Trolley Thursday
Here's the last one in this little series until next time I visit.
One of the most adorable little museums to be found anywhere is the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum. Located in Buckland, MA across the Deerfield River and up the hill from its namesake town, it operates on trackage in the small former Boston and Maine Yard (beside the active Berkshire and Eastern nee Pan Am Freight Main) and preserves the road's large wooden freight house dating from 1867.
But it owes its existence to its pride and joy, Shelburne Falls and Colrain Street Railway trolley No. 10. Built in 1896 by Wasson Manufacturing company in Springfield for the newly constructed seven mile long rural trolley line connecting its namesake towns. The little line lasted only 30 years and upon its abandonment in 1927 little number 10 was sold to a local farmer who used it as a shed and chicken coop for 65 years. In 1992 his son donated the shell back to the newly formed museum and seven years later she was back in operation.
Here is a view looking west at number 10 running under the wire on about 1000 ft of track in the old rail yard.
If you ever find yourself in Shelburne Falls (and you really should because it's just lovely) stop by the museum and take a little ride yourself. To learn more check out their website here: www.sftm.org/index.shtml
Oh, and I'd be remiss if I wrapped this up without a mention about Shelburne's most famous attraction, The Bridge of Flowers. It is truly a must see and if you're ever traveling west on Route 2 make the short detour into town, it is truly worth it. If you've never heard of it check out this: newengland.com/today/travel/massachusetts/berkshires/brid...
Oh, and as for that bridge, little old number 10 ran over it for the 19 years it was in service providing the Shelburne Falls and Colraine Street Railway a direct freight connection to the Boston and Maine and New Haven (which came to town too until abandoning their route up through Conway in 1923). Between the museum and the bridge this tiny little otherwise unremarkable street railway has left an indelible impact on the community far outlasting its utility as a mere means of transportation.
Buckland, Massachusetts
Saturday August 31, 2025
Trolley Thursday
Here's the last one in this little series until next time I visit.
One of the most adorable little museums to be found anywhere is the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum. Located in Buckland, MA across the Deerfield River and up the hill from its namesake town, it operates on trackage in the small former Boston and Maine Yard (beside the active Berkshire and Eastern nee Pan Am Freight Main) and preserves the road's large wooden freight house dating from 1867.
But it owes its existence to its pride and joy, Shelburne Falls and Colrain Street Railway trolley No. 10. Built in 1896 by Wasson Manufacturing company in Springfield for the newly constructed seven mile long rural trolley line connecting its namesake towns. The little line lasted only 30 years and upon its abandonment in 1927 little number 10 was sold to a local farmer who used it as a shed and chicken coop for 65 years. In 1992 his son donated the shell back to the newly formed museum and seven years later she was back in operation.
Here is a view looking west at number 10 running under the wire on about 1000 ft of track in the old rail yard.
If you ever find yourself in Shelburne Falls (and you really should because it's just lovely) stop by the museum and take a little ride yourself. To learn more check out their website here: www.sftm.org/index.shtml
Oh, and I'd be remiss if I wrapped this up without a mention about Shelburne's most famous attraction, The Bridge of Flowers. It is truly a must see and if you're ever traveling west on Route 2 make the short detour into town, it is truly worth it. If you've never heard of it check out this: newengland.com/today/travel/massachusetts/berkshires/brid...
Oh, and as for that bridge, little old number 10 ran over it for the 19 years it was in service providing the Shelburne Falls and Colraine Street Railway a direct freight connection to the Boston and Maine and New Haven (which came to town too until abandoning their route up through Conway in 1923). Between the museum and the bridge this tiny little otherwise unremarkable street railway has left an indelible impact on the community far outlasting its utility as a mere means of transportation.
Buckland, Massachusetts
Saturday August 31, 2025