The 1876 is running on the street on their last run of the day.
February 24, 2007
The Yakima Valley Trolleys (YVT) is a unique operation in Washington state. While most railway museums have their steam and diesel locomotives, the YVT is an electrically powered traction railroad.
The zenith of traction companies was roughly from 1890 to 1920. Traction companies were formed all over the country to provide freight and passenger service to towns and communities that had been bypassed by the railroad main, and branch lines. After WWI, most trolley companies found they could no longer compete with truck lines, and privately owned automobiles, and most were gone by the beginning of WWII.
The YVT is one of the few lines that managed to hang on and survive, but only barely. Now in 2007, they're celebrating their 100th anniversary. At it's height, the YVT had 44 miles of track and interchanged with the Northern Pacific at Yakima. Today, the YVT has about 5 miles of track, the north end is at Selah.
The current operating passenger equipment are two trolleys imported from Portugal. The musuem also owns two "master unit" cars that are native to the YVT. They will be returned to service as time, materials and funds are available.
The 1876 is running on the street on their last run of the day.
The 1876 beside the carbarn.
The 1776 beside the carbarn before the second run of the day.
The 1776 at Selah.
The interior or the 1776.
Running from Selah south to Yakima beside the Yakima River and the BNSF mainline.