Batteries Included

July 24, 2010

I think it was Jacob who asked how the trolley was powered since there are no overhead wires. The trolley carries its power supply beind it, although I couldn't tell you how it works. Electrical? I took this photo on the River Walk between 15th and 16th Streets. I also took it on one of those days when the sun was out. There is nothing outside my window at the moment to distinguish the day from any day during winter.

September 11: Dave made a comment on this blog's Facebook page and described the trolley's power source: "The trolley has a diesel powered motor that operates an electric generator mounted in the trailer. The trolley has electric motors mounted on its axles. They have an electrical cord that goes between the two. Originally the trolley took power from an overhead wire, and that's what the poles on the roof are for. Long ago Astoria used to have a trolley that ran from the Astor Court Store area, near Gray School, to Alderbrook. You can see the rails still in the streets if you know where to look."

Thanks, Dave!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

River-front trolley stop in Spring

I took this photo a few days ago on one of our rare sunny days so far this year. The flowering trees were just coming into bloom. This is one of the trolley stops along the River Walk at 14th Street. By the way, my store is on the river at 15th Street, so it's just out of the picture on the left. The city has a refurbished old-time trolley that runs most of the length of the waterfront (here's a photo I took of the trolley in March 2008). It's mainly a tourist thing. The drivers volunteer and the cost to ride is one dollar, no matter how far you ride or how long you stay on the car. It runs all summer and on nice days and weekends during spring and fall. Its schedule is a little erratic, or so it seems to me. When we have a lot of tourists in town from an incoming river boat or cruise ship, the trolley will be running for sure. The drivers talk about history and local color as they show you the sights along the river. The street to the right is Marine Drive, the only non-alphabetical street in the main part of town. It curves and runs along the river and carries most of the westbound traffic through town, as Commercial Street (parallel) is one way going west. I'll have more on that interesting phenomenon soon!