There’s just one electrifying answer…
While it’s a familiar sight to Lake Oswegians, many Portlanders may not know about the Willamette Shore Trolley. It’s an electric streetcar running along the Willamette River between Portland and L.O. since 1990. The historic-replica Trolley offers passenger excursions on the 5.5-mile Jefferson Street Branch Line. The thing is, the rails used to be owned by the Southern Pacific Railroad and were for regular trains and didn’t have the electricity the Trolley needs. When the Trolley started interim runs in 1987 volunteers built a diesel generator to be towed behind the Trolley to supply 
electric power… not a historically accurate solution, but adequate 30 years ago. Now concerns about fossil fuels, new battery technology, and the charming smell of diesel wafting through the Trolley are prompting a re-think. Here’s one of our clients, Gerald Fox, to explain what the Trolley’s future could be, and how you can help make it happen…
A Little History
The rail line between Portland and Lake Oswego has a long and interesting history. Originally constructed in 1887 as a narrow gauge link into the Willamette Valley, it was re-gauged, extended, then electrified and eventually abandoned by Southern Pacific. In 1987, a consortium of local governments, led by Metro, purchased the line intact to preserve the right-of-way for future public use. To retain the property easements, and to prevent the abandoned railway becoming an overgrown nuisance, an interim rail use was needed. So the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society (OERHS), a volunteer run organization, contracted with the City of Lake Oswego to run a trolley between Portland and Lake Oswego, largely funded by fares. To enable an electric trolley to operate on a non-electrified track, OERHS built a diesel-powered generator that is mounted on a rail cart towed by the trolley. This somewhat cumbersome arrangement was “State of the Art” back in 1987. OERHS still operates the line, now known as the Willamette Shore Trolley, using two trolleys (#513 and 514) which are owned by Vintage Trolley Inc. (VTI), a volunteer run non-profit entity.
Changing Times
Despite the engine noise, and the diesel fumes that sometimes waft through the trolley, the generator cart has served adequately for some 30 years. But times are changing. Concern over climate change and the need to reduce fossil fuels has become a priority. And recent advances in battery technology and power electronics now offer a superior technology that is quiet, fume-free, and can recharge overnight from renewable power. Accordingly, after an industry search, VTI engaged EVDrive, a small Hillsboro Company specializing in custom electric vehicles, to design and install a battery propulsion system on Vintage Trolley # 514. Many of the components will be sourced locally, and installed by EVDrive and trolley staff working together at the Lake Oswego car barn. The work will take several months, and is ready to start as soon as funding is in place.
The Technology
The two replica trolleys used on the Willamette Shore were built in 1992 to traditional trolley designs dating from the early 1900s. They ran for several years on the MAX and Streetcar tracks in downtown Portland before coming to the Willamette Shore, where they were modified to take power from a generator cart. The traditional trolley propulsion system relies on a series of resistors to contol the speed of the DC motors, which wastes a significant amount of energy.
This is a big problem if the energy comes from a battery. So VTI will replace the obsolete motors and control system with new AC motors and the latest power electronics, thus matching a new, efficient propulsion system with a smaller, appropriately sized battery. It will also allow the trolley to recover energy otherwise lost during braking. With this arrangement the trolley will be able to run a full schedule, recharging overnight in the car barn using off-peak power from renewable sources.
Why do it?
- The generator cart has always been the weak link in the Willamette Shore Trolley operation, but until recently was the best way to run an electric trolley on non-electrified track.
- Recent advantages in battery technology can now provide a silent fume-free power source contained within the trolley vehicle, and thus eliminate use of diesel fuel.
- Silent, fume-free battery propulsion will enhance passengers’ “authentic trolley experience”, and reduce the noise and exhaust that irritates lineside residents.
- It is supportive of regional and national policies to reduce fossil fuel use, and curb greenhouse gas emissions, and a significant prototype for further electric vehicle applications.
- Overnight charging allows use of off-peak power from renewable energy sources.
- The trolley offers an ideal and relatively inexpensive testbed demonstrating how battery technology can replace fossil fuels in a variety of customized applications from railcars to garbage trucks to construction equipment. And as a small and informal organization, the Trolley offers the opportunity to share this experience with local schools and colleges.
- It will enhance safety by reducing derailment risk, eliminating fuel handling and the need for the person driving the trolley to get down on the track to attend to the generator.
- It will reduce trolley “fuel” costs, and greatly simplify maintenance procedures.
- It is compatible with the eventual extension of trolley service into Portland.
Budget and Schedule
Installing a battery on Trolley 514 is a joint project by VTI staff, volunteers, and a specialist contractor, EVDrive. Design work is complete, and the project is poised to start as soon as funds become available. The Project is budgeted at $232,000, including work by VTI, VTI’s Contractor, and an allowance for contingencies. The project will take approximately 5 months.
Funding
The Willamette Shore Trolley operation is funded by the Consortium that owns the line, and by the fares collected from passengers. There is no dedicated funding source for capital improvements such as this project. VTI therefore needs to raise funds from a variety of governmental and private sponsors. Almost $100,000 has been raised so far. VTI is a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 entity, and contributions are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Donors will receive written acknowledgment, and be recognized on permanent ceiling plaquards inside the car. Checks may be made out to Vintage Trolley Inc.- Battery Fund, 1140 SW 11th Av., Portland 97205
Contact Gerald Fox at 503-636-9861 or gdfox@Q.com for further details.
