The Connecticut Trolley Museum, located in East Windsor, Connecticut, holds the distinction of being the oldest incorporated museum in the United States dedicated to electric railroading. Founded in October 1940, the museum was established by the Connecticut Electric Railway Association to preserve the legacy of streetcars and interurban railways that once crisscrossed the region. Its founding came just 14 years after the dismantling of the Hartford and Springfield Street Railway Company’s Rockville Branch, a line that had served commuters, students, and amusement park visitors for decades.
The museum operates a 1.5-mile heritage railroad on the original right-of-way of the Rockville Branch, offering visitors a hands-on experience of trolley travel. This branch once connected Hartford to Rockville, passing through Piney Ridge—an amusement park built by the trolley company to boost Sunday ridership. Piney Ridge featured attractions like a dance floor mounted on trolley springs and even hosted baseball legends Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. When the line was abandoned in 1926 due to financial troubles, the tracks were removed and the streetcars scrapped, leaving a gap in Connecticut’s electric rail history that the museum would later help fill.
Today, the museum showcases a diverse collection of streetcars and interurban vehicles from across North America. Highlights include a 1929 Canadian Car & Foundry double truck from Montreal and various restored cars housed in four car barns and a visitor center. Visitors can enjoy unlimited rides on multiple trolleys throughout the day, with rotating cars offering a variety of historical experiences. The museum also shares its grounds with the Connecticut Fire Museum, which displays antique fire apparatus and motor coaches.
Beyond its exhibits, the Connecticut Trolley Museum plays an active role in education and preservation. It hosts seasonal events like the Pumpkin Patch Trolley and offers volunteer opportunities for those passionate about electric railway history. Restoration projects, such as the ongoing work on the 1948 Torrington trolley (Connecticut Company #3001), are supported by donations and community involvement, ensuring that these historic vehicles remain operational for future generations.
This history was generated using AI and draws from publicly available sources including Wikipedia and the Connecticut Trolley Museum’s official website.
