Gomaco Trolley Company began building trolley cars in 1982 with a contract from the Department of the Interior. The contract called for the construction of two 15-bench, open-style trolley cars. These cars were replicas of the J.G. Brill car built in 1902 and were of the 1597-1600 series. In 1984, the cars, numbered #1601 and #1602, were delivered to the Lowell Historical National Park in Lowell, Massachusetts.
In 1987, a third car was delivered to the Lowell Historical National Park. This car was a semi-convertible enclosed car and was a replica of the 4100 series built in 1912 by the St. Louis and Laconia Car Company. The car, #4131, was equipped with cane seats which included heaters under each seat, making the car ideal for use in cold weather.
Since that time, two additional open-style cars have been built. One is identical to those sent to Massachusetts and the other is similar, but features a built-in diesel generator unit to propel the car. The first car, #1976, has been purchased by HARTline in Tampa, Florida, and the second, #1977, is in service in Denver, Colorado, operated by the Denver Rail Heritage Society.
Six Melbourne w-class trolleys, numbered #234, #353, #539, #540, #545 and #553, were obtained from Melbourne, Australia. From 1994 to 1997, they were completely renovated from "rail to wire" and are presently owned and operated by MATA in Memphis, Tennessee. From 2001 to 2004, Gomaco Trolley Company reconditioned three additional Melbourne trolleys, numbered #452, #454 and #455, and constructed replica Birney trolley #453 for MATA.
A single-truck, semi-convertible enclosed car was built for display at the APTA International Public Transit Expo '93. This trolley car, #1979, which is also currently owned by MATA in Memphis, Tennessee, is a shortened version of the 4100 series built by the St. Louis and Laconia Car Company.
A set of four replica Council Crest trolley cars are now operating in downtown Portland, Oregon, on the Tri-Met MAX light rail line. These cars, numbered #511, #512, #513 and #514, were constructed from 1990 to 1992 and are faithful reproductions of the 500 series car manufactured by J.G. Brill company for the Portland Traction Company in the early 1900s.
Seventy-one Peter Witt trolleys have been purchased in Milan, Italy, several of which are available for complete restoration, and the remainder will be available for parts. Peter Witt trolley #1945 was repainted and given a new home in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in August 2002. The trolley's interior is still in its original condition and minor adjustments were made to the trucks.
From 1999-2002, Gomaco Trolley Company built eight replica Birney trolleys, numbered #428, #429, #430, #431, #432, #433, #434 and #435, for HARTline in Tampa, Florida. Experience the opening weekend (October 19-20, 2002) for the Replica Birney Trolleys in Tampa, Florida, here. One additional Birney trolley, #436, was completed and delivered in 2005.
In 2001, Gomaco Trolley Company began constructing three replica Birney trolleys for the Central Arkansas Transit Authority in Little Rock, Arkansas. Delivery of the cars, numbered #408, #409 and #410, was taken by early spring 2002. An opening weekend celebration for the trolley line was in October 2004. Two additional Birney trolleys, #411 and #412, were completed and delivered in 2006.
In August 2002, the Fresno Metro Flood Control District requested a static, single-truck replica Birney trolley for a display in Trolley Creek Park in Fresno, California. Car #28 was delivered in the spring of 2003.
In October 2003, construction began on three replica Birney trolleys for the Charlotte Area Transit System. Cars #91, #92 and #93 were delivered to Charlotte, North Carolina, in the summer and fall of 2004. The arrival of the cars was celebrated with a grand opening the first week in November 2004.
In April 2005, Gomaco Trolley Company started the reconditioning of two Peter Witt trolleys for Citizens For Modern Transit in St. Louis, Missouri. Trolleys #1351 and #1352 were completed and delivered in August 2005.
Gomaco Trolley Company constructed a "trolley-style" subway entrance for the University of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania in 2006.
From 2007-2008, Gomaco Trolley Company constructed two open-style trolleys for the "Americana At Brand" project in Glendale, California. The first trolley is battery-powered and 33.5 foot long, and the second, unpowered trolley, is 22 feet long and pulled behind the first trolley.
In 2008, Gomaco Trolley Company reconditioned double-decker trolley #1759 for an outdoor shopping area in Los Angeles, California. The reconditioning included: total repainting, refinishing all of the original woodwork, installing new flooring and steps, building new brass handrails, rewiring the controls and replacing the controller with the same Gomaco K35G controller as the trolley #1717 in Glendale, California, and repowering the PCC trucks with the appropriate traction motors.
In 2011, Gomaco Trolley Company introduced #799, with the first GTC Double E Hybrid Propulsion System which incorporates both the overhead line and the battery-powered system, with the ability to switch systems on-the-go as the trolley travels the rail.
In 2012, a contract was received from the Issaquah Historical Society of Issaquah, Washington, for restoration and repairs to the Lisbon Trolley #519, which included repairs to the frame and roof, re-gauging the truck to standard gauge, equipping the car for double-end operation, and providing new windows, wiring, and a fiberglass roof.
The goal is to keep the trolley cars as authentic as possible and to match the quality of workmanship that went into building the trolleys of the past. This has been accomplished along with using modern technology to improve trolley car durability.
Gomaco Trolley Company is capable of designing and building a trolley car that is suitable to your requirements, whether it is a replica of a past car, or a modern car built with 21st century technology and old world craftsmanship.
