I've been researching and planning a small layout based on local streetcar system in St. Louis but the first real old-school trolley I ever rode on was in Australia back in the early 90s. I'd ridden on plenty of modern stuff but this was different and completely charming. I was on a business trip to Adelaide and the client wasn't ready for me (I was there to oversee production of a print publication) so I had a full week in this lovely seaside resort town of Glenelg they put me up in with basically nothing to do. Parked right outside my hotel was this trolley that ran into the city center. It was like going back in time, I'd walk outside and generally the operator would be flipping the direction of the seats, cleaning the windows or polishing something between departures. Some of these cars were in fantastic looking condition, restored or very well maintained. From this little holiday town on the beach, the trolley would rattle through the streets, through suburbs and then into the center of Adelaide, a provincial town in south central Australia, close to some of the wine growing regions. I rode the trolley as much as I could for no particular reason other than I had time to kill. It was a beautiful town, great fun and a fond memory.
For grins I checked to see if it was operating and yes it is. Might be my next project.
Found a video on YouTube from about the time I was there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk7kboc7cVQ
