Transit Museum/Car House

The Future – The Capital Expansion Plan

The Equipment – Living History in Motion

Car No. 1997 Open bench, 58 passenger, open air trolley
No. 1977 is the current operating car and is modeled after cars that were once used in Denver for sightseeing around the city. The No. 1977 is used in the spring, summer and fall is very popular. Approximately 350 Bronco fans also ride the car to the games during football season. It was constructed with a temporary, built in diesel electric generator by the GOMACO Trolley Company of Ida Grove, Iowa.

Denver & Intermountain Railroad Co. interurban No. 25
Built in Denver in 1911 by the Woeber Carriage Company and listed on the State Register of Historic Properties, No. 25 is one of Denver's first light rail cars that provided all weather service between Denver and Golden until 1950. It is the only completely intact Denver trolley car remaining out of over 250 cars. Restoration by the Rocky Mountain Railroad Historical Foundation is nearing completion at the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood after the contribution of over 15,000 volunteer hours and $100,000 of funding. It is proposed that No. 25 operate on the Platte Valley Trolley line pending successful completion of a building in which to house and maintain it and pending approval by the foundation's board of directors.

Denver Tramway Company city trolley cars
These cars would be restored to serve as enclosed cars and represent the type of trolleys that once served the city on over hundreds of miles of track. The cars would be preserved and displayed in the building until restoration begins at a date to be determined. Several trolley car bodies exist for this purpose. The Denver Rail Heritage Society owns car No..04. It is historically significant because it made the very last regular run of any Denver trolley car on July 2, 1950. The society also owns car No. 83 that was built in 1911 and was one of the few cars never modified into one man operation. RTD owns car No. 117 and that car is also a prime candidate for restoration.

Denver Tramway Company Brill trolley bus No. 519
From 1940 to 1955, a fleet of 208 electric trolley buses were acquired as part of the program to discontinue trolley rail operations. Trolley bus No. 519, is a Brill Westinghouse 44 seat coach Model 44STM. It was included in the second batch of pre-war Brill trolley buses received in June of 1940 to initiate service on four city routes. Not only does No. 519 symbolize a change in the direction of Denver's public transit, it highlights the efforts of a major electric trolley manufacturing company, the J. G. Brill Company of Philadelphia, to make the transition to buses. Quiet, clean and fast, this historic bus would provide an excellent, static display for the interpretation of the evolution of Denver's mass transit system. The trolley bus is owned by the Regional Transit District and is a historical gem in very good condition. It would be displayed with the agreement of RTD.

General Motors Diesel city bus No. 119
This classic bus changed the history of mass transit in cities though out the country. Denver Tramway Company's No. 119, Model No. TDH5105 is nearing its 50th birthday. It entered service in 1958. RTD, who owns the bus, has maintained it in excellent condition. It could be used in limited charter service in conjunction with the trolley service to provide rides and historic tours of Denver's neighborhoods. Denver Public School children could be brought to the Denver Transit Museum as part of their museum and trolley ride experience. This program could be a cooperative venture with RTD and its employees.

Next: Trolley Stops and Neighborhoods