Historic Birney Trolley Car
This beautifully restored 1919 Birney Safety Car  still runs as good as the day it was purchased, thanks to an all volunteer force of dedicated people one can get the feel of how our forefathers traveled the streets of Fort Collins in an electric trolley.

Car 21 runs nearly the same route in 2007 as it did in the 1900's. This car operated from 1919 until 1951 and then went on display in a park.

 When the trolley was operating then you could ride anywhere the trolley went and for as long as you wanted for 5 cents. There were three lines in 1919 all starting at College and Mountain Ave.

The volunteers formed The Fort Collins Municipal Railroad in partnership with the Fort Collins Museum to present a living history exhibit. It all started in 1977. I was lucky enough to know one of the original founders who spent many many nights working on the old car. I myself just watched on occasion as Al Kilminster worked. Al is no longer with us but he did love to work on the old car.  This dedicated group turned the entire railway over to the city in 1986.Valued at over 2.5 million the volunteers still run and maintain the complete system at no cost to the city of Fort Collins.

The car runs on the old Mountain Ave Line from just two blocks east of College on Mountain  and Howes west to city park and return. The line is 1.5 miles one way and has carried over 200,000 passengers to date.

I was just recently talking to one of the volunteers I know and he has told me they just recently bought another of the original Fort Collins Birney cars. They have talked about it for quite some time but the owner did not want to sell. Like most things, they change, and the Fort Collins Municipal Railroad now has another car. It will be quite some time before it is fully restored and able to take it's place in active Fort Collins History.

The historic Birney Car #21 runs Saturdays and Sunday afternoons and holidays from May through September. The car operates from noon to 5pm. Cost is $1 for adults .75 for seniors and children 2 through 12 .50.