Historic Trolley Car #1414 Comes Home To Shore Line Trolley Museum

EAST HAVEN, CT —After a remarkable 27-year stint as a beloved attraction at Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut Company's iconic open trolley car 1414 is making its triumphant return to the Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven. With its rich history dating back to 1911, Car 1414 holds a special place in the hearts of locals and enthusiasts alike.

Originally constructed for the New Haven division of the Connecticut Company, Car 1414 represents an era when trolley cars were the lifeblood of transportation and leisure activities in the state. These open trolley cars were once a quintessential part of summer recreation, ferrying passengers to beaches, parks, and other attractions throughout Connecticut.

Notably, New Haven maintained a fleet of 80 open cars, including Car 1414, to accommodate the bustling crowds attending Yale Bowl football games. The sight of these vibrant trolleys became synonymous with summer festivities and community gatherings, capturing the spirit of an era now immortalized in memory.

Despite their popularity, the heyday of open trolley cars waned in the late 1920s, and the last fleet of these nostalgic vehicles in New Haven made its final run on Thanksgiving Day in 1947.

Subsequently, trolley service in New Haven, the last major city in Connecticut to utilize these charming cars, ceased on Sept. 25, 1948.

The return of Car 1414 to the Shore Line Trolley Museum represents a homecoming filled with nostalgia and anticipation. Visitors will once again have the opportunity to step aboard this historic relic, reconnecting with a bygone era of transportation and leisure. Its arrival serves as a poignant reminder of Connecticut's rich trolley heritage and the enduring legacy of these iconic vehicles.

"We are thrilled to welcome Car 1414 back to its rightful place at the Shore Line Trolley Museum," Museum Executive Director John Proto said. "This trolley holds immense historical significance, not just as a mode of transportation but as a symbol of community and leisure. Its return is a testament to our commitment to preserving Connecticut's trolley history and sharing it with future generations."

Once it arrives Thursday, the historic trolley car will undergo a "thorough inspection along with some electrical reconfiguration that allows the car to operate on the museum’s 1.5 mile trolley line," Proto said.

About the Shore Line Trolley Museum

The Mission of The Shore Line Trolley Museum is to preserve and share the social and technological history and continuing impact of urban and suburban public transportation systems by sustaining and operating historic vehicles on the oldest continuously running suburban trolley line in the United States. The museum operates as the Branford Electric Railway Association, a National Historic District. The museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit and all donations are tax-deductible. For more information, visit www.shorelinetrolley.org or call the museum at (203) 467-6927.