Trolley Restoration Barn - Where Is This? (23. August 2006, 21:26 by Derek Young) ~ We Like This Photo
Put on your detective hats. Help us solve a little mystery. This photo was purchased in downtown Tacoma recently and the buyer was told it came from a local estate. The title of the 8×10 is “Trolley Restoration Barn”. It’s dated 1999. The photographer’s initials appear to be C.P. The little white box in the back of the photo says “Donations” on it. The question: Is it a local photo? Does this show a Tacoma streetcar? (The scan doesn’t do it justice. The photo is actually in very good shape.)
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You might get in touch with Morgan since there was a gentleman at one of the recent streetcar meetings saying that he restores vintage streetcars and actually has an original Tacoma streetcar. I believe they’re located in Kent.
1 | Posted by KevinFreitas | Aug 24, 05:44 AM
Local or not it’s a great photo! There are a couple historians that may know. I’ll see what I can find out.
3 | Posted by Monica | Aug 24, 05:59 AM
I found it. It’s in Yakima.
Link to InLiquid.com
Link to the Photographers's Website. He's in Tacoma.
From the Yakima site: www.yakimavalleytrolleys.org
The YVT built a stone and timber carbarn/shop building and a concrete and masonry substation in Yakima in 1910. They are still in use today. The overhead wire and the track are original also.
Yakima Valley Trolleys operate on the tracks of the former Yakima Valley Transportation Company (YVT) in Yakima, Washington, U.S.A. The YVT is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because it is the last authentic, all-original turn-of-the-century interurban railroad in the United States. The railroad was constructed between 1907 and 1913. Its greatest length was a little over 44 miles. Its present length is a little over 5 miles. It connects the city of Yakima with the town of Selah, Washington. It has operated every year since 1907.
The Yakima Valley Trolleys organization was incorporated in 2001 to operate the railroad for the City of Yakima (who owns the railroad and rolling stock). The trolleys provide a historical, educational trip for sightseers and students of vintage rail transit alike.
5 | Posted by Les | Aug 24, 08:19 AM
That is so cool! I was really hoping that the photo had been taken in Tacoma though :(
I should have known it was Chip based on the sig on the photo!
fyi: the guy up in Arlington who restores streetcars (and locomotives!) is getting some pictures to me of the Tacoma Streetcar he recently acquired.
Before the answer was posted, my knee-jerk bad guess was maybe it was the Pagoda trolley turnaround at Point Defiance. Then I realized it kind of looks like a shot inside the Georgetown (Seattle) Steam Plant. The Steam Plant Museum is an impressive building in itself, and also houses many small locomotives (and other stuff) in various states of restoration and storage. I was turned onto it by a garden railway friend. They have an open house in the summer, and garden railway clubs meet there once a month. Anyway, google-up “Anacortes railway†like on the denverrails website, or read Tommy’s Train . It’s quirky enough to be a Tacoma-thing. Cool photo – I really dig it.
7 | Posted by Dave L.(1) | Aug 24, 09:34 AM
After reading this message stream I just had to comment on the mention that the Yakima Valley line is the last “authentic” original interurban in the U.S. I know that’s what they claim in their website, but in my opinion this is somewhat of ambiguous statement. Just take a look at the ‘Iowa Traction’. Formerly the, Mason City & Clear Lake Railway, this 1897 vintage interurban runs just 10 miles of it’s formerly vast network between Mason City and Clear Lake Iowa (an area famous for the plane crash of Buddy Holly & company). Although the Yakima Valley line has run every year since 1907, the Iowa Traction has run regular, daily, freight service since 1897. Yes, the Yakima line has a turn of the century car barn and powerhouse, yet the ‘Iowa Traction’ has circa 1910’s-1920’s Baldwin electric locomotives that have run daily since their purchase by the railroad in the 40’s. Their track and wire are original as well. It is also the only electric interurban still hauling regular freight in the U.S.
For that matter , consider the ‘South Shore’ interurban; probably the last “true/authentic” U.S. interurban in the fact that it has regularly provided electric traction passenger service from south side Chicago to South Bend Indiana (i.e.”inter”urban) since 1904.
For more info, check out this website
on Iowa Traction
And for the South Shore
8 | Posted by Nick | Aug 24, 11:10 PM
Morgan – Did the Arlington fellow mention where he got the Tacoma Trolley? I’m on the trail of one in South Tacoma that I recall seeing in the mid 70’s.
9 | Posted by Les | Aug 25, 10:02 AM
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