View source for Loop Trolley

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Short description|Streetcar service in St Louis, Missouri}}
{{Distinguish|text=the [[A and B Loop|Loop Service]] in Portland, Oregon}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width                       = 250
| name                            = Loop Trolley
| logo                            = Loop Trolley logo.jpg
| logo_width                      = 100
| image                           = Loop Trolley car 001 eastbound on Delmar Blvd near Limit Ave, December 2018.jpg
| caption                         = Loop Trolley near Limit Avenue
| type                            = [[Heritage streetcar]]
| status                          = Operational (Seasonal)
| locale                          = [[St. Louis]] and [[University City, Missouri]]
| start                           = Missouri History Museum
| end                             = University City Library
| connectinglines                 = {{rint|light rail|1}} {{rcb|MetroLink (St. Louis)|Red|inline=route}}<br>at [[Delmar Loop station|Delmar Loop]]<br>
{{rint|light rail|1}} {{rcb|MetroLink (St. Louis)|Red|inline=route}} {{rcb|MetroLink (St. Louis)|Blue|inline=route}}<br>at [[Forest Park–DeBaliviere station|Forest Park–DeBaliviere]]
| stations                        = 10
| ridership2                      = 12,350 (2024)<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 11, 2024 |title=Loop Trolley ends season operating within budget and with 44 percent increase in ridership|url=https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/11/11/loop-trolley-ends-season-operating-within-budget-with-44-percent-increase-ridership/|access-date=November 12, 2024}}</ref>
| open                            = {{start date|2018|11|16}}
| event1label                     = Suspended
| event1                          = December 29, 2019
| event2label                     = Reopened
| event2                          = August 4, 2022<ref name="PD-2022aug4" />
| owner                           = Loop Trolley Transportation Development District
| operator                        = [[Metro Transit (St. Louis)|Metro Transit]] (2022–present)<br/>
Loop Trolley Company (2018–2021)
| character                       = At-grade street running
| stock                           = 
| linelength                      = {{convert|2.2|mi|km|1|abbr=on}}
| tracklength                     = 
| gauge                           = {{RailGauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| electrification                 = {{600 V DC|conductor=overhead}}<ref name="KWMU-2017mar21">{{Cite news |last=Leahy |first=Joseph |date=March 21, 2017 |title=Upcoming street tests first of many for Loop Trolley's public debut |publisher=[[St. Louis Public Radio]]<!--(KWMU)--> |url=http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/upcoming-street-tests-first-many-loop-trolleys-public-debut |access-date=March 29, 2017 |archive-date=March 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330104253/http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/upcoming-street-tests-first-many-loop-trolleys-public-debut |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="taut-2017apr" />
| minradius                       = 
| speed                           = 
| elevation                       = 
| map                             = {{DelmarLoopTrolley}}
| map_state                       = collapsed
| map_name                        = Route diagram
}}
The '''Loop Trolley''' is a {{convert|2.2|mi|km|adj=on}}, 10-station [[heritage streetcar]] line in and near the [[Delmar Loop]] area of [[Greater St. Louis|greater St. Louis, Missouri]], United States. It opened for service in 2018, then shut down in 2019 after revenue fell far short of projections. Service resumed in 2022<ref name="PD-2022aug4">{{Cite news |last=Schlinkmann |first=Mark |date=August 4, 2022 |title=Loop Trolley starts anew in St. Louis; even its riders disagree on its worth |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/loop-trolley-starts-anew-in-st-louis-even-its-riders-disagree-on-its-worth/article_a0ef8036-b13f-56a3-938e-135817b9c73d.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806092231/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/loop-trolley-starts-anew-in-st-louis-even-its-riders-disagree-on-its-worth/article_a0ef8036-b13f-56a3-938e-135817b9c73d.html |archive-date=August 6, 2022}}</ref> under the [[Metro Transit (St. Louis)|Metro Transit]] division of the [[Bi-State Development Agency]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlinkmann |first=Mark |title=Loop Trolley to get $1.26 million after regional board approves federal grant |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/loop-trolley-to-get-1-26-million-after-regional-board-approves-federal-grant/article_8a102ad0-b2f3-56c5-8a4b-94e675516c48.html |access-date=September 12, 2022 |website=STLtoday.com |date=September 2022 |language=en |archive-date=September 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912193220/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/loop-trolley-to-get-1-26-million-after-regional-board-approves-federal-grant/article_8a102ad0-b2f3-56c5-8a4b-94e675516c48.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 

