By 1935, only 439 miles of trolley track were operating within Connecticut and only 653 cars were left. These numbers dwindled rapidly and in July 1941, Hartford's last streetcar rolled. By 1948, with only 101 cars remaining in use, streetcar service on public streets in Connecticut ceased completely. Inc. Founded in October 1940, it is the nation's oldest incorporated organization dedicated to the preservation of streetcars and the Trolley Era. Presently, a three mile round trip streetcar ride with an educational narrative is provided to the Museum's visitors during their visit.
Dedicated volunteers provide labor for operations, maintenance, and management.
The Association owns over 50 pieces of rolling stock of which approximately half are housed within five storage barns. The collection consists of passenger and freight trolley cars, interurban cars, electric and steam locomotives, freight and passenger cars, cranes and service cars. All major buildings and the Museum's center of operations are located on a 17-acre facility adjacent to State Route 140 in East Windsor. The right of way used is a 3.2-mile portion of what was originally the Warehouse Point to Rockville branch of the Hartford and Springfield Street Railway Co. Void of all track, the property was purchased when the organization was formed in 1940. Over the years the volunteers have been able to not only build 1.5 miles of track and the associated overhead for power distribution, but all of the yard and storage track, the power substation, the storage barns, and a restoration shop.