All aboard for fall: Pumpkins, sunsets and Bigfoot at the Shore Line Trolley Museum

Some of the best fall views in East Haven come with the clang of a trolley bell.

At the Shore Line Trolley Museum on River Street, volunteers still run century-old streetcars along a mile and a half of track. The line runs past the Farm River and through salt marsh and woods on its way toward Short Beach in Branford.

This month, the museum is adding pumpkins, sunsets and, yes, a search for Bigfoot.

The oldest line of its kind

The museum operates the Branford Electric Railway. Passenger service on the line began on July 31, 1900, according to the museum. The U.S. Department of the Interior recognizes it as the oldest continuously operating suburban trolley line in the country.

For decades, the line was part of the Connecticut Company’s “F” route. Trolleys ran from downtown New Haven, through East Haven and into Branford. From 1907 to 1937, the line reached all the way to Stony Creek.

Cars, rising costs and hurricane damage in the 1930s slowly ended trolley service across the region. Regular passenger service on this line stopped on March 8, 1947. The museum took over operation right away. That unbroken run is what earns the line its “oldest” title.

The group behind the museum, the Branford Electric Railway Association, was incorporated in 1945. Today the line, the cars and the museum grounds are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Branford Electric Railway Historic District.

Nearly 100 trolleys

The museum owns nearly 100 vintage transit vehicles. It says its collection is among the most diverse in North America. The archives hold about 51,000 photographs, more than 4,000 books and documents, and roughly 1,000 small artifacts like tokens, hat badges and ticket punches.

A visit starts at the Sprague Visitors’ Center, which has indoor exhibits. Then you ride the trolley out through the marsh, where riders can watch for ospreys and eagles. On the way back, the trolley stops at the car barns for a short tour of part of the collection. Tickets are good for unlimited rides until closing on most days.

Run by volunteers

The museum is a nonprofit. It runs mostly on the work of its members and volunteers, who number more than 1,000, according to the museum.

Volunteers do everything from running the trolleys to restoring old cars piece by piece. The museum says it offers training and has roles for all skill levels. You can sign up by emailing volunteer@shorelinetrolley.org or calling 203-467-6927.

What’s happening this fall

Pumpkin Patch Trolley

Families can ride a trolley out to the museum’s pumpkin patch and pick a sugar pumpkin to take home. There are fall activities for kids, too.

The Pumpkin Patch runs weekends in October, plus Monday, Oct. 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The last trolley leaves at 4 p.m. Group rates are available for schools, day cares and groups of 12 or more.

Golden hour and sunset rides

On select evenings, the museum runs trolleys timed for golden hour and sunset over the marsh. Rides last about 45 minutes. On Wednesday, Oct. 14, rides leave at 4:45 and 5:45 p.m. Another evening is on the calendar for Wednesday, Oct. 21. Regular admission applies. The museum says these rides often sell out, so book ahead.

The Haunted Trolley: In Search of Sasquatch

This year’s Haunted Trolley is a comedy, not a scare-fest. The show, presented with the museum, is a 30- to 45-minute interactive ride where passengers help hunt for Bigfoot. Organizers promise no chainsaws, no clowns and no actors chasing you.

Each ride holds 40 people. Tickets are $29 in advance, with a limited number of $49 VIP tickets that include first boarding and a T-shirt. Shows run on select Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights through Oct. 31, plus Sunday, Nov. 1. The earlier Sunday shows are geared toward families. Riders under 16 need an adult. Tickets are at thehauntedtrolley.com.

Coming up

• Bluegrass Jam: First Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Bring an instrument or just a chair. Next dates: Nov. 3 and Dec. 1.
• Next Stop, Santa!: Heated trolley rides to see Santa, Thanksgiving weekend and weekends in December through Dec. 20.
• Pancake Breakfast with Santa: Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12 and 19, with seatings at 8:30 and 9:30 a.m.

If you go

• Where: Sprague Visitors’ Center, 17 River St., East Haven. Free parking behind the building.
• Phone: 203-467-6927
• Hours: Vary by day and event. Check the museum calendar before you go.
• Accessibility: The historic trolleys require two or three steps to board. The visitors’ center exhibits and restrooms are fully accessible.
• Members: Get 50 percent off tickets to some special events, depending on membership level.

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