The tracks start in [[St. Louis|St. Louis proper]] at the [[Missouri History Museum]] in [[Forest Park (St. Louis)|Forest Park]]. They run north on DeBaliviere Avenue, with stops at [[MetroLink (St. Louis)|MetroLink]]'s [[Forest Park–DeBaliviere station]] and in the neighborhoods of [[DeBaliviere Place, St. Louis|DeBaliviere Place]], [[Skinker/DeBaliviere, St. Louis|Skinker/DeBaliviere]], and the [[West End, St. Louis|West End]].<ref name="route map">{{Cite web |title=Route Map |url=http://www.looptrolley.com/route-map/ |access-date=December 7, 2015 |publisher=Loop Trolley TDD |archive-date=November 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105011013/http://looptrolley.com/route-map/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They turn west on [[Delmar Boulevard (St. Louis)|Delmar Boulevard]] to MetroLink's [[Delmar Loop station]] and cross the border of [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]] into [[University City, Missouri|University City]], where they enter the [[Delmar Loop]] district and terminate at the [[University City Library]] just west of Kingsland Avenue.<ref name="route map" />

The line was built at a cost of $51 million (about ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|51000000|2015}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}{{Inflation-fn|US}}), more than half of which came from federal funds, by the Loop Trolley Transportation Development District, which owns the line and the three replica-historic [[Tram|streetcar]]s. Originally, the service was operated by a separate [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit]] entity called the Loop Trolley Company.<ref name="PD-2016sep23">{{Cite news |last=Thorsen |first=Leah |date=September 23, 2016 |title=Loop Trolley hours of operation set, but fares still unknown |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/loop-trolley-hours-of-operation-set-but-fares-still-unknown/article_9ab1f9bb-f401-5cca-a876-69aed5989aef.html |url-status=dead |access-date=March 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926013101/http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/loop-trolley-hours-of-operation-set-but-fares-still-unknown/article_9ab1f9bb-f401-5cca-a876-69aed5989aef.html |archive-date=September 26, 2016}}</ref><ref name="bizjournal-2018nov15">{{Cite news |last=Rizvic |first=Veneta |date=November 15, 2018 |title=Loop Trolley delayed; officials host dedication ceremony |work=[[St. Louis Business Journal]] |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2018/11/15/loop-trolley-delayed-officials-host-dedication.html |access-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204154050/https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2018/11/15/loop-trolley-delayed-officials-host-dedication.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Its annual operating expenses of $1.3 million were to be covered mostly by a one-cent sales tax collected by businesses along and near the line but also by fares and advertising.<ref name="PD-2016sep23" /><ref name="KWMU-2017mar21" /> But ridership fell far short of expectations, in part because the delayed arrival of its third streetcar limited operations to four days a week.<ref name="PD-2018apr23">{{Cite news |last=Schlinkmann |first=Mark |date=April 23, 2018 |title=When Loop Trolley finally opens, it will be on reduced-hours basis at first |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/along-for-the-ride/when-loop-trolley-finally-opens-it-will-be-on-reduced/article_6143349d-35ee-5b5a-a3bd-35e645d6aba6.html |url-status=dead |access-date=August 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427021941/http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/along-for-the-ride/when-loop-trolley-finally-opens-it-will-be-on-reduced/article_6143349d-35ee-5b5a-a3bd-35e645d6aba6.html |archive-date=April 27, 2018}}</ref>

The trolley ceased operation on December 29, 2019.<ref name="to shut down">{{Cite web |last=Schlinkmann |first=Mark |date=December 5, 2019 |title=Loop Trolley to shut down Dec. 29 as Bi-State weighs reviving it |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/loop-trolley-to-shut-down-dec-as-bi-state-weighs/article_3a1b5067-8202-5c98-aee5-479877e44cf8.html |access-date=December 14, 2019 |website=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch|stltoday.com (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)]] |language=en |archive-date=December 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207050733/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/loop-trolley-to-shut-down-dec-as-bi-state-weighs/article_3a1b5067-8202-5c98-aee5-479877e44cf8.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="last day KSDK" /> Federal officials subsequently said local governments would have to return millions of dollars of grant money if operation were not restarted.<ref name="not revive" />

In February 2022, the Bi-State Development Board voted to take over the Loop Trolley, restart operation, and run it through June 2025.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Producer |first=Dan Greenwald, Digital Content |date=February 18, 2022 |title=Bi-State Development Board votes to revive Loop Trolley |url=https://www.kmov.com/news/bi-state-development-board-votes-to-revive-loop-trolley/article_f5a4ce40-90d2-11ec-be1d-c3f263da9069.html |access-date=February 27, 2022 |publisher=[[KMOV]] |language=en |archive-date=February 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227000810/https://www.kmov.com/news/bi-state-development-board-votes-to-revive-loop-trolley/article_f5a4ce40-90d2-11ec-be1d-c3f263da9069.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Producer |first=Dan Greenwald, Digital Content |title=Letter from Jones says plans call for Loop Trolley to restart by June |url=https://www.kmov.com/news/letter-from-jones-says-plans-call-for-loop-trolley-to-restart-by-june/article_46d23442-965a-11ec-a1ea-637766f1fd4e.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226231743/https://www.kmov.com/news/letter-from-jones-says-plans-call-for-loop-trolley-to-restart-by-june/article_46d23442-965a-11ec-a1ea-637766f1fd4e.html |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |access-date=August 6, 2022 |publisher=[[KMOV]] |language=en}}</ref> Service resumed on August 4, 2022,<ref name="PD-2022aug4" /> for a four-day-a-week, fare-free "pilot program" that ran through October 30,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=November 10, 2022 |title=Home |url=https://www.looptrolley.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110152603/https://www.looptrolley.com/ |archive-date=November 10, 2022 |access-date=November 10, 2022 |publisher=Loop Trolley}}</ref> when the line shut down for the winter.  

