Trolley Ride to Selah, WA

The Yakima Valley Trolleys operate on the tracks of the former Yakima Valley Transportation Company (YVT Co) in Yakima, Washington. The YVT is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because it is the last authentic, all-original, turn-of-the-century interurban electric railroad in the United States. The degree to which the complete YVT system has been preserved is unsurpassed.

The railroad was constructed between 1907 and 1913.  Its greatest length was just over 44 miles.  Presently approximately five miles of track remain, connecting the cities of Yakima and Selah, Washington. Electric trains have operated on the YVT tracks every year since 1907.  Service was first limited to a streetcar line in downtown Yakima. In 1909 the YVT was purchased by the Union Pacific Railroad with the purpose of expanding the system as a feeder of freight and produce to the Union Pacific mainline.  The YVT built a large stone and timber carbarn/shop facility in 1910. In 1911 a concrete and masonry powerhouse substation was constructed to provide the necessary DC electricity to operate the trolleys. Both buildings are still in use today. The overhead wire catenary is also original.

Streetcar service became less and less popular as more Americans were able to purchase automobiles. Finally in February of 1947 the YVT terminated streetcar service, however the electric freight trains continued to operate.  The Union Pacific Railroad decided to abandon the Yakima Valley Transportation Company freight operations in 1985. Almost all of the system was donated to the City of Yakima in the process, and has been open as a museum since that time.  Present and future generations are able to experience an early-American street railway almost exactly as it was 100 years ago and come to understand the important role transit held in developing the City of Yakima as well as the rest of the industrialized world.

The original generator building below, now the museum.

 Jerry and Gari inspect one of the original the 600 VDC motor generators, which still are able to operate today.

 Gari and Jerry board car #1776, an original restored from 1908, for our trolley ride to Selah.

 We've gt a ticket to ride, ride, ride...

The conductor punches Jerry and Gari's tickets.

The conductor engages the electric trolley and we lurch forward toward Selah hearing a blow of the very loud whistle at every street crossing.

A shot of the fine woodworking trim aboard old number 1776.

 Approaching the bridge at the edge of Yakima, next stop Selah, WA.

The Yakima River view from the elevated trolley tracks.

 The Yakima River.

Selah!  Everyone off for a stretch.

 Beautiful old wicker and brass seats.

The conductor's console; there's one at each end of the trolley.

A tour of the machine shop/carbarn after the ride.

 An oldie but a goodie that used to run to Snoqualmie, WA.

Old poster advertisements aboard a car in the barn.

 Jerry checks out the machinery in the shop... certainly thinking of modifications that could be made to his 1942 Willey's Jeep with all this equipment!