National Capital Trolley Museum

The NCTM Visitor Center, the street car rides through Northwest Branch Park, and our Educational Program are all designed to fulfill the Museum's mission to collect and preserve objects related to the electric railway systems of the region and to use these objects to interpret the role of these transportation systems in the growth and development of the region and the impact of this technology on people's everyday lives.

The largest objects in the Museum's collection are the trolleys. These electric magic carpets although fondly remembered by some have never been experienced by many others, except at the Museum. They were a marvel 100 years ago when they greatly expanded the capability of the general population to live away from the place where they worked. They were a clean and rapid form of transportation that no longer needed a special workforce to feed, water, and clean up after the original street car motive force, the sturdy workhorse.

CTCo222

Street cars evolved from motorized wagons carrying a few people at 10 mph to larger vehicles that could easily carry 50 (or 100 in tandem) at speeds of 40 mph or more where traffic permitted. Eventually, the popularity of the automobile pushed street cars aside, but some of these sturdy transporters survive and are on display here.

Street Car Hall exhibits several trolleys from our collection that have not been on regular public display for many years, as well as some new members of our fleet. They include examples of street cars from all different eras, localities, and designs. While some have been restored, others are still awaiting restoration after being rescued from a less graceful final destination.

BTS 606

On the track at the entrance to the hall are four cars from Europe: Brussels' STIB #17, a work car; Berlin's BVG #5954; Brussels' STIB #1069, a single truck car from the beginning of the last century and a very unusual car, Blackpool's BTS #606 (seen on the right).

In the center track is Dusseldorf's RBG #955. The large open area in front of this car allows visitors to see all of the cars at the same time as well as view them up close.

On the far track are three cars from our local transit system: WRECo #650; Capital Transit #1430; and Capital Traction Company #222.

Next to several street cars are lighted displays showing them in service with a description of their history, similar to the ones presented here on this Web site.

This hall also includes other transportation-related items, such as wooden benches for passengers to wait, turnstiles for entry to a particular car stop, and other items.

November 22, 2009