1962
1300 moved into Minnesota Transfer roundhouse, restoration begins
“Goat” power-supply-on-handcar built
1963
First operations at Minnesota Transfer May 11, 25
11 operating days total 8919 rides
Operating site candidates studied: Minneapolis Anoka & Cuyuna Range, Como Park, across Como Avenue from State Fair, ADM elevator site near 29th & Elm SE
1965
MTM formally incorporated
Operating site candidates studied: Minnehaha Park, U of M Rosemount Research Station
1968
Steeple cab 20, crane and dump car acquired from Main Steam Station acquired
1969
Lake Harriet site proposed to Park Board
Park Board approves lease
1970
CHSL groundbreaking April 18
First track laid
Carbarn erected
Minnegazette newsletter started
Steeplecab 20 scrapped for parts
1971
1300 moved to Lake Harriet
Rails laid carbarn to depot site
August 28 first public operation
ROW surveyed to Berry Road
1972
CHSL tokens minted
Uniforms set
Track laid to Berry bridge
1973
Overhead construction begins
Steel TCRT overhead poles recovered from 5th Ave. N.-5th Street wye
Big Island brochure printed
78 and 265 acquired and moved to Como Shops
1300 HO gauge model produced
CHSL power supply installed
1974
265 restoration begins
Depot siding installed
Wildwood Park brochure reprinted
1975
1300’s trucks to Shoreham for overhaul
Depot garden created
Northern extension planning begins
1976
Car 1496 South St. Paul “trolley church” purchased
Electric Railways of Minnesota published
Lake Calhoun extension begins
TCRT overhead wire truck purchased
1977
Lake Calhoun track extension completed
Depot garden dedicated
1978
Two Chicago L cars acquired for parts
Mesaba 10 acquired
1979
Western extension to Upton Avenue contemplated, but idea dropped
Shop building constructed
Metro Transit establishes bus stop for CFSL on Richfield Road
1980
265 completed and moved to Lake Harriet
Body of streetcar 1508 stripped for parts
1300 on cover of Minneapolis phone book
Steamboat Minnehaha salvaged from Lake Minnetonka
1981
Historic site plaque installed at 42nd Street
Minnegazette upgraded to magazine
1982
Como Shops vacated
Depot siding receives overhead wire; first 2-car operation
Belgian power truck for 78 acquired
1983
78 restoration begins
1984
New 1300 stepwell
CHSL “Ready Barn” expansion starts
1985
Ready Barn completed
1986
Speeder ETS1 completed
Twin Cities Today brochure reprinted
1987
First portion of TCRT employee appointment cards acquired
Car 1239 acquired
1988
1239 arrives at Jackson Street Roundhouse
1989
265 leaf springs removed to soften ride
1990
Linden Hills depot opened
Member Conduct Code approved
CHSL security system installed
CHSL shop heaters installed
PCC cars 322 and 416 arrive from Cleveland
Steamboat Minnehaha acquired by MTM
Original TCRT steamboat plan, streetcar seats donated to Minnehaha restoration
1991
78 in service
322 moved into Metro Transit Overhaul Base for restoration
Steamboat Division acquires streetcar bodies 1809 and 1496
1992
1809 cosmetic restoration begins
1993
Stove for 78 installed
Excelsior trolley exhibit track placed next to Historical Society
1809 cosmetic restoration complete
Motorettes 50th Reunion at CHSL
1 millionth passenger carried
CHSL wins Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Award
Russ Olson donates TCRT records to Minnesota Historical Society
Russ completes Electric Railways of Minnesota supplement
1994
Park Board approves CHSL carbarn expansion
ESL ISTEA grant approved
CHSL carbarn expansion ISTEA grant approved
Valley Fare gas trolleys acquired
1995
Twin City Lines-The 1940s published
New 1300 roof
1996
First MTM web site
Car 1809 moved near Minnehaha Dock
Steamboat Minnehaha maiden voyage
600-photo Bob Schumacher collection donated
Photo/artifact database created
1997
CHSL carbarn expansion completed
ESL track construction begins and completed
322 moves to Lake Harriet
Como-Harriet booklet with advertising printed
First CHSL Halloween Ghost Trolley
Zalusky all-time TCRT transfer collection donated
43-photo Everett Jones collection donated
ISTEA grant approved for ESL Water Street loop
1998
Japanese streetcar trucks arrive
ESL carbarn completed
ESL starts service with ex-Valley Fair gas cars
Winona 10 discovered
Safety Zone sign acquired
1999
265 renovation underway, receives Japanese trucks
