Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum, Massachusetts
Trolley and streetcar museumTrain ridesRides on weekends and federal holidays, late May to October 31
The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum keeps Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway car No. 10 running in the same freight yard it served a century ago, after the 1896 trolley spent decades as a chicken coop on a local farm.
- 1896 trolley car No. 10
- Pump car rides included
- Free grounds and visitor center
- All-day ride pass
- Trolley is wheelchair accessible
- All-volunteer nonprofit
Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays, 11 am to 5 pm, May 23 to October 31 (2026 season)
- Admission
- Grounds, Visitors Center and gift shop free; all-day ride pass $5 adults, $3 ages 6 to 17, free 5 and under
- Train rides
- Trolley No. 10 and pump car rides on demand during open hours, included in the all-day pass; speeder rides on select Saturdays
- Seasonal events
- Opening Day, Speeder Days, Father's Day, Follow the Trolley Day, Hobo Encampment, Grandparent's Day, Moonlight Magic
- Plan for
- About 1 to 1.5 hours
- Best for
- Young families and anyone visiting the Bridge of Flowers
- Best ages
- Ages 2 to 10
- Parking
- Parking in the rail yard at the end of Depot Street; bus parking available
- Accessibility
- Visitors Center, restrooms and the trolley car are wheelchair accessible.
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address14 Depot Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(413) 625-9443
- Emailtrolley@sftm.org
- Alsocharters@sftm.org
- Alsomembership@sftm.org
- Websitesftm.org(opens in a new tab)
Follow Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Shelburne Falls.
Rally Takes the Train
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The trolley that came home from the chicken coop
In 1896 the Wason Manufacturing Company of Springfield built a combination passenger and baggage trolley for the Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway. Car No. 10 was delivered new to Shelburne Falls and, as the museum likes to point out, has never left the valley. For about thirty years it carried passengers, apples, mail, milk and freight between its namesake towns, and for twenty of those years it rolled across the Deerfield River on a bridge the railway built in 1908 to reach the Boston & Maine and New Haven station on the Buckland side. That bridge is now the Bridge of Flowers.
When the trolley company stopped running, a local farmer bought the car in 1928. It spent about sixty-five years as a chicken coop, tool shed and playhouse. In 1992 his son, Marshall Johnson, donated the body to a small group of people who believed it could run again.
Volunteers and professionals rebuilt it piece by piece, and on October 9, 1999 the restored No. 10 made its formal return to service at a festival honoring the car, its donor and everyone who helped make what the museum calls an impossible dream real. Wikipedia describes it as the last known car from the Shelburne Falls & Colrain line. Today the all-volunteer nonprofit runs it in the old Boston & Maine freight yard in Buckland, where the car once loaded and unloaded passengers and freight.
A freight yard of trolleys, cabooses and a pump car
Your visit centers on a 15-minute ride aboard car No. 10, with a talk about the trolley, the Bridge of Flowers and the street railway. The same pass covers a ride on the antique pump car, which riders power themselves. In the Visitors Center you will find historical photos, models and videos from the trolley era, a Kids Corner with wooden and electric trains, and the TrolleyStop gift shop.
Outside, the yard holds an ex-Central Vermont caboose you can climb into, the trolley parlor car "Berkshire Hills", two MBTA PCC streetcars (3299 and 3321), an MBTA line car under restoration, Bangor & Aroostook passenger car 230, a Boston & Maine boxcar, velocipedes and a trackmobile. The museum sits beside the river overlooking the glacial potholes and the Bridge of Flowers, so a walk into the village after your ride is easy.
Don’t miss
- Trolley car No. 10The 1896 Wason-built combine that served Shelburne Falls and Colrain, survived 65 years on a farm and has run again since 1999.
- The pump carA hand-powered rail car included with your pass; the museum says it is not suitable for small children.
- Central Vermont caboose 4015The big red caboose outside the Visitors Center that kids are welcome to climb into.
- Parlor car "Berkshire Hills"A trolley parlor car from the era when electric railways offered first-class travel between towns.
- MBTA line car 3283A work car under restoration, funded by recent grants and a matching donation drive.
- Kids CornerWooden and electric trains in the Visitors Center that the museum says suit children of all ages.
