December 2024, Car Barn Extension completed!

In 2016 we built 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.
Then we use the plates and bolts to line and level the track before grouting.
Note that much of the old end wall has been removed.

Apr 2024 - Hillside Concrete spreads the concrete for the pad under the rails in Stall One.

Apr 2024 - This surface does not need to be smooth because it will be covered by the floor.

Apr 2024 - Then Nash and Sam grouted the rails.

Apr 2024 - Reinforcing wire mesh, plastic and floor drains are ready for the floor to be poured.

Apr 2024 - It is handy that the Graves Concrete truck can drive right in the Car Barn to pour the floor.

Apr 2024 - This is the final floor surface, it will be right up to the rail heads.

Apr 2024 - Hillside Concrete screeds and floats the floor to get a smooth, level finish.

Apr 2024 - Here is the finished product, Stall One is complete!

Apr 2024 - W.R. Hillman Co. comes back to prep Stall Two for the recess for the lifts.

May 2024 - Ready for more floor to be poured.

May 2024 - Forming for the recess for the lifts.

May 2024 - Pouring Stall Two floor.

July 2024 - Looking from the extended Car Barn into the original building, the interior wall is gone now.

July 2024 - Now we have more space!

July 2024 - Dick works on corner trim.

Sept 2024 - A view into the newly extended Car Barn, showing the recess where lifts will eventually go.

Oct 2024 - Just a bit of trim left.

Dec 2024 - Sam installs the last piece of trim.

Dec 2024 - The Car Barn extension is complete!

Dec 2024 - Compare this final view to the view at the top of the project prior to the extension.

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, as we have many ongoing projects. 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.