Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum facts for kids
SFC #10 at the museum in 2018
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| Location | Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, United States. |
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The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum is a cool place in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, United States. It's a special kind of museum that focuses on old electric trains called trolleys.
This museum works hard to keep and run a very important trolley car. It's car number 10 from the old Shelburne Falls and Colrain Street Railway. This trolley was built in 1896. It's a unique car that carried both people and their luggage. It's the last known trolley from that railway line!
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What is the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum?
The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum (SFTM) is a small museum. It is all about preserving the history of trolleys. Trolleys are like electric buses that run on tracks. They were a popular way to travel many years ago. The museum lets visitors see and even ride these historic vehicles.
The Story of Car Number 10
Car number 10 is the main star of the museum. It was made by the Wason Manufacturing Company in Springfield, Massachusetts. This happened way back in 1896. Imagine how old that is! This trolley was used for many years. It carried people and their bags along the Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway.
When the railway stopped running, car number 10 was saved. A man named Marshall Johnson's father bought it. He kept it safe for many decades. Then, in 1992, Marshall Johnson gave the car to a small group of people. These people were very dedicated. They worked hard to fix up car number 10. They made it run again, just like it did over a hundred years ago!
Other Cool Things to See
Besides car number 10, the museum has other interesting railway items. These items are not from the Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway. But they are still fun to explore!
- An old caboose from the Central Vermont railway. A caboose is the last car on a freight train.
- A handcar also from Central Vermont. Handcars are small cars pushed by hand on railway tracks.
- Two MBTA PCC cars. These are another type of streetcar.
- Other pieces of old railroad and trolley equipment.
Where is the Museum Located?
The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum is in a historic spot. It is located in what used to be the old Buckland Freight yard. This yard was once a busy place for moving goods by train. Now, it's home to these amazing old trolleys.
