Most recent news listed first.
Added 6-15-08
Click here to download the Summer 2008 YVT Bulletin (Adobe PDF file). Thanks to Rich Wilkens for compiling it!
Added 3-28-08
Click here to download the Spring 2008 YVT Bulletin (Adobe PDF file). Thanks to Rich Wilkens for compiling it!
This issue contains a "State of the Union" report by President Ken Johnsen, a summary of the centennial festivities held this past December, and exciting news about the carbarn and property.
Added 12-14-07
Click here to download the Winter 2007 YVT Bulletin (Adobe PDF file). Thanks to Rich Wilkens for compiling it!
Added 11-11-07
Click here to download the Fall 2007 YVT Bulletin (Adobe PDF file). Thanks to Rich Wilkens for compiling it!
Added 8-28-07
Click here to download the Summer 2007 YVT Bulletin (Adobe PDF file). Thanks to Rich Wilkens for compiling it!
Added 7-14-07
Oporto trolley number 1976 is back in service after being sidelined for over a year while one of its controllers was rebuilt by Ed Neel. Ed did a masterful job of completely renewing it from the inside out. He made new copper contactors, rebuilt the drums and protective baffles inside and sand blasted the exterior and painted it to look like brand new. It works like brand new too!
Potelco, Inc. and Puget Sound Energy have graciously donated several miles of steel core aluminum feeder wire to the trolleys for rebuilding the power distribution system on the Selah Line. The new feeder line will incorporate and alarm circuit that will immediately signal an interruption in power at the Yakima Police Department. Relays in the circuit will let the police know the exact location of the cut so that they can apprehend the thieves. The aluminum wire around a steel core is of little scrap value compared to the copper wire it replaces.
The Centennial Parade of YVT equipment to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Yakima Valley Transportation Company was held on July 1, 2007. Many people showed up for the festive affair, some dressed in period costumes. Two former YVT employees, Mel Lucas and Dick Noyes, participated in the parade. Mel operated the steeplecab locomotive 298 just as he had for many years as its motorman. Dick ran the line car, a job he held with the YVT for many years. The two Oporto trolleys also ran, sometimes in tandem with standing room only crowds. Several of our members from Oregon helped, as well as our British contingent, Andy and Petrina Gautrey, over here for the event.
Added 7-30-06
YVT steeple cab motor #298 is once again operational after several years of idleness. Scott Neel and Ed Neel worked tirelessly to get it running again and test runs were made on Pine Street and 6th Avenue on July 29, 2006.
The bathroom in the powerhouse is now fully functional with hot and cold running water and operating toilet. The sink is the original 1911 sink. Thanks to Bob Makins, Gregory Johnsen and Ed Neel.
The City of Issaquah very generously loaned their motor-generator car to the YVT for use in powering the trolley in places where the wire system is not intact. Thanks to Denny Croston and Jean Cerar.
Added 5-18-06
The City of Yakima has received a $495,000 grant to complete the purchase of the carbarn property and make repairs to the carbarn and trolley system. Ray Paolella and Bill Cook of the City of Yakima were instrumental in winning this award.
Major renovation to the Oporto trolleys has begun with the rebuilding of the controllers on car #1976 by Ed and Scott Neel.
The Pine Street Line will once again be operable thanks to the repair of the track switch at Sixth Avenue by Paul Edmondson, Ryan Cooper, Ed Neel and David Klingele. Joe Rief and Eric Brandhagen are repairing the overhead wire on Pine Street.
Promoters of the William O. Douglas Trail and members of the YVT are teaming up for some special joint operations. Former Supreme Court Chief Justice William O. Douglas as a boy used to hike along the YVT line to Selah Gap where he then struck off into the hills. Some joint ride-and-hike events were held in the Fall of 2005 and another major one is planned for 2006. Ken Johnsen, Larry Perrigo, and John Ainsworth helped shuttle high school students to the Gap by trolley on two of these events.
Thanks to a grant from Ken Johnsen the trolleys are once again an active member of the Yakima Visitors & Convention Bureau. Two major Yakima conventions have already scheduled charters on the trolleys this summer: The Washington State Bar Association and the American Vecturist Association.
Blickpunkt Strassenbahn, an organization of German trolley enthusiasts is flying to Washington State this summer to visit Yakima’s trolleys. After their visit to Yakima, they will go by chartered bus to Portland and other West Coast trolley operations.
