Transit Museum/Car House

20/20 Foresight (A Vision of the Future) – Decatur Street in West Denver

Imagine it is 13 years from now, on a warm but pleasant August 2020 summer evening in west Denver near Decatur Street, when Rick and Isabel step out on the front porch of their town home where they have lived since the neighborhood was recently established. The vintage style street lights are just beginning to come on as the orange glow from the setting sun casts warm shadows on their brick sidewalk and the Victorian style architecture of the development. Suddenly, they notice the movement of an open air trolley car crossing the street a block away and the ring of the bell as it approaches the trolley stop next to the Denver Transit Museum. The sound of laughter can be heard as passengers who live nearby disembark to walk home. Shortly, the sound of the bell signals that the car is starting up for its final stop at Decatur St. There, a few more passengers will walk to their homes and the rest will cross the street to RTD's light rail station to continue their trip west aboard a modern light rail train. Some are returning from the Highlands area where they had supper on Platte St. and did a little shopping at the REI outdoor store. Others enjoyed their picnic supper at Confluence Park and others walked over to the Millennium Bridge and LoDo from the trolley stop at the end of the line. A few even boarded at the Downtown Aquarium after dinner at the aquarium restaurant. But not all riders are returning passengers. Sports minded Confluence Park area residents get a kick out of riding to Brooklyn's Bar & Restaurant to dine, especially during televised basketball and hockey games, and a few ride to the coffee shop just for a change of pace.

Rick and Isabel are enjoying their new neighborhood and delight in showing their visiting friends around this little enclave known as "Tramway Terrace". It seems that the developer, when looking for a theme for his project, became intrigued with the transit history of the area and the new combination of light rail and vintage trolley lines that now serves the area. The relatively new light rail line follows the right of way of the old Denver & Intermountain Railroad that provided hourly interurban service to Golden until 1950. Denver's narrow gauge trolleys used to come off Federal Blvd. and went southwest into Barnum Park. So it seemed logical to highlight that history by developing the neighborhood with a transit theme. The main street is called Electric Avenue which intercepts Interurban Plaza near the Denver Transit Museum. The Trolley Car Coffee Shop is run by a local entrepreneur as are other stores on Electric Avenue. Residents of Tramway Terrace enjoy the unique ability of being able to travel east by light rail to access the entire light rail system, west to Lakewood or north along the river by vintage trolley!

A number of residents of Tramway Terrace have taken a liking to "their" trolley and the museum, and have joined the volunteer core that "makes it happen". Last night, Rick and Isabel were conductors for the special movie trolley that takes riders to and from River Flicks at Confluence Park, the free summer movies sponsored by the Greenway Foundation. A bit too far to walk, the outdoor film series is popular with Tramway Terrace and Sun Valley families because of the fun, low cost trolley ride. Diverse families with a mix of incomes all enjoy the benefits that the trolley provides. A unique Denver experience!

A variety of other activities take place on the trolleys besides normal daytime runs. Event patrons at the Mile High Station Events Center on Old Colfax make the short walk across the South Platte River bridge to enjoy special charters customized to their activities. Pizza and ice cream nights happen on Fridays. Sponsored by area pizza and ice cream companies, adults purchase tickets and the kids ride free to enjoy snacks aboard the restored Denver Tramway Car No. 83. Of course they are welcome to get off at any of the stops and catch a later trolley back. Rick and Isabel's neighbors are retired and are able to contribute more time to the trolley and make up one of the other husband and wife conductor teams. They especially enjoy running the Denver & Intermountain interurban car for "Music under the Trolley Wire" series that occur through the summer on Saturday evenings. Imagine riding in a meticulously restored historic 1911 interurban car trundling along the South Platte River while listening to the sounds of bluegrass, jazz, soul, mariachi, swing, Celtic and barbershop quartet groups playing for the passengers. And during the Fourth of July week, a number of local, talented ragtime piano players entertain passengers on a small piano placed on board!

In winter, the car is warm and toasty and Santa Claus rides in conjunction with Children's Museum festivities, one of a number of cooperative events with the museum that also includes Halloween and Easter. All of these activities are quiet and environmentally friendly because electricity to run the trolleys is provided from Excel Energy's Windsource program.

Education about Denver's transit history is an important component of all visitors' experience to the Platte Valley Trolley and the Denver Transit Museum. A unique cooperative program with Denver Public Schools and the Regional Transit District takes that concept a step further. Third graders from Fairview school walk to the museum for an educational experience while students of other Denver Public Schools arrive in a vintage 1958 historic Denver Tramway Company GMC bus that is preserved at the museum and sponsored by the Regional Transit District. They learn about all forms of Denver transit and are amused at the trolley poles on the roof of a rare Denver Tramway Co. Brill trolley bus on display. The informative exhibits about West Denver history and culture are also an enlightening experience. Neighborhood youth work at the museum during summer vacation and a few even ride the trolley to work at the aquarium and the REI Flagship Store.

Tomorrow, Isabel's grandparents are arriving from out of town for a visit. They always look forward to a trolley ride to the aquarium. It is too far to walk and the trolley is more fun than a car trip. In the evening, Rick and Isabel will walk over to the Community Meeting Hall in the Denver Transit Museum to hear updates about the latest happenings in their neighborhood and renew acquaintances with other area residents. What an important asset the Platte Valley Trolley has become for the neighborhood!

Rick and Isabel are representative of many area residents who have benefited from a neighborhood renaissance enhanced not only by redevelopment and the light rail service but by vintage trolleys operated by the Denver Rail Heritage Society. The incorporation of the society's trolleys and museum into the fabric of the neighborhood delightfully provides the multiple benefits of historic preservation, education, entertainment and public transit. Urban designers from all across the country come to witness what has been accomplished by the society, the city and community leaders who all worked together to make the Denver Transit Museum a reality. It has become a unique community asset in the year 2020 and an important investment in the city's future.

Would you like to make a contribution or participate to help make the Denver Transit Museum a reality? Please call 303-667-4797 or Email us for more information.

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