The Minnesota Streetcar Museum celebrated the 100th birthday of TCRT streetcar No. 1239 on Thursday, July 19th during the Crazy Days festival in Excelsior, Minnesota. The event was planned and executed by the volunteers of the Museum's Excelsior Streetcar Line, located about 15 miles west of the Museum's other demonstration railway, the Como-Harriet Streetcar Line.

The birthday girl, TCRT No. 1239. All photos by Jim Vaitkunas.

Twin City Rapid Transit Company "standard" streetcar No. 1239 was built in the company's 31st Street shops and released for duty on March 29, 1907. Over the course of twenty years starting in 1898 over 1,100 streetcars were manufactured at TCRT's two shops to the standard "gate car" configuration. Rebuilt in 1935 for one man/two man operation, No. 1239 remained in service until 1953 when it was stripped of all mechanical and electrical appliances and sold. The Museum acquired the car body in 1988 after the owners who used it as a cabin in Big Lake, Minnesota were ready to remodel their cabin. No. 1239 was restored by Museum volunteers over a six year period, returning the historic streetcar to service on the Excelsior Streetcar Line September 11, 2004.

No. 1239 provided rides for festival goers all day. Here passengers are shown unloading from the uniquely designed open rear platform that was protected by wire gates controlled from the front of the car by the Motorman. Thus the cars were quickly dubbed "gate cars" by employees and passengers alike.

Bruce Kobs (left) and Excelsior Streetcar Line Superintendent, Bob Johnson (center) chat with a visitor who recalls riding the high-speed cars from Minneapolis to Excelsior.

The 100th birthday celebration committee was headed by Excelsior Superintendent Bob Johnson. Other committee members were Teresa Babler, Anne Elise Ware, Bruce Kobs, and Tad Shaw from the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society. The festivities started with a Barber Shop Quartet singing in the ticket area. Eight senior citizens boarded the car first ranging in age from 95 to 102. Some of them remembered riding the high-speed cars to Excelsior prior to the line being abandoned in 1932. Together with Mayor Nick Ruehl they took the first ride. After their ride the Mayor declared July 19th, Streetcar No. 1239 Day in Excelsior, the birthday cake was cut and the celebration began.

City of Excelsior Mayor Nick Ruehl is shown enjoying some refreshments after his dedication speech declaring July 19th "Streetcar No. 1239 Day." Shown with Mayor Ruehl are two of MSM's volunteer Operators, Kim Lesinski in the center and Ann Elise Ware on the right.

Classic Twin City Lines bus No. 1399 provided a short tour of the historic houses and other sites in Excelsior. The GM model 5105 bus was part of a batch that replaced the last of the Twin City Lines' streetcars in June, 1954.

After passengers rode the street car and toured the car barn they boarded the 1954 GM classic bus graciously provided by the Minnesota Transportation Museum, with Phil Epstein at the wheel and Chip Kemppainen, acting as the dispatcher. The bus had on board a docent from the Historical Society who pointed out the historical sites in Excelsior during the short bus ride. Copies of the new book, Twin Cities by Trolley were on sale with the authors, John Diers and Aaron Isaacs, available in Duluth Street Railway No. 78 to autograph their book and talk trolley history.

During the afternoon, Duluth Street Railway single trucker No. 78 was used for a book-signing event by the authors of the new book, Twin Cities by Trolley. Shown signing a copy of the book is John Diers while the other author, Aaron Isaacs waits his turn.

This photo was taken at the streetcar line's Water Street platform, the west end of the line. In the foreground is Duluth Street railway No. 78 set up for the book signing event. In the background is TCRT No. 1239 which provided passenger service throughout the day.

Museum members John Prestholt and Charles Barthold sold other merchandise in an adjacent tent. Members of the Historical Society dressed in period dress graced the loading platform. Karl Jones, Anne Elise Ware and Kim Lesinski sold tickets and handed out a commemorative brochure recounting the history of No. 1239 and highlighting the day's events written by Anne Elise Ware.

All in all it was a great day for the city of Excelsior and the Minnesota Streetcar Museum.