2010 Annual Report - the Seashore Trolley Museum

New England Electric Railway Historical Society
Return of Ghost Trolley
Matthew Cosgro, Ghost Trolley
Event Coordinator
There’s one event that many in the Kennebunks
remember and associate with
the Museum. Ghost Trolley was last run
in 1997, but through the years, even
recently, we still get the occasional question,
“Do you still do Ghost Trolley?”
There are probably many new members
who did not realize that we used to run a
Halloween event (1990–1997).
After making plans and preparations
through the summer, 2010 marked the
return of the event. With the need for
fundraising activities that do not solely
rely on membership donations and for increasing
community involvement, it was
time to bring back Ghost Trolley— hopefully
bringing it back as a regular event.
One key prop we knew we needed was a
bus for a staged accident and something
to flash its lights and blare on the horn.
The Bus Department ultimately set up
two buses for the event. One was up on
blocks so the headlights could shine into
the passing streetcars, with an air horn
connected to the headlight switch so
that when turned on the headlights and
air horn came on at the same time. The
other bus, located on the opposite side
of the tracks was outfitted with flickering
lights that resembled fire and two smoke
machines.
The first night of the event served as
a learning curve as everyone sought
to find the rhythm of the event. By the
completion of the night’s activities, we
had mixed reviews from our visitors. A
critique meeting was held following that
evening to determine where to make
needed improvements based on visitor
feedback. The manner in which the volunteers
came together and transformed
the event overnight was astounding. For
the next three nights all our visitors thoroughly
enjoyed themselves, commenting
that the ride was really scary or was
extremely fun.
One of the additions to the event that
came from the first night’s critique
meeting was expanding on the story at
Meserve’s Crossing. Twin Cities No. 1267
was placed north of the platform and on
cue while the tale of the Ghost Trolley
was told, the lights were turned on and
the whistle blew. At this point our ghouls
would then come walking up the platform
taunting the railway worker telling
the story, the streetcar crew, and the visitors.
The railway worker was ultimately
pulled from the streetcar and the visitors
headed back to safety.
Apparently this worked out very well for
our visitors, who enjoyed the little performance
and also thought this was going
to be the worst of it. Little did they know
what was to happen a little later when
the streetcar they were riding stopped
Below: Minneapolis–St. Paul Gate Car No. 1267 played an active role in both the Pumpkin Patch
and Ghost Trolley events carrying many riders to either select pumpkins or be frightened. Here the car
pauses at Morrison Hill Station as it carries passengers back to the Visitors Center platform. PM
Above: Connecticut No. 1160 carries a standing
load of invited guests and Seashore members as it
makes its official inaugural trip to Talbott Park on
May 15. The car’s very thorough restoration began
in 1987. The elaborate, varnished woodwork
is a testimony to the carbuilder’s craftsmanship in
the pre-World War I era.
JS
at McKay’s Crossing. The streetcar crew
could stop and check on the bus that had
crashed alongside the tracks, providing
an opportunity for ghouls to hop aboard
and abduct a planted actor. Sometimes
a ghoul would be trapped on board and
cause some screams, only to be kicked off
at Morrison Hill station.
For the two weekends (Friday and Saturday
nights) the event ran, we had
about 30 to 35 volunteers each night
for acting/scaring, railway operations,
and other event functions. Overall, there
were 73 individuals from both our membership
and the local community who
volunteered their time for this event.
Admissions for the four nights came to
376. While the turnout was small compared
to prior Ghost Trolley nights, the
small crowds allowed us to learn and
adapt since many of the volunteers had
not been involved in the past events.
Ask anyone who worked Ghost Trolley
this year and they will tell you that they
worked hard, but at the same time had
an enjoyable time bringing a new experience
of the Museum to visitors of all
ages.
The following businesses supported the
return of Ghost Trolley; Red Apple Campground,
Public Service of New Hampshire,
and Jennifer Lynne Designs.
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