Touch-a-Truck at Connecticut Trolley Museum

The Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor hosted a Touch-a-Truck event on Sunday, May 17, that paired hands-on access to fire vehicles with the site’s regular trolley attractions. The event was presented with the Connecticut Fire Museum, which shares the 58 North Road property with the trolley museum, according to the museums’ websites. A listing published by Mommy Poppins said the program ran from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and included a brief 11 a.m. ceremony in observance of National Fallen Firefighters Day. ### Which museum was actually running the event? The Connecticut Fire Museum was identified as the organizer in the event listing, which said, “Join the Connecticut Fire Museum for a great touch a truck event on National Fallen Firefighter day.” The same listing said the event took place at the Connecticut Trolley Museum site in East Windsor and was included with admission. (mommypoppins.com) The Connecticut Antique Fire Apparatus Association, Inc. says it operates the Connecticut Fire Museum and Connecticut Motor Coach Museum on the grounds of the Connecticut Trolley Museum. The Fire & Motorcoach Museum’s website lists the same 58 North Road address and says it is open in conjunction with the trolley museum. (mommypoppins.com) ### What could families see and do there? Mommy Poppins said visitors could touch trucks in the Connecticut Fire Museum collection and see visiting fire trucks from the Enfield, Bloomfield and Warehouse Point fire departments. The listing described the event as open to all ages. The Connecticut Trolley Museum said general admission also includes access to its exhibit hall and trolley rides, while its collection page says the museum has more than 70 pieces of rail equipment dating back to 1869. (ct-trolley.org) The museum’s visitor information says the fire museum behind the visitor center displays antique fire trucks from the local area dating back to 1923. (mommypoppins.com) ### What were the hours and ticket terms? The event listing gave the Touch-a-Truck program itself as 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday and said it was included with admission. The listing also carried a note that activity dates and times were subject to change and advised readers to verify details on the activity website. (ct-trolley.org) The Connecticut Trolley Museum says its spring season runs on weekends from April through June, with operating hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the first trolley ride at 10 a.m. General admission is listed at free for children under 2, $10 for children ages 2 to 11, $12 for youth ages 12 to 17, $14 for adults and $12 for seniors 62 and older, though the museum says special-event pricing can differ. (mommypoppins.com) ### Why was there an 11 a.m. ceremony? The Mommy Poppins listing said the museums planned “a brief ceremony at 11am in remembrance of fallen firefighters.” The event was tied to National Fallen Firefighters Day in that listing. Fox61 reported last month that the Fire and Bus Museum’s next major event would be a “Touch a Truck” day. (ct-trolley.org) In that report, museum volunteer Mike Gasper said preserving the collection mattered because, “If you don’t preserve history, it’s forgotten.” (mommypoppins.com) ### Where is the museum and what is on the site beyond this event? The Connecticut Trolley Museum lists its address as 58 North Road, East Windsor, Connecticut, and publishes tickets and visitor information through its website. The Fire & Motorcoach Museum lists the same address and says it tells the history of transportation and firefighting in Connecticut. The trolley museum says it is open rain or shine, although trolley rides may be paused or canceled during thunderstorms. (fox61.com) The museum’s calendar says it is also open on Memorial Day, May 25, as part of its regular late-spring operating schedule. (ct-trolley.org) (ct-trolley.org)