At a Glance
- TypeHeritage railroad & tourist attraction
- LocationMN
About Excelsior Streetcar Line
Run by the Minnesota Streetcar Museum, the Excelsior Streetcar Line carries riders aboard genuinely antique electric streetcars in the western Minneapolis suburb of Excelsior, near Lake Minnetonka. The route follows the former Minneapolis and Saint Louis Railway right-of-way, and every trip includes a tour of the Excelsior Carbarn, where restoration work is on display. Star car No. 78, built in 1893, ranks among the oldest working streetcars in the country.
Upcoming Events
No ticketed events are currently listed for Excelsior Streetcar Line. Many heritage operators publish schedules seasonally or run on regular open hours instead of dated events.
Check the operator’s website for current hours and special runs, or subscribe to event alerts and we’ll email you when something is scheduled.
Plan Your Visit
- SeasonMay – November
Find the Depot
The Trains
The line's signature car is Duluth Street Railway No. 78, built by the LaClede Car Company of Saint Louis in 1893 and retired in 1911 — a first-generation electric car that resembles the horse-drawn streetcars it replaced, returned to service in 1991 after a seven-year restoration. It runs alongside Twin City Rapid Transit No. 1239, and the roster also includes DSR No. 265, built by TCRT as No. 1791 and rebuilt after decades as a Wisconsin summer cabin. Trips tour the Excelsior Carbarn, where Winona No. 10 is under restoration and Mesaba No. 10 awaits its turn; museum-wide, six streetcars are operable.
History
See full history
The Excelsior Streetcar Line opened in 1999 in west-suburban Excelsior near Lake Minnetonka, launched with Duluth Street Railway No. 78, a car transferred over from the Como-Harriet Streetcar Line in Minneapolis; Twin City Rapid Transit No. 1239 joined it in 2004. Its operator traces back to the Minnesota Transportation Museum, founded in 1962 to restore TCRT streetcar No. 1300 after the Twin Cities abandoned their last streetcar lines for buses in 1954. When that organization restructured over the winter of 2004–2005, the new Minnesota Streetcar Museum took ownership and operating responsibility for both heritage streetcar lines, while a separate Museum of Lake Minnetonka took on the restored 1906 TCRT steamboat Minnehaha. The line runs on a former Minneapolis and Saint Louis Railway right-of-way that the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority now also uses as a bicycle trail.
Around the Depot
Getting There & Staying Nearby
Optional trip extras from our travel partners.
Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
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Tours & Activities Nearby
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Excelsior Streetcar Line located?
Excelsior Streetcar Line is located in MN.
How do I get tickets to Excelsior Streetcar Line?
Tickets and current schedules are available on the operator's official website at https://trolleyride.org/.