Visitors track down the perfect pumpkin at Seashore Trolley Museum

Seashore Trolley Museum’s 28th Pumpkin Patch Trolley Draws Record Crowds

Kennebunkport, Maine – On Sunday, October 18, the Seashore Trolley Museum’s storied 15‑bench streetcar, Car No. 303, chugged along its heritage rail line to the edge of a modest pumpkin patch. The 125‑year‑old wooden trolley, built in 1901 by the J.G. Brill Company and still operated by veteran driver Don Stephenson, came to a screeching halt just as guests in Halloween costumes streamed off the platform, ready to pick their perfect pumpkin.

Stephenson, who has piloted the Connecticut Co. Car 303 for more than four decades, laughed about the thrill of his job. “It never gets boring,” he said. “I mean, how many people can say they ran a 125‑year‑old trolley?” The old car’s pull‑cord was yanked, its horn blew twice, and the trolley rolled into the pumpkin patch, creating a festive tableau of yellow and orange leaves.

The Pumpkin Patch Trolley event is part of the museum’s year‑long series of rides that attract thousands of visitors. According to Executive Director Katie Orlando, the proceeds help cover the cost of maintaining the museum’s extensive collection, which includes more than 250 historic streetcars, cranes, wagons and other vehicles. “Events like the pumpkin patch keep the place running,” she said. “We’re hoping to hit our budget goals, but with the turnout this year, we’re already over 6,000 guests – a new record.”

The museum’s operating season ends in early winter, and the Pumpkin Patch Trolley is the precursor to the larger Trolleyween festival, a Halloween celebration that also serves as a fundraiser for the museum’s end‑of‑season upkeep. Orlando noted that the event provides a fun way for people to experience a slice of transportation history while also supporting the museum’s mission. “We usually have kids dress up as the trolley,” she said, smiling at the sight of children and families in elaborate costumes. “Either they or an adult paints the trolley on a box and they wear it with suspenders.”

Among the families who made the most of the early‑season event was the Reidmanns, who brought their two small fairies—Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Tinker Bell—to test their costumes before the big day. “We dress up every year,” said the mother, Lauren Reidmann, who plays Tinker Bell onstage. “We were on the lookout for a place where everyone dresses up to have fun with our family.” The Reidmanns’ participation is part of a larger competition that offers a free family membership to the museum for the winners.

Other visitors, such as 4‑year‑old Zane Vona from Berwick, were drawn to the event to select pumpkins with their parents. Zane’s mother, Samantha, described the experience as a “fun family outing.” Meanwhile, 6‑year‑old Bodie Gravison of Salem, New Hampshire, enjoyed a ride on the museum’s New Orleans Public Service Car 966, a 1924 Perley Thomas‑built streetcar, while peering out of the open‑air windows.

Stephenson, who has been operating the museum’s rides for 30 years, also highlighted the volunteer shortage that threatens the museum’s operations. “We keep losing our volunteers to attrition and age,” he said. “It’s events like the pumpkin patch and Trolleyween that give me the opportunity to inspire the next generation of conductors.” He noted that he often looks for people who might make good conductors, recognizing the niche nature of the job. “By the time Trolleyween ends, I’m pretty exhausted,” he added. “I get an itch at the end of December,” he said with a grin, hinting that he will return to the tracks in the new year.

Orlando acknowledged the uncertain economic climate that has made fundraising more difficult. “We were really nervous because if we don’t hit budget goals with our admissions, that means we have to solicit additional donations from our donors,” she said. “Which, if they’re struggling too, it’s kind of a hard ask.” Yet the museum’s early season success has given the staff renewed confidence. “Our guests this year have been incredible,” Orlando said, noting that the museum’s 6,000‑plus attendance far surpassed last year’s 4,900.

The Seashore Trolley Museum, located on the coast of Kennebunkport, has long been a destination for train and trolley enthusiasts. The 1901 Connecticut Company Car 303, with its open‑air design and 15 benches, remains a highlight of the museum’s collection, and its weekly rides are a nostalgic reminder of early 20th‑century public transportation.

As the autumn leaves fell and the pumpkins were selected, the museum’s historic streetcars continued to chime along the tracks, bridging past and present while ensuring the future of the collection. For visitors, the day was a blend of costume‑wearing, family bonding, and a taste of the golden age of trolleys—an event that, according to the museum, has become a staple of its seasonal calendar and a key contributor to its survival.