Added 1-29-05
In March of 2005 representatives of the City of Yakima will go to Washington D.C. to lobby Senator Patty Murray for funding to purchase the Carbarn site. We will be planning a messaging campaign to let Senator Murray know how important this project is.
In summer of 2004 all of the doors on the Carbarn were made operable with a grant of money from the City of Yakima. Trolleys can now exit the barn out of the North door for the first time in many years. The other doors are properly balanced and much easier to open.
Thanks to help from Michael Moen, Wes Morris, and Alvie Maxie the water and sewer lines to the powerhouse were installed during the summer of 2004. This will enable completion of the restored public restroom. Carpentry work and electrical wiring are the next steps in this project.
The bathroom was featured in a KAAP TV segment by Aimee Martin. She interviewed Gregory and Ken Johnsen about the bathroom and Andy Gautrey about traveling to see the YVT. Andy and Petrina Buss were in Yakima this summer to get photos and dimensions for Andy's YVT model train layout back in England.
Looking for a way to support the trolleys? Interested in new ways to advertise your business, church, sport, etc.? We are now selling "Car Card" advertisements inside the trolleys. We will custom design an 11 by 17 inch color sign for you using your logo, artwork, or other graphics. Send $150 for the first year, along with logos and a sketch of how you would like the sign to look, to Ken Johnsen, Secretary, P.O. Box 161, Renton WA 98057-0161. Subsequent years after the first cost $100.
Larry Rice and Art Grupe restored the McKee waiting station inside the powerhouse. Dean Rosenkrantz donated authentic shingles for the roof. Paul Edmondson, Larry Perrigo, and Ryan Cooper nailed the shingles to the roof. Ken and Gregory Johnsen have provided paint and stencils for the next part of the restoration process.
The McKee station is literally the last remaining intact station of the YVT railroad. It was used on the Speyers Line north of Selah until the line was abandoned in 1942. It then became a chicken coop on the Goodlander farm in Selah. Ken Johnsen and Bob Lince persuaded Mr. Goodlander to donate the station to the Yakima Valley Museum. After storing the station for many years the YVM decided to give it to the Yakima Trolleys. It was nearly lost when a snowstorm crushed the metal building in which it was stored. Denny Croston, Jerry Henderson, and Ken Johnsen saved it from oblivion and moved it into the powerhouse.
Added 1-19-04
The City of Yakima has obtained an option to purchase the Carbarn property from Comprehensive Mental Health. The City is now looking for funding.
Volunteers cleared out the bullpen yard in the summer of 2003. A couple hundred feet of track was removed and the boxcars were stored in different locations. The bullpen yard site is to be used by Comprehensive Mental Health for a new building.
Added 7-25-03
The Internal Revenue Service has approved YVT's application for non-profit 501 (c) (3) status. This means all donations to YVT are fully tax deductible. This comes at a good time because YVT is experiencing a budget shortfall due to greatly increased insurance costs. All donations are especially welcome at this time.
The window reglazing job on the Carbarn has been completed and the pigeons evicted. This paves the way for serious cleanup of the interior of the carbarn.
A set of YVT HO scale decals has been produced by Ken and Gregory Johnsen using actual photos and measurements. The set provides lettering for YVT locomotives Nos. 296 (Trackmobile), 297 (Boxcab), and 298 (Steeplecab). They are complimentary with a donation of $10 or more. See the page link at the left for further information.
Materials have all been procured for the Substation bathroom. The building's original bathroom sink has been professionally refinished and gleams like new. Authentic replacement faucets have also been obtained. All that is needed now is a licensed plumber to oversee the connection to the city's water system. Any volunteers???
The City of Yakima has applied to U.S. Senator Patty Murray for 2.5 million dollars to fund the purchase of the Carbarn property and turn it into a first class railroad museum. Senator Murray needs to be informed about the worthiness of saving the YVT carbarn property. You can call her at (202) 224-2621 or e-mail her at senator_murray@murray.senate.gov and give her your opinions. Phone calls tend to be more effective than e-mails. Back to top
Added 3-8-03
The Master Units have become a permanent part of Yakima's YVT collection. After twice nearly being sold to cities elsewhere, the streetcars found a friend in Yakima philanthropist Al DeAtley. DeAtley purchased the streetcars from the bank that had seized them to pay off defaulted loans from the defunct Yakima Interurban Lines Association. On February 20th of this year, DeAtley donated them to the city of Yakima for permanent preservation. The streetcars had been appraised in 2001 at $175,000. YVT is very appreciative of Mr. DeAtley's generosity.
