Hello,

We are in search of a trolley! It was recommended that we post to this forum, as you or someone you know might have an old trolley to sell or donate to our project.

We have a community-based public art project in Decatur, Nebraska that needs a trolley. We have been looking, but not really finding anything. If you, or anyone you know, knows where we can get an old decommissioned trolley (doesn't need to be operational) that we can refurbish and be a public project for our town, we would be very appreciative. Here is the description of our project - http://bywayofart.com/artwork/3772956_D ... ncept.html

If you have a trolley or any leads, please let us know at triangle@mit.edu

Thanks for your time
Matthew Mazzotta
315 521 1399

TEXT DESCIPTION:
RURAL LEGENDS - A storytelling space for the Legends of Decatur housed in an old streetcar.

RURAL LEGENDS is a storytelling venue based off of an actual ‘tall tale’ of Decatur, and it will feature Decatur’s legends told by the people of Decatur. People may ask “What is a Trolley Car doing in Decatur?” Well, that is the point of the project, to have people ask questions and get responses from others in the community. The story of the Trolley Car first came to surface for the project organizers during our Outdoor Living Room event last fall, where we set up a living room on Broadway and invited people from Decatur to tell us about their town. Many times over the course of 6 hours we heard about a Trolley Car that had once been in Decatur and they would refer to a photo they had seen. However, it turns out, as we learned at the very end of the Outdoor Living Room, that the photo was a fake to make Decatur seem like a much bigger city than it was to people who had never been here. This episode of hearing a story over and over and realizing it was not based in fact, but was actually a Legend, is what gave birth to the concept for RURAL LEGENDS - A storytelling space for the Legends of Decatur housed in an old streetcar.

What:
• A storytelling space, housed in an old streetcar
• Storytelling nights: 1 legend + 3 Story-tellers, monthly
• Content features actual Decatur-area stories, told by community members and guest speakers

About the event:
• Each storytelling evening event will be centered on a legend
• Newspaper will advertise story nights with teasers, ie. “Come learn about Decatur’s greatest horse thief!” or “Learn about the ‘Pipe Lady’ buried in Decautr’s cemetery”
• Storytellings will be recorded and can be made available online
• Alternative use, Trivia Night: “Decatur, Fact or Fiction?”

There's a carbody for free available in Wisconsin - check the threads on the Interchange section and you will find it. PM me if I can help.

dave

Thank you Dave. Yes, I saw this one. Looks cool. I tried to locate a # for them, but could not find one. Not sure if it is gone already.
If you know how to get ahold of them, that would be great.
Thanks for reaching out to us
Matthew

Contact the Fox news station reporter that files the story - you can probably just click on either their logo or his byline to get there - and explain who you are and what you want to do. They can then put you in touch with the potential donor. I don't think it is too far away from you, and would be a very good solution for your problem and theirs.

There must be a goodly number of PCC cars that are available. Anyone got any leads on one?

Pittsburgh 1799 at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is available.

Hello artschwartz

Thanks for the heads up. Would you know how much that Pittsburgh 1799 at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum would cost and a rough idea of shipping?

Do you have a contact you think we should reach out to.

Thanks again
Matthew

Be advised the PCC resembles a bus from the 1950s more than the 1920 era streetcar body you may have in mind.

I agree with Dave that a PCC looks more like (for the car I mentioned) a 1930's bus than a "real" antique streetcar.
Contact Scott Becker at 724-228-9256 for more information. Price is negotiable.

Well thank you for all the responses. With our budget we were not able to get an original trolley shipped to our town. But we did find a newer trolley that has been built to drive on streets, 1996 frieliner chassy and double k body that seats 30. I know this is not what most people on this forum are interested in, but that is the one that we found that could work for us. When we get the project finished, I will post it here. Thanks again for all your help
Matthew