The nostalgic Silver Line trolley has returned to San Diego!
I saw historic, restored PCC streetcar 529 pulling into America Plaza this morning, and I had to jump aboard. The old trolley cars that run in the downtown Silver Line loop are definitely a very cool San Diego sight!
The Silver Line resumed service today after not running for most of the COVID-19 pandemic. I learned the line will be operating on weekends from this point forward.
I want to give a special shout out to the driver and another MTS employee on the streetcar during my ride. A distressed passenger at one station informed the driver she’d been accidentally separated from some of her belongings. As I looked on from a seat in back, the attentive, friendly MTS guys immediately got on the phone and quickly resolved the situation! The belongings had been found and awaited the passenger at the next station, under guard of an MTS Ambassador! I don’t know the name of the trolley driver, but he and his buddy are totally awesome!
If you like historic old streetcars, watch for the distinctive Silver Line cars running in a loop downtown and jump aboard!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
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Hi, Richard. The following is copied from the Silver Line Education Program web site of MTS:
Elementary school teachers in San Diego County can take their class on a free 25-minute downtown loop on the Silver Line Vintage Trolley. This exciting new program is available to all elementary-grade students in San Diego County.
The program gives students the experience of learning how San Diegans got around in the early part of the 20th century, how public transit is still relevant today, and how transit connects our communities. The focus of San Diego history is part of the History/Social Science standards for Grade 3.
The Vintage Trolley operates on Fridays and weekends, and per special request on weekdays for this education program. By riding the Vintage Trolley, students will develop an appreciation for the past, learn about landmarks and get a better understanding of the role transit has played in San Diego for more than 100 years!
Dates and times are limited, so get reservations soon. Requests are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
I have no way, at this point, of knowing if they have updated that special web site, to make sure it is still good, or hasn’t been changed or maybe even discontinued. It’s just up there, as of today.
I was one of the members of the San Diego Electric Railway Association volunteers who worked on the first three PCC trolleys (in Chicago we call them streetcars.) I know that 529 was one of the original three cars MTS first acquired.
Chuck Bencik
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Great information! That would definitely be a super fun educational experience. I hope the program is still going strong!
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Here’s that Silver Line Education Program website… https://www.sdmts.com/fares-passes-pass-programs/silver-line-education-program
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