Vintage Cars, Fire Trucks & Trolleys
June 21 will be your chance to experience the way your grandparents traveled around town. The 2014 “Golden Oldies” antique transportation show and trolley rides provide an opportunity to see the vehicles your father or grandfather drove, and experience a ride on a trolley car of the same period. On display will be automobiles and fire trucks that date from throughout the 20th Century, and operating that day will be trolley cars from the early 1900’s to the late 1930’s.
A special feature this year will be our display of antique fire engines from years ago. Children of all ages will be able to climb aboard the engines wearing their special gift: their very own firefighter’s helmet!
The antique cars will be displayed in the parking lot of Sprague Station where plenty of free visitor parking is also available. As an added feature there will be coffee available in the morning hours and lunch will be available for purchase throughout the day in the trolley yard. Listen to music of the period while you tour the antique cars and fire trucks, then take a relaxing ride on one of our historic trolley cars along some of the most beautiful salt marshes in Connecticut.
The Golden Oldies show kicks off at 9 AM when the automobiles will be on display. The first trolley will leave the station at 10 AM for a 45 minute ride and tour to the fire truck show at the trolley yard. Trolleys on display this year include historic Rhode Island car 61 (built in 1893) which has been totally restored by one of our members. The self guided trolley tour this year also includes the shop overlook area. Get firsthand look at how historic trolley cars such as number 356 undergo total restoration. We do things the old fashioned way: hot rivets, babbitted bearings and hand crafted woodworking are the staples of our shop. This same care and craftsmanship go into the repair and restoration of the fire trucks and antique cars as well, so be sure to talk to their owners!
Your visit will also include unlimited trolley rides, the antique car exhibit, fire truck display and tour of our trolley buildings. At 12 noon we will play the national anthem in the yard and then have a siren salute to our country and veterans (yes, it is loud!). The fire trucks and cars will remain on display until 3 PM. Trolley cars will continue to run down the scenic Shore Line with the last run leaving at 4:30 PM.
Admission rates:
- Adults $10.00
- Seniors (62+) $8.00
- Children (2-15) $6.00
Don’t forget the camera, take as many photos as you like! In addition, the air-conditioned indoor museum exhibits will be open as well as the theater and our museum store. Pick up some postcards to mail to friends or a gift for other trolley-fans in your life.
The “Golden Oldies” event is offered by the Shore Line trolley Museum as a fundraiser to support the operations and maintenance of the museum’s 95 trolley cars. Proceeds help promote the museum’s efforts to preserve trolley car history.