Shore Line Trolley Museum

At the end of a nondescript residential road in East Haven, Connecticut lies a true gem for railfans and history buffs alike. The Shore Line Trolley Museum boasts a collection nearly 100 rail vehicles as well as a museum with countless artifacts, documents, and hands-on exhibits. The museum is owned by the Branford Electric Railway Association, an organization founded in 1945 to preserve the history of the American trolley car and to preserve the Branford Electric Railway, the line upon which the museum's equipment is operated on today.

The 1.5 mile railway is the oldest continuously operating suburban trolley line in the United States. It travels through the salt marshes of Branford, Connecticut and is about as scenic as it can get, from the mazes of rivers and tall grass to the elevated Osprey nests that can be seen along the way (as you can see one motorman point out in the video). The railroad takes you on a journey back in time-to the turn of the last century-in a beautiful manner.

Another scene you will notice is the railway's extensive car barn and maintenance area where they service and restore countless artifacts of history. A tour of this facility is included as part of the trolley ride.

The trolleys featured in this video are the New Orleans Public Service #850, built in 1922, and the Johnstown Traction 357, once completely submerged in water during the Johnstown Flood of 1938.

I was told by one motorman, "To those of you with cameras... this isn't Amtrak, take all the pictures and video you can." I did so, and this video is dedicated to the 1000+ members and volunteers at the Shore Line Trolley Museum who preserve this important piece of history and make this such an enjoyable experience for people like my family and I.

Visit the museum at: bera.org/

Note: Hurricane Irene had a devastating effect. While the damage is manageable, it can only be so with your help. Support from everyone can help them to reopen the whole length of the railway and to repair the damage to some of the damaged equipment in their car barns. Donations are accepted by the BERA through their website.

Author

Ariyani

Como educador, estou profundamente engajado no desenvolvimento dos estudantes em ambiente escolar, adotando métodos pedagógicos que valorizam conexões genuínas e são movidos por inovação e fervor. É minha vocação guiar os alunos na jornada de se tornarem uma geração notável, empregando estratégias de ensino amplamente aclamadas por prestigiadas instituições acadêmicas ao redor do globo - events.zulekhahospitals.com