Not many of us take the train to work any longer, depending on where we live, but you can step back in time to the first half of the 20th century and relive the heyday of suburban railcars at the Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven, CT.

Opened in 1900, the ‘F’ trolley route of the Connecticut Company connected downtown New Haven with the nearby communities of East Haven and Branford. This public transportation ran for decades, allowing folks in these communities to work in the larger New Haven until 1947 when the line closed. The museum took over immediately after, making this the oldest continuously running suburban trolley line in the United States.

Today at the museum, you can enjoy more than 100 vintage trolley cars, displays on the mechanics and history of the trolley lines, and a ride on a portion of the “F” line itself.
KDC in USA/Google
Start your visit at Sprague Station, where you purchase your tickets for the ride on a trolley car. You can ride the trolley cars as many times as you want during the day of your visit!
Heather D/Google
Inside the station is a museum that chronicles the history of trolley cars. Peek inside the restored cars and imagine taking one of these treasures home from work.
J.R. Logan/Google

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Learn about the history and technology of trolley railroads in the indoor exhibits. The museum also features a miniature train set and town.
KDC in USA/Google
The trolley cars depart continuously throughout the day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum suggests being at the car 10 to 15 minutes before departure time. The trolleys are constantly swapped out and maintained, so you’re never quite sure which one you’ll get to ride!
Dawn W./Google
Your trolley operator will take you on a mile-and-a-half ride down the Branford Electric Railway. The ride passes through scenic saltwater marshes. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife such as ospreys.
Heather D/Google

You can visit the museum’s website to learn more about the history of the area’s trolleys as well as view their event calendar, which includes several holiday events.

Have you visited the Shore Line Trolley Museum? What trolley did you get to ride? Let us know about your experience in the comments!

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The Shore Line Trolley Museum, 17 River St, East Haven, CT 06512, USA