Most recent progress: Spring 2024, the roof is on, doors are on and most of the siding is on.

In 2016 we completed a steel 40'x60' two stall Car Barn. In 2018 we started planning and fund-raising for a 43 foot extension to the Car Barn. We were outgrowing our 2-stall Car Barn. With the unanticipated impending arrival of several new-to-us trolley cars (see the MBTA Line Car and the "Berkshire Hills") we needed room for trolley car storage and restoration shop space.

Soon we expect to also be long-term host to an operating trolley with Massachusetts heritage. All of these trolleys deserve to have access to covered storage.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council's Cultural Facilities Fund has granted us a $50,000 matching grant to help us pay for this extension. We have also received a generous bequest from the estate of Dave and Polly Bartlett. Grants from Amherst Railway Society and Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts have been supplemented by many smaller donations from individuals. We have raised 100% of our budget, but our budget assumes that our volunteers will do much of the labor. Anything we can raise beyond our budget means that we can hire professionals to help make the project move quicker. Funds left over after that will go toward buying lifts so that we can raise a complete trolley car up to easily and safely work underneath it.

Here are some pictures of the project:

Nov 2023 This is the east end of the existing 2016 Car Barn. We've removed a small shed and some trees to make room for the extension.

Nov 2023 - W.R. Hillman has excavated for the footings and the frost walls for the foundation.

Dec 2023 - Hillside Concrete has built the forms for the frost walls.

Dec 2023 - Hillside Concrete has completed the foundation, lucky the weather held.

Jan 2024 - The foundation has been backfilled.
Nash, Martin and Sam removed one of the Stall One doors to be used later.
Line Car 3283 gets a little sun on her face.

Jan 2024 - Both doors are off. The opening has been temporarily filled with scrap siding panels.

Jan 2024 - Gagne Mechanical has put up the columns with the Drott crane. Looks like Stonehenge.

Jan 2024 - Gagne Mechanical uses a telehandler to hang the trusses onto the columns.

Jan 2024 - Gagne Mechanical crew installs the first pieces of siding.

Jan 2024 - Gagne Mechanical has all the lower side siding installed.

Jan 2024 - Both sides are complete.

Feb 2024 - Some of the end siding is installed.

Feb 2024 - Gagne Mechanical finishes the roof.

Feb 2024 - Volunteers Martin and Nash get ready to hang one of the big doors.

Mar 2024 - Now both doors are hung and operational.

Mar 2024 - Martin contemplates getting the rails from the Drott to the track.

Apr 2024 - Both rails, with anchors for concrete, are installed for the extension of Stall One.
Note that much of the old end wall has been removed.

The floor drains are in and connected to the oil/water separator as well. More concrete and a bunch of wiring are all that is left.

We don't have an Annual Appeal. We hope you'll continue to be a Member of The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum and make your usual generous donations, and make an extra donation to help us extend our Car Barn. The DONATE button below makes it very easy!

The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum exists due to the generosity of members, visitors and friends.  Tickets cover about one-third of our operating costs.  Donations are tax-deductible, the museum is a 501(c)(3) organization, run entirely by volunteers. Our Tax ID is 04-3133373. Feel free to research our operation at Guidestar.org.

To make a financial donation, please send a check made out to "SFTM", to:

Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum
PO BOX 272
14 Depot Street
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

If you wish you may designate your donation for a specific SFTM project in the memo line of your check:
General Fund, Car Barn Extension, "Berkshire Hills" Parlor Trolley, MBTA PCC Cars, B&M Box Car, MBTA Line Car 3283, CV Caboose 4015 or Volunteer Appreciation.
The General Fund is available for us to use to cover our costs of operation (insurance, electricity, etc.) or, if we have enough, we can transfer it to one of the other project funds.

After you click the "Donate" button below you may designate your donation for a specific SFTM project:
General Fund, Car Barn Extension, "Berkshire Hills" Parlor Trolley, MBTA PCC Cars, B&M Box Car, MBTA Line Car 3283, CV Caboose 4015 or Volunteer Appreciation.
The General Fund is available for us to use to cover our costs of operation (insurance, electricity, etc.) or, if we have enough, we can transfer it to one of the other project funds.

This is for Donations only. To Join or Renew your membership, go here.

Check back here for updates as we continue this important project!