1239 moved from Jackson Street to ESL
Winona 10 acquired and moved to ESL
ESL overhead wire erected
78 moved to ESL, starting ESL electric service
ESL Water Street loop plan abandoned
200 ties replaced at CHSL
Interior bulkheads salvaged from Duluth car 195, making 1239 backdating possible
2000
ISTEA grant to rebuild CHSL track approved
322 restoration completed
265 back in service
First edition of Como-Harriet Currents newsletter
2001
900-photo Gene Corbey collection donated
Minneapolis Historic Preservation Award for PCC 322 restoration
First season passes sold
“Change at Excelsior” poster created
Mesaba 10 moved from New Brighton Arsenal to ESL
Valley Fair gas cars sold to Iowa Trolley Park and Minnesota Zephyr
2002
Original TCRT bridge over ESL replaced
Como-Harriet book printed
476-photo Art Rusterholz collection acquired
2003
Fargo-Moorhead Birney 28 acquired
2004
MTM Traction Division takes over ESL from Steamboat Division
Como-Harriet Currents renamed Streetcar Currents
1239 restoration completed
Winona 10 restoration begins
$284,000 raised as local share of CHSL rebuild project
CHSL track rebuild completed, including restoration of pedestrian underpass and Cottage City stop
New wood platform for Linden Hills depot
First ESL Ghost Trolley
2005
MSM splits off from MTM
Minnegazette becomes joint MSM/MTM history-only publication
2006
History signs installed along CHSL
1300 exterior wainscoting replaced
1239’s broken wheel replaced
MSM hosts ARM Spring Conference
Como-Harriet Streetcar Line poster created by Rick Schuster
MSM online store opens
Pedestrian underpass lamp posts installed
Hopkins Historical Society, Charles Camitsch, Gordon Bassett, North Dakota State University photos acquired
TCRT valuation reports acquired
Wednesday afternoon shift started
ESL carbarn sprinkler system installed
First CHSL Holly Trolley
2007
George K Isaacs Carbarn dedicated
MSM stops Minnegazette, starts Twin City Lines magazine
Twin Cities by Trolley published
Front end repairs to 1300
First MSM photos on Minnesota Reflections (Minnesota Digital Library)
The rest of the TCRT employee appointment cards donated by Metro Transit
61 Harold Dalland and 89 Norm Podas photos acquired
First MSM photos posted on Minnesota Digital Library
First Christkindlsmarkt
2008
500 David Carlson Duluth negatives and 78 Barney Olsen photos acquired
First ESL carbarn history displays
First Pumpkin Patch
TCRT overhead wire truck relocated to Richfield Bus Co
First Operations Newsletter
2009
TCRT 1909 system map poster printed
PJ Party started
CHSL power supply upgraded
CHSL carbarn sprinklers installed with security system upgrade
62 John Stern photos acquired
Jim Kreuzberger’s Duluth streetcar notes donated
2010
Frank Sandberg donates over 200 TCRT shop drawings
ESL starts Storytime Trolley
TCRT Employee Appointment cards donated to Minnesota Historical Society
Mesaba 16 stripped for parts, then scrapped
Surplus traction motors sold to Edmonton Radial Railway Society
First Streetcar Camp
42nd Street grade crossing rebuilt
Brick apron laid in front of Isaacs Carbarn
Dupont truck for Winona 10 arrives
Replacement windows shades made for 1300
Bridgeport milling machine acquired
Photo collection receives archival sleeves
2011
Linden Hills depot platform replaced and interior refurbished
Cottage City stop walkway completed
Jim Kreuzberger collection of books, models, 550 photos and records donated
PCC 322 model produced
First Murder Mystery at CHSL
2012
First streetcar movies digitized
Isaacs carbarn electrical upgraded
Linden Hills depot benches replaced
276-photo Norman Rolfe collection purchased
First ESL North Pole Trolley
2013
CHSL restroom installed
All car cards scanned and stored; copies placed in streetcars
Isaacs Carbarn expansion project starts
ESL installs display in Excelsior visitor center
2014
New Point of Sale system for Linden Hills depot takes credit cards
73 photos from Greer Nielsen collection and Duluth Incline movie acquired
Video screen in Linden Hills depot
Twin Ports by Trolley published
First streetcar musical performed
ShiftPlanning created for crew assignments
New window shades for 265 and 1239
100+ photos from UMD and Douglas County Historical Society acquired
First Vinternatt
2015
Isaacs carbarn expansion (library, machine shop, speeder shed) completed
