Trolley # 002 on display again

As part of the greenway opening celebration, one of the Loop Trolleys was on show, parked at the Kingsbury stop on DeBaliviere. Naturally, I went along to see it, and I also found out that the delayed 3rd trolley is due later this month. Test running has started along the eastern end of the route, and operator training is well underway.

I asked if a decision on pricing had been made yet, and was told that an official press release is due in the next few days, but that tickets would be $2 for 2 hours, or $5 for an all day pass. Cash would not be taken on the trolleys, and each stop would have a ticket machine, plus there would be an app to enable online ticket purchases. There will be discounts for the over 65, and very young children can ride free, but there are no plans for any concession for local residents.

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Arrival of #2

Trolley #2 was due to arrive at Loop Trolley Headquarters (or “The Trolley Shed” as I prefer to call it) today, and I wanted to go along for some pictures. Just as I turned the corner from DeBaliviere into Delmar I saw the “Large Load” vehicle just going past the junction with Goodfellow, so I quickly parked and got out with my camera.

There were crews from Fox 2 there, and the local business people also came out to take photos of the big event. Joe Edwards was there and he was his normal ebullient self about the trolley. He tells me they are still doing testing without power at the moment, but he is hoping that powered testing will start in a couple of weeks.

It was interesting to see that they charged up the trolley and it got off the low-loader under its own power, before being pulled by a truck into the Trolley Shed. It was also fun to watch for the first time the trolley, buses, trucks and cars all sharing the same street space.

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More photos can be found on my Facebook Page.

On the Tracks!

This morning saw the first outing for the first Delmar Loop Trolley. Today, Trolley #1 was being pulled (and sometimes pushed) along the tracks, and the object was just to check clearances. But it gave the rest of us our first chance to see the trolley moving!

It started from the Trolley Shed and went west to the terminus at the end of Delmar and then returned. I caught up with the trolley as it was crossing Skinker as it was returning east, and followed it along past the old Delmar station, rounded the corner into DeBaliviere, then crossed Forest Park Parkway and Lindell Boulevard, before reaching the end of the line by the Missouri History Museum.

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More photos can be found on my Facebook page.

Loop Trolley ready to roll!

Trolley # 1 is ready to roll, and is due to start testing within the next 2 weeks. Testing will, we were told today, first be the trolley being pulled/pushed along the route to test clearances and basic safety. Following that, power will be applied and the trolleys themselves will be tested, at first slowly, then at full operating speeds – 25 mph! All the switches and signals will also be tested, and the trolleys will complete 300 miles of live testing before being open to the public – so we can expect to get familiar with the clang, clang, clang of the trolley very soon!

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Today’s press conference was my first opportunity to actually get onto a Trolley, and the inside is really smart. I was interested to see that the seat backs move back and forward, so one can face in either direction. Participating in the today’s event were,  among others, Joe Edwards, U City Mayor Shelley Welsch, Alderwoman Lyda Krewson, Alderman Frank Watson, along with Loop Trolley personnel and interested parties from the Loop, Forest Park Forever, and Skinker DeBaliviere.

 

Underneath

The Delmar Loop Trolley construction continues to give us unusual views of infrastructure that we’d not normally see.

This junction will soon be covered with concrete, but until then we are able to see the inner workings of the track.

Trolley Stops

The areas next to the Loop Trolley stops along DeBaliviere have shrubs planted as well as the trees.

Plants!

Planting has started along the Greenway next to the Loop Trolley!

And Finally…

Work has started on preparing for the final piece of track for the Delmar Loop Trolley, at the junction of Pershing and DeBaliviere.

Sidewalk Closed

I wonder why?

Have a Seat

The Trolley Stops along DeBaliviere now have seats!