A little piece of history comes to life again in Lakewood next Saturday, when streetcar No. 25 rolls down the tracks for the first time since 1950.
The restored trolley has rattan seats and a lovely oak interior trimmed in gleaming brass fixtures. The bell, whistle and air horn signal passengers and warn pedestrians and other vehicles that the trolley is coming down the tracks.
Put into service in 1911, Car No. 25 cost $10,265 and was built by the local Woeber Carriage Co. It is 48 1/2 feet long, weighs 29 tons and carries 52 passengers.
When the car was retired, the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club paid $225 for the trolley. Fast-forward to 1988, when a crew of volunteers ranging in age from 20 to 80 began a 20-year restoration project that would cost $100,000 and consume 15,000 volunteer hours.
Car No. 25 is the only completely intact trolley from the fleet of 250 electric cars operated by the Denver Tramway Co. in a network radiating out from the city’s center. It was one of 317 streetcars made by the Woeber firm between 1900 and 1914.
Streetcars were once an important fixture of American life. Youngsters rode to school, young couples courted, Father commuted, and Mother took the trolley downtown to shop at department stores.
Car No. 25 ran along Route 84 — a 13-mile line between Denver and Golden with 15 stops including Villa Park, Lakewood and Camp George West.
The streetcar took workers to the clay and coal mines at Golden, students to classes at Colorado School of Mines, golfers to the Lakewood Country Club and folks out from the city to hike up Lookout Mountain. Even Gov. John Vivian rode the streetcar daily from his home near Golden down to the Capitol in Denver in the late 1940s.
Cathleen Norman, Special to The Denver Post
No. 25 Rollout
You can ride old No. 25 for free, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. next Saturday at the Denver Federal Center.
Enter the complex at Gate No. 1, off Kipling Street between West Sixth and West Alameda avenues. Follow yellow signs to Building 78, the trolley barn. You’ll need to show identification to enter the federal center.
The car debut celebration includes a railroad book sale and railroad art exhibit. There is no charge for admission but donations are welcome. No pets allowed.
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