265 renovation complete
Fence erected along Queen Avenue by Linden Hills depot
Granite paver crosswalk installed at ESL Water Street stop
Website makeover
Position of Volunteer Coordinator established
Duluth Street Railway records donated to UMD
2016
265 receives 12-volt converter to charge battery, LED ditch lights, start-stop control safety sensors
Russ Olson donates his research papers
Russell L. Olson Library dedicated
Selby Tunnel history sign installed above the tunnel
Linden Hills depot repainted, new roof and rotted wood replaced
New air compressor for shop donated
1300’s truck rebuild begins
2017
MSM hosts HeritageRail Alliance Fall conference
Streetcar history seminars posted on YouTube
ESL carbarn receives concrete floor
ESL carbarn electrical service upgraded
Speeder shed track installed
Isaacs carbarn brick apron relaid
Winona 10 first revenue trips
Twin Cities Streetcars in Color published
2018
1300 truck overhaul completed
Fiber internet service installed at CHSL
Anti-graffiti fencing on east side of Isaacs carbarn
Major makeover of ESL carbarn store and display area
Winona 10 dedication
All Minnegazettes digitized
Lakewood Cemetery platform constructed
Car swap: 265 to ESL, 1239 to CHSL
Weekly Facebook history posts begin
2019
New trucks for 1239 project begins
New point of sale (POS) system
1300’s lights rewired
New basement steps at Linden Hills depot
All 3-dimentional artifacts in the Olson Library catalogued
Fargo-Moorhead 28 moved from Ken Albrecht’s farm
Baker heater for 1239 delivered
All-Motorette crews at ESL and CHSL
1300 and Winona 10 motor failures
2020
ESL overhead wire realignment
Covid shuts down all streetcar operations, CHSL shop closed until June, ESL shop closed all year
1239 rewired and backdating to 1921 begins
Book scanner installed in Olson Library
1950s Como-Harriet video completed and on YouTube
Facebook presence expands to at least 3 posts per week
Kids Clubs organized, with attendant newsletters and videos
Electrical control panels in Isaacs carbarn upgraded
200 ties replaced at CHSL
ESL carbarn gets anti-graffiti fencing
2 millionth passenger carried
2021
CHSL overhead wire realignment and pole replacement
Car 78 controllers rebuilt
Streetcar history signs installed along 44th Street right of way
1239 backdated to 1921, including Baker heater installation
History Powerpoint series posted on YouTube
Jib crane installed in Isaacs carbarn machine shop
Video security cameras installed at Isaacs carbarn
Post-Covid streetcar operations start July 2
50th Anniversary of CHSL August 28
Scanned Electric Railways of Minnesota, Interurbans #14 and Twin City Lines –the 1940s available online.
Vintage video programs and slide shows available on YouTube.
New charter system (online pre-payment) instituted.
2022
First full operating season post-Covid
Ex-Toronto motors for 1239 rebuilt
$131,000 bequest from Gordon Geddes
Master Gardeners start work on depot garden
Eagle Scout repainting of railings around pedestrian underpass
Mesaba 10 placed on trucks and movable for the first time
New tower car completed
“Turbo” speeder completed
ESL carbarn track realigned and floor paved
Financial planning firm hired.
Book scanning project underway
2023
Long term financial investments purchased.
First Doors Open Minneapolis event
First American Sign Language event
Old tower car sent to National Capital Trolley Museum
Carbarn gets hard wired wifi.
ESL carbarn concrete apron installed.
TCRT private right of way sign restored
Wood Linden Hills station platform removed
Car 265 and Excelsior carbarn damaged
PCC 322 damaged
Project to manufacture new trolley harps completed
2024
New Excelsior carbarn furnaces installed
Single landlord for Como-Harriet line
Car 265 restored, Excelsior carbarn repaired
Car 322 repaired
First two museum interns
Linden Hills depot stepboxes installed
Excelsior ticket booth restored
All CHSL grounds tools converted to battery
Minnegazettes and Twin City Lines back issues online
Russ Olson research papers online
Jim Kreuzberger research papers online
New safety policy adopted
Linden Hills platform concrete repaired and extended, including TCRT manhole covers
History signs along CHSL replaced
Scrap cleanout at both carbarns
200 CHSL ties replaced