Lionel Strasburg Rail Road Bump-N-Go Trolley

There’s something special about riding a trolley. A number of years ago, while visiting a friend in Maine, she took me to the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. It was a fascinating place full of vintage transit pieces. For the admission price, you could ride the trolley as many times as you liked around the campus.

inside of a trolley full of people — Rene rode a trolley in 2016 while visiting the Seashore Trolley Museum in Maine. Rene Schweitzer photo

The ride was not long, but captivating. The slow, rocking motion of the car, along with replicas of vintage advertisements, gave me a taste of urban life from an earlier time.

Lionel’s Bump-N-Go trolley has been a staple in their catalog for many years. This version is a Train Collectors Association (TCA) exclusive, painted in Strasburg Rail Road livery.

Out of the box

The paint and graphics were crisp and clean. In addition to the “Strasburg” and “919” lettering, you’ll find slightly frosted windows with silhouettes of passengers on the window panes. You can see some of the green electronic card showing through the windows, which initially disappointed me. However, once the trolley was lighted and moving on the track, the card wasn’t that noticeable.

underside of model trolley — Cody Grivno photo

On the track

model trolley on layout — Rene Schweitzer photo

A statement of caution: check your layout clearances before raising the trolley poles. I wanted a more realistic look and raised them, but they didn’t clear the first tunnel and the trolley derailed. No harm was done, thankfully.

I used a Lionel ZW-L transformer to conventionally operate the trolley. Directional headlights and interior cab lighting illuminate while the model is in operation. I wish the interior lights were brighter so the passenger silhouettes stood out, but this is a minor quibble.

Performance was perfect, and the motor was quiet. The trolley bumped and reversed direction, both on a track bumper and on my extended palm.

I enjoyed running this trolley. Given its small size, it would work on nearly any layout or be a crowd pleaser for open houses or train shows. If you’re looking for something to hearken back to simpler times, check out the TCA’s custom-run trolley!