The museum operates a 1.5 mile heritage railroad over the original right-of-way of the Hartford and Springfield Street Railway Company. Unlimited rides on cars are included in the admission for the day. A minimum of two different cars are run each day. Many times up to three or four cars will be rotated through during the day, giving visitors an opportunity to experience many different types of streetcars and interurbans.

Collection

File:Connecticut trolley museum 6.jpg

A 1929 Canadian Car & Foundry double truck

File:Connecticut trolley museum 4.jpg

A trolley's interior

The museum has a diverse collection of equipment from the trolley era to help tell the story of the trolley era and its impact on society. Most of the equipment is stored in one of four car barns, the Visitor Center, or the car shop.

The Connecticut Trolley Museum has one or more of the following cars operating for the public when the museum is open:

• Montreal Tramways cars 4 and 2600
• Springfield Terminal combine car 16
• Illinois Terminal Railroad PCC car 451
• New Orleans Public Service car 836
• Fair Haven and Westville Railroad car 355
• Boston Elevated Railway Type 5 car 5645

In addition, the museum is currently working on the following cars in the restoration shop:

• Connecticut Company car 1326

The Main Hall of the Visitor Center is set up with an exhibit detailing the progression of the era and its impact on society. The following cars are on display in the Visitor Center:

• Northern Ohio Traction and Light parlor car 1500
• Springfield Electric Railway combine car 10
• Five Mile Beach Electric Railway car 36
• Ponemah Mills Locomotive 1386
• Shaker Heights Rapid Transit car 1201

External links

• Connecticut Trolley Museum
• Connecticut Fire Museum, with photographs of the collections