Toy trains, a caboose and a motorman's bell
Little ones can ride the trolley free if they are 5 or under, then head inside to the Kids Corner, where wooden and electric trains are out for play. Outside, the red caboose is open for climbing. The pump car is better for older kids, since the museum notes it is not suitable for small children, and on Speeder Days the regular pass includes rides on a motor car.
Rides run on demand during open hours with no reservations needed, which takes pressure off families with short attention spans. Rides pause if thunderstorms are nearby. The Visitors Center, restrooms and the trolley car are all wheelchair accessible.
Plan your visit: tips for Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum
- Set your GPS to Depot Street, not Depot Road in Buckland; the museum warns mapping apps get this wrong.
- Your all-day pass covers unlimited trolley rides for the rest of the day.
- Members always ride free.
- Tell the museum ahead if your group is larger than 16 people during regular hours.
- Put SFTM in the subject line of any email so it gets past spam filters.
The trolley season closes on October 31, and the museum opens again on the evening after Thanksgiving for Shelburne Falls' Moonlight Magic, with trolley rides for anyone downtown. For more holiday options, browse Christmas train rides in Massachusetts.
An all-volunteer crew
The museum is an all-volunteer nonprofit funded by memberships and donations. Spring Training Days teach new volunteers to run the trolley as a motorman or conductor or to operate the pump car, with lunch provided. Membership forms are on the museum's site, members ride free, and the museum also welcomes donations of railroad and trolley artifacts and contributions toward restoring its MBTA line car.
Other rail stops within an hour or so
The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum runs train rides from Adams about 30 miles west, and the Chester Railway Station & Museum is roughly 26 miles south. North into Vermont, the Bellows Falls Railroad Station historic site is about 39 miles away. See all the train museums in Massachusetts.
- Chester Railway Station & MuseumChester, MA · about 26 mi
- Berkshire Scenic Railway MuseumLenox / Adams, MA · about 30 mi
- Bellows Falls Railroad Station historic siteBellows Falls, VT · about 39 mi
- Green Mountain RailroadChester / Bellows Falls, VT · about 46 mi
- Connecticut Trolley MuseumEast Windsor, CT · about 48 mi
- New England Civil War Museum / historic railroad exhibitsRockville, CT · about 54 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Every spring this museum holds Training Days where volunteers learn to be motormen and conductors, and I love that someone has to be taught to hold out a hand and help people aboard. In our book, Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform does exactly that for Rally, Mom and Dad. My mom imagined him first. You can read about her on our story page.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Massachusetts: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Massachusetts
- Halloween train rides in Massachusetts
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum official website(opens in a new tab)
- Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum on Tripadvisor(opens in a new tab)
- Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum on Wikipedia(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum: 20 questions families ask
How much are Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum tickets?
As of October 2026, an all-day ride pass is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 6 to 17, and free for children 5 and under. The pass covers trolley rides and pump car rides for the rest of the day. Admission to the grounds, the Visitors Center and the TrolleyStop gift shop is free, and members always ride free.
What are the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the museum runs Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays from 11 am to 5 pm, from May 23 through October 31. It is closed on regular weekdays. The museum asks visitors to trust its own schedule page over other listings online, and to let it know if they find conflicting hours elsewhere.
Do I need reservations to ride the Shelburne Falls trolley?
No. During open hours, trolley and pump car rides run on demand and advance reservations are not needed. Just buy a pass when you arrive. The exception is a visit outside regular hours, such as a private party or field trip, which must be booked ahead with the museum.
Where is the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum?
It is at 14 Depot Street in Shelburne Falls, at the far end of the old freight yard on the Buckland side of the village, near the Bridge of Flowers. Follow Depot Street past the Blue Rock Cafe until it turns to gravel. The museum warns that GPS apps often confuse it with Depot Road in Buckland.
How long is the trolley ride at Shelburne Falls?
Each ride on trolley car No. 10 lasts about 15 minutes and includes a talk about the trolley, the Bridge of Flowers and the Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway. Because the pass is good all day, many families ride more than once and add a pump car ride. Plan about an hour or a little more.
How old is the trolley at the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum?
Car No. 10 was built in 1896 by the Wason Manufacturing Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, for the Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway. It is a combination passenger and baggage car, and it was delivered new to Shelburne Falls. After restoration, it returned to service on October 9, 1999.
