[Back to Issaquah]

Issaquah, WA — Trolley On Track

Rail Transit Online, October 2000

Heritage streetcar service along a mile-long stretch of track in Issaquah may be running in time for the holiday season.  A 1927 single-truck Brill built for the system in Oporto, Portugal, has been borrowed from the city of Yakima and hopefully will arrive in time for static display during the Salmon Days festival the weekend of Oct. 7-8.  The car is being loaned to Issaquah at no cost in exchange for cosmetic refurbishing of its rattan seats and orange and cream paint by volunteers from the Issaquah Historical Society's Millennium Trolley project.  Since no overhead has yet been erected, a generator mounted on a trailer will initially power the car.  Issaquah, which is located 17 miles east of Seattle, has purchased an abandoned rail corridor between downtown and Northwest Gilman Boulevard at a cost of nearly $1 million (see RTOL, March 2000). The trolley group also owns some right-of-way that could be used for an extension north toward Lake Sammamish State Park.  Elected officials have been enthusiastic supporters of the heritage trolley.  “We wouldn't be likely to solve transportation problems with streetcars, but it's a charming thing to have in our community,” Mayor Ava Frisi told the Seattle Times.  “I think they're neat.” 

[Back to Issaquah]