Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum
Qualification training days for our 2025 operating season will take place on Saturday May 10th and Sunday May 18th. Starting time will be 10:00am. Please be prompt!
Qualification training sessions are for returning Trolley Car Conductors, Motormen and Operators, as well as Track Car Operators. Volunteers wishing to be Ticket Agents or to be working outside of railroad operations are not required to attend these sessions but are welcome.
If you are a new candidate (or to learn more about becoming a candidate) please skip to the bottom of this page first.
Pizza and soda will be provided for lunch. A video taken from the cab of an Amtrak AEM7 traveling from Penn Station to New Haven in 1993 will be shown following the sessions.
New crewmembers are encouraged to prepare for and attend these training sessions but are not expected to complete their training or qualify for operating positions by attending a training session alone. Complete training will take place at a comfortable pace and includes training beside experienced crewmembers.
Returning crewmembers should be able to re-qualify for the positions they wish to fill by attending a single training day but all are welcome to attend both. Re-qualification will include demonstrating familiarity with the rules as well as the requirements of the roles you wish to fill. Links to all documents and the exam required for training are below.
To prepare for re-qualification training you must carefully:
Training this year will focus on habits that promote safety. Going through the exercise of annual training every year is a perfect example of such habits. Rules help guide us to good habits, but they are just guides. So you will be asked to prepare for qualification this year in a new way:
Please choose two rules or operational challenges, things you feel particularly apply to you and: Describe two or three habits you have formed (or should have) to promote the safety these rules are meant for.
Example:
Rule 72 - Conductors are to make every effort to prevent slips and falls when Passengers are boarding and detraining.
Habit - Be the first to get off the trolley when it stops and last to get on when it goes.
Habit - Stand just outside the freight door and warn tall people not to bump their heads and others not to slip when getting on or off at a platform.
Habit - Stand on the ground next to the trolley's steps ready to assist passengers climbing the steps when not at a platform.
Please print your name, two rules and your habits as in the example above and have that ready to be turned in along with your exam after our discussion.
Your invaluable efforts to provide positive and safe experiences for our guests are greatly appreciated and we look forward to seeing you in May. If you have any questions or difficulty downloading required documents, please contact the Safety and Training Instructor, Nash Bly, at training@sftm.org.
During the time (1896-1927) that the SF&C St Ry operated, women were not considered to be suitable trolley car crew-members. We know better, we have people who aren't men on our crew and we welcome anyone. Since 'motorperson' seems too awkward, we hope you will forgive us if we use the historically correct 'Motorman' to refer to anyone who operates our trolley car. 'Operator' might seem like a good substitute but it has a different meaning, see the Rulebook. Fortunately, 'Conductor' is gender-neutral.
If you are not on the SFTM Crew email list already, please send an email to trolley@sftm.org and ask to be added so we can keep you up-to-date.
Please send an email to Alden Dreyer at aldendreyer@gmail.com and tell him which day you will be attending Training Days.
We will use the 2023 Rulebook. If you somehow lost yours, let me know so I can give you the parts to make a new one. Meanwhile you can download it (see below) and start getting familiar.
The Rules are for your safety, the safety of others and the safety of our equipment. The Rules must be understood and followed. Note that the museum officers retain the right to deny qualification to any individual that they feel cannot safely and responsibly carry out the responsibilities of any position.
The Policies are to help make the museum operation appealing, educational and attractive. Adherence to Policies is encouraged but is at your discretion. For example, if you are a person who just doesn't wear hats, you don't have to wear a Conductor's hat.
You are not expected to memorize Rules or Policies, but should have a good understanding of both. Keep your Rulebook nearby you when operating so you can refer to it if needed.
Know the Shelburne Falls and Colrain Street Railway's, car's and museum's history found elsewhere on this site. Another essential resource is the Transportation Bulletin, available to borrow from the Office and downloadable here.
Please discuss anything you are unclear about with your re-qualification partner or Nash Bly or Sam Bartlett.
If you have at least one year of experience at SFTM, are over 21, can demonstrate competence in preparing the car for service, operating the car solo and putting the car away, you can be qualified as an Operator. If you wish to qualify as an Operator (see Definitions), please talk with Nash Bly or Sam Bartlett.
Please refer to our draft SFTM Interpretation Manual. This is a work in progress. Please make updates, add sections or add an anecdote about No. 10 or the SF&C St Ry and submit them to Sam at sam@sftm.org, or use the Comment feature in the Interpretation Manual to make your suggestions.
Here is a spreadsheet of links to documents in our Virtual Library.
New crewmembers are encouraged to prepare for and attend these training sessions but are not expected to complete their training or qualify for operating positions by attending a single training session. Complete training will take place at a comfortable pace and includes hands-on training with experienced crewmembers.
You must be at least twelve-years-old to be a Pump Car Operator. You must be at least fifteen-years-old to be a Motorman or Conductor. For any operating role you must be able to read, write, climb steps and walk unassisted.
New Candidates: Please read the Rulebook, Special Orders and Policy Manual (see above). Some of the Rules may not make sense until you have had some hands-on instruction as well, so read, run,
read, run, until you are comfortable with all aspects of the trolley operation. New candidates are encouraged to come during regular hours to observe other crew as well.
Introduce yourself and explain that you are hoping to qualify as a crew-member. If the Motorman, Conductor or Pump Car operator on duty is willing, you can get some hands-on training under their direct supervision.
Also watch the Conductor to learn that job, and learn the history that the Conductors relate to the passengers.
Come early to learn the procedures for preparing the car for service and putting it away at the end of the day (there are checklists for this, once you've been through it it is pretty easy).
When you feel ready, take the written Exam, and tell Nash Bly or Sam Bartlett when you feel ready for some final hands-on training. Your instructor will let you know when he feels you are qualified. We'll get you keys and a name tag, and you'll be on your way.
Please go back to the top of this page now to learn about the written tests required to get qualified.
14 Depot Street Shelburne Falls MA 01370 413-625-9443 trolley@sftm.org