Transit Museum/Car House

Our Mission: Keeping Denver's Rail History Alive

Denver Rail History in Motion on the Platte Valley Trolley

This mission is accomplished by operating and presenting a living history of electric public transportation in Denver. The Denver Rail Heritage Society shall preserve, display, operate, and interpret streetcar service and collect artifacts and information of an educational nature and of significance to the city's electric railway history.

A History of the Platte Valley Trolley

The Platte Valley Trolley began service in 1989 along the South Platte River between Confluence Park and Old Colfax Avenue on an abandoned section of freight track that was purchased by the Denver Rail Heritage Society. A replica open bench trolley car was leased for use by the society and volunteers began the operation with daily service during the summer, and on weekends during the spring and fall. With support from the Regional Transportation District, the operation was extended west to Sheridan Blvd. on RTD track that was once part of the interurban line to Golden. Ownership of the track along the river eventually passed to the Regional Transportation District and was later purchased by the City and County of Denver. The Denver Rail Heritage Society now owns the trolley.

The trolley has provided a fun and enjoyable half hour ride along the river for people of all ages where they learn about the history of the area and its current attractions. The first run of the day is a longer, one hour, six mile round trip to Sheridan Blvd. The trolley currently operates regular runs Wednesday through Sunday during the summer, and on weekends in the spring and fall. It has also provided special service to schools, senior centers, Children's Museum, the Greenway Foundation, River Rafting, Broncos fans and other groups. To date, over 350,000 people from the metro area and elsewhere have ridden these rails. By its nature, where passengers ride with the operating crew on the trolley, it becomes a very interactive experience for all.

The Platte Valley Trolley's operation is similar to several other successful, urban environment, vintage trolleys that are operated by non-profit organizations in city parks and the city centers themselves. These include the Fort Collins Municipal Street Railway line in Ft. Collins, CO, the Como-Harriet line in Minneapolis, MN, and the world-famous cable cars and trolleys in San Francisco, CA.

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