Did the Shelburne Falls trolley really cross the Bridge of Flowers?
Yes. The Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway built the bridge in 1908 to connect its line with the Boston & Maine and New Haven station on the Buckland side of the Deerfield River. Car No. 10 crossed it for about twenty years. The bridge later became the Bridge of Flowers, now known for its garden displays.
How was trolley No. 10 saved?
When the trolley line shut down, a local farmer bought car No. 10 in 1928, and it spent about sixty-five years as a chicken coop, tool shed and playhouse. His son Marshall Johnson donated the car body to the museum in 1992, and volunteers and professionals restored it to working order by 1999.
Is the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum good for toddlers?
Yes. Children 5 and under ride free, the Kids Corner has wooden and electric trains for all ages, and the red caboose outside is open to climb into. Rides are short and run on demand, so you can go at your child's pace. Skip the pump car with very small children, as the museum advises.
What is the pump car at the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum?
The pump car is an antique hand car that riders move along the track themselves by pumping a handle. Rides are included in the all-day pass and are often available during open hours. The museum notes that the pump car is not suitable for small children, so it suits older kids and adults best.
Is the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The museum says its Visitors Center and restrooms are wheelchair accessible, and so is the trolley car itself. The grounds are a former railroad freight yard with gravel, so call (413) 625-9443 ahead if you want details about getting from the parking area to the platform.
Can I have a birthday party at the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum?
Yes. For a fixed fee the museum provides party space in the museum, the caboose or the car barn, with Brio and Lionel trains and coloring supplies, plus trolley rides for the first two hours and a gift for the birthday child. You bring food and decorations. Email charters@sftm.org or call Sam Bartlett at (413) 834-0274.
Does the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum host school field trips?
Yes. School groups of any age can tour the equipment, see historic photos, ride the trolley and learn how trolleys and railroads worked. Visits outside regular hours need a reservation and a fee, listed on the group reservation form. Confirm about a week ahead, and note that early spring track work can limit operation.
What special events does the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum hold?
The 2026 calendar included Speeder Days with motor car rides, free rides for fathers on Father's Day, Follow the Trolley Day along the old line's route, a Hobo Encampment of living history reenactors, and Grandparent's Day. The museum also opens for Moonlight Magic on the evening after Thanksgiving. Check the events page for dates.
What else is in the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum collection?
Besides car No. 10, the yard holds a Central Vermont caboose, the trolley parlor car Berkshire Hills, two MBTA PCC streetcars, an MBTA line car under restoration, a Bangor & Aroostook passenger car, a Boston & Maine boxcar, a flatcar, velocipedes and a trackmobile. The museum's former steam locomotive 10 is now at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum.
Does the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum have a gift shop?
Yes. The TrolleyStop gift shop in the Visitors Center sells trolley and railroad related items and is free to browse, along with the photo exhibits and Kids Corner. It is open during regular hours, and the Visitors Center and shop can open at other times by reservation for groups.
What do Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum reviews say?
The museum has a Tripadvisor page where visitors describe the all-day pass, the trolley talk, the pump car and the Visitors Center. Its own website also has a reviews page. Families often mention how easily it fits with a walk across the Bridge of Flowers and lunch in the village. Read recent reviews for current impressions.
How do I contact the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum?
Call (413) 625-9443 during business hours or leave a message, and someone will call back in a day or so. For a faster answer, the museum lists Sam Bartlett at (413) 834-0274. General email is trolley@sftm.org; put SFTM in the subject line so it gets past the spam filter.
How can I volunteer at the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum?
The all-volunteer museum holds spring Training Days where you can qualify as a motorman or motorwoman, conductor or pump car operator, with lunch provided. Its website has a Join Our Crew page and membership forms, and membership questions go to membership@sftm.org. Donations of money and trolley artifacts are welcome too.
What train museums are near the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum?
The Chester Railway Station & Museum is about 26 miles away, and the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum, with train rides from Adams, is about 30 miles. In Vermont, the Bellows Falls Railroad Station historic site is about 39 miles and the Green Mountain Railroad about 46. The Connecticut Trolley Museum is roughly 48 miles south.
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