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Whitehorse Waterfront Trolley

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Coordinates: 60°43′18″N 135°03′04″W / 60.7217°N 135.0510°W / 60.7217; -135.0510
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Whitehorse Waterfront Trolley
Overview
LocaleWhitehorse, Yukon
Transit typeHeritage streetcar, seasonal
Number of lines1
Number of stations4 (7 before 2018)
Operation
Began operationJuly 15, 2000 [1]
Restart June 14, 2024[2]
Ended operationSeptember 1, 2018 [3] (last service)
2019 (official termination)
Operator(s)MacBride Museum[4]
Technical
System length2 km (1.2 mi) (before 2018)
Track gauge3 ft (914 mm)

The Whitehorse Waterfront Trolley is a heritage streetcar service in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.[5][6]

The line uses a single reconditioned trolley which carried tourists along Whitehorse's waterfront along the Yukon River. It runs from the Rotary Peace Park, located on the south end of the city centre, up to the Roundhouse.

The trolley was first put into operation in 2000. The electricity to power its electric motors comes not from overhead trolley wires, but instead from a diesel generator. The car ran each year from July to September, until 2018. It restarted service in for 2023.

Car 531 details

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Whitehorse Waterfront Trolley
In service1925–1973 in Lisbon;
2000–2019
ManufacturerSanto Amaro Works of Lisbon electric tramways, Portugal using kits from the J. G. Brill Company, Philadelphia
Constructed1925
Number built24
Capacity24 seats
Specifications
Maximum speed74 km/h (46 mph)[6]
Weight10 t (11.0 short tons; 9.8 long tons)
Traction systemElectric
Engine typeDiesel engine on the generator car
Traction motors4 × General Electric
Power output4 × 25 hp (19 kW)
Electric system(s)600 V DC from a diesel generator
(originally 550 V DC trolley wires on the Lisbon electric tramways)
Current collector(s)jumper cable
Track gauge3 ft (914 mm)
(originally 900 mm or 2 ft 11+7⁄16 in on the Lisbon electric tramways)

The car originally served the trolley/streetcar system of Lisbon, Portugal, from 1925 to 1978. In 1978 it was sold along with car 530 by CCFL to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth. In 1999 it was sold to Whitehorse and restored by Historic Railway Restoration of Arlington, WA.[7][8]

The trolley is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge vehicle and ran on the track built for the White Pass and Yukon Route. It has a capacity of 24 passengers.[6] This single-truck (4-wheels on 2-axles), double-ended trolley car was previously owned by Lake Superior Railroad Museum, which still owns sister car 530,[9] and both cars were originally used by Companhia de Carris de Ferro de Lisboa (Carris) in Lisbon, Portugal.

Stations

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Diagram:
 Spook Creek
Jarvis Street
Cultural Centre
Roundhouse
White Pass
Info. Centre
Rotary Park
to Carcross
Closed:

2018
1997
  • Spook Creek (Not in use since 2018)
  • Jarvis Street (Not in use since 2018)
  • Library and Cultural Centre (Request only) (Not in use since 2018)
  • Trolley Roundhouse
  • White Pass
  • Visitor Information Centre
  • Rotary Park

Until 2018, it ran daily from noon until four o'clock. A complete trip, viewing all stations, took approximately 15 minutes.[citation needed] The car is stored in a roundhouse/train shed at 1127 First Avenue (end of Wood Street).

Cancellation of service

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While repairs to the track aimed to have service resumed by mid-summer 2018,[10] it was announced the trolley would not operate in the 2018 season.[11] In April 2018, the Yukon Government announced they would cease funding the trolley due to its financial burden.[12] Shortly after, in June 2019, track infrastructure was still deteriorating and considered a hazard.[13] One month later, near the end of July 2019, due to concerns about deteriorating timber that covered street-running areas, these sections were lifted.[14]

Revival

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On June 14, 2024, the service was reintroduced on a shorter stretch, from Roundhouse to Rotary Park. In summer, the timetable is Tuesday to Friday, noon to 4 pm, along with various special evening events. Autumn timetable being Saturdays only, noon to 3pm.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Transit History of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory". home.cc.umanitoba.ca.
  2. ^ "Facebook page of the MacBride Waterfront Trolley". Facebook. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Log into Facebook". Facebook. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  4. ^ "MacBride Museum | Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada". macbridemuseum.com.
  5. ^ "Whitehorse Trolley Project Pushed Ahead". CBC News. January 6, 2000. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
  6. ^ a b c "The Whitehorse Trolley". Explore North. September 13, 2000. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  7. ^ "Yukon". Historic Railway Restoration. Archived from the original on 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  8. ^ Richard Thompson: “Portuguese Trams Imported by Gales Creek Enterprises (1974-1993)” The Transfer 25:1 (2020.03-06): p.1+3+-11. Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society: Brooks, US-OR.
  9. ^ "Miscellaneous Holdings". Archived from the original on 2017-09-13. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
  10. ^ "Whitehorse waterfront trolley on track to reopen next month". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  11. ^ "The little Whitehorse trolley that can't... this summer". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  12. ^ "End of the line for Whitehorse trolley, as government funding dries up". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  13. ^ "Rotten trolley crossings are safety hazard, says Whitehorse councillor". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  14. ^ "Parts of Whitehorse's trolley tracks are being removed". Yukon News. Black Press. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
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60°43′18″N 135°03′04″W / 60.7217°N 135.0510°W / 60.7217; -135.0510

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