The city of Yakima has approved funding for reglazing the YVT carbarn windows. In addition to replacing broken glass, Lexan® will be applied to the outside of each window to protect it from assault by rocks and pigeons.
Trolley operating season for 2003 is scheduled to begin on Saturday, May 17th. This year both Oporto cars and Master Unit 21 will see service. Back to top
Added 11-1-02
YVT will not be operating Christmas Trolley runs this year. The trolleys available for Christmas runs this year are open platform and not heated, making it difficult for riders and motormen to stay comfortable. Next year one of the heated Master Units should be available.
A
plan crafted by Gregory Johnsen for the restoration of the restroom in the
Substation was approved by the YVT Board of Directors. The City of
Thanks to good newspaper and TV publicity, ridership was up in 2002 and the trolleys ended the year with a positive cash balance for the first time in many years. Members Joe Reif and Eric Brandhagen put in many hours during the summer, both as motormen for the public runs, and as maintenance of way crews to keep the line in operation. President Jerry Henderson also put in many hours of dedicated service to make the season a success.
Yakima Trolleys were visited this year by people from around the country and the world. Most distant visitors were Petrina and Andy Gautry from Great Britain. Andy has become a new member of YVT and has built some exquisite HO models of YVT locomotives.
YVT in cyberspace??? You bet! Tim Muir of Oregon has created a YVT #298 steeplecab for use on Microsoft Train Simulator. With Tim’s permission it is being added to the Yakima Valley Trolleys website so that users of Train Simulator can download it for their virtual railroads. Webmaster Gregory Johnsen is working on a YVT route to add to Train Simulator. Back to top
Added 8-25-02
Extended operating schedule announced! Yakima Trolleys will be operating the weekends of September 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, and 28-29.
September 7 and 8 will be a special Cracker Jack weekend! Thanks to the generosity of Frito-Lay all kids riding the trolleys those days will get free Cracker Jacks. Thanks also to the Yakima Herald for help in publicizing the event. Back to top
Added 8-10-02
Roofing of both buildings was completed in June. Trolley service began July 6 after a delay caused by insurance problems. TV and newspaper coverage of the season startup was fantastic! Our ridership has been high ever since.
Jerry Henderson, Joe Rief, and Eric Brandhagen have been busy working on the overhead wire system. Problems with the cable TV wire crossing the Y.V.T. wires in Selah Gap were corrected by the trio in July using line car A. This month they strung new wire over the yard lead track that formerly had none. Next they plan to raise wire to its correct levels wherever it had been incorrectly installed.
Gregory Johnsen is spearheading the restoration of the old Y.V.T. bathroom in the substation building. He is refurbishing the original sink and acquiring authentic electrical fixtures which match others used by Y.V.T. elsewhere.
Because the trolley operating season was late getting started, the Y.V.T. Board may decide to extend the operating season into September. Watch the website for details. Back to top
Added 4-22-02
The restoration of the main roof of the carbarn is now complete. The lower roof is nearly complete. The new roofing looks very authentic. Next restoration project will be the reroofing of the substation building. Back to top
Added 3-2-02
The west wall of the carbarn building has been reinforced to protect the building against earthquake damage. The roof is presently being replaced. This will eliminate water and pigeon intrusion into the carbarn. Public rides are set to begin on Memorial Day Weekend.
The new mailing address for Yakima Valley Trolleys is P.O. Box 796, Yakima, WA 98907-0796. A new telephone number will be installed shortly. Membership application form is now available for download elsewhere on our website. Back to top
Added 10-14-01
After being out of service approximately 5 years Yakima trolley number 1776 was refurbished and made its first test run October 11, 2001. It wears the paint scheme of the original Yakima Valley Transportation Company streetcars. Back to top
Yakima Valley Trolleys have entered into a temporary agreement with the City of Yakima to allow trolley operation during the month of October 2001. An initial run to Selah and back was made on October 13, 2001. Members of the Yakima Historical Society dressed in period costumes rode on this first trip. Included among the dignitaries was Homer Splawn, son of Jack Splawn, YVT's first president and also first mayor of Yakima. Back to top
Added 9-8-01
YVT’s annual meeting was held on September 7, 2001 to elect officers and a board of directors. Jerry Henderson is president, Paul Edmondson is vice president, Phil Hoge is treasurer, and Ken Johnsen is secretary. Back to top
Yakima Valley Trolleys (YVT) was incorporated on June 18, 2001 as a non-profit organization operating in the state of Washington. Its I.R.S. 501 (c) (3) status is pending. Back to top