The line operated similarly in 2023 and 2024: no-fare service Thursdays through Saturdays between April and October.<ref name="PD-2023mar24">{{Cite web |last=Schlinkmann |first=Mark |date=March 24, 2023 |title=The return of St. Louis' Loop Trolley is set for April 27 |url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/the-return-of-st-louis-loop-trolley-is-set-for-april-27/article_a452e413-f068-5c0b-9454-034e2b6eb560.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326055609/https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/the-return-of-st-louis-loop-trolley-is-set-for-april-27/article_a452e413-f068-5c0b-9454-034e2b6eb560.html |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |access-date=March 28, 2023 |newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]}}</ref><ref name=":9" />  

==History==
[[File:Loop Trolley construction on Delmar Blvd at Melville Ave in Nov 2015 - St Louis.jpg|thumb|right|November 2015: Track construction under way on [[Delmar Boulevard]]]]
[[File:Loop Trolley's westbound City Limit stop, Dec. 2018.jpg|thumb|right|December 2018: A trolley stop on Delmar Boulevard, with map and [[ticket machine|ticket vending machine]]]]

=== Before operation ===
{{See|Streetcars in St. Louis}}
The [[Delmar Loop]] was named for the streetcar turnaround that occupied two oblong blocks on the north side of Delmar east from Kingsland Avenue. This loop was used by two lines of the [[Streetcars in St. Louis|St. Louis Public Service Company]]—the Olive-Delmar and [[Creve Coeur, Missouri|Creve Coeur]] lines—and a private line west to what is now University City's [[City Hall (University City, Missouri)|City Hall]]. Streetcar service ended in St. Louis in 1966, but the Loop retained its name.

Around 1997,<ref name="KMOV-2017jan2">{{Cite news |date=January 2, 2017 |title=Loop trolley construction complete, but months of testing is ahead |publisher=[[KMOV]] |url=https://www.kmov.com/news/loop-trolley-construction-complete-but-months-of-testing-is-ahead/article_6265ad22-ec39-5640-9d32-5d9c6c1027ba.html |access-date=March 29, 2017 |archive-date=October 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005030745/https://www.kmov.com/news/loop-trolley-construction-complete-but-months-of-testing-is-ahead/article_6265ad22-ec39-5640-9d32-5d9c6c1027ba.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the idea of bringing back streetcars found a champion in [[Joe Edwards (St. Louis)|Joe Edwards]], the owner of [[Blueberry Hill (restaurant)|Blueberry Hill]], [[The Pageant]], and other Loop businesses. Edwards eventually secured the purchase of two [[Peter Witt streetcar|Peter Witt-type streetcars]] that once operated in [[Trams in Milan|Milan]], Italy. The two Peter Witt cars were cosmetically refurbished by the [[Gomaco Trolley Company]] in 2005 and placed on long-term display along the route—one on Delmar by Commerce Bank, and the other at the [[Missouri History Museum]]—to publicize the proposed Loop Trolley line.<ref name="taut-2005oct">{{Cite news |date=October 2005 |title=Systems News [regular news section] |page=412 |work=[[Tramways & Urban Transit]] |publisher=[[Ian Allan Publishing]]/[[Light Rail Transit Association]] |location=UK |issn=1460-8324}}</ref> Originally, the two were slated to carry passengers if the project came to fruition, but plans to restore them to operating condition were deemed too expensive in 2015, in part because they had deteriorated during their years on outdoor display.<ref name="taut-2015nov">{{Cite news |date=November 2015 |title=Worldwide Review [regular news section] |pages=450–451 |work=[[Tramways & Urban Transit]] |publisher=[[Light Rail Transit Association]] |location=UK}}</ref>

In July 2010, the [[Federal Transit Administration]]'s Urban Circulator Grant Program approved a grant of $25&nbsp;million for the project.<ref name="fta-announces">{{Cite web |date=July 8, 2010 |title=U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $293 Million for New Transit Solutions, Economic Development Nationwide |url=http://www.fta.dot.gov/news/news_events_11823.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803025335/http://www.fta.dot.gov/news/news_events_11820.html |archive-date=August 3, 2011 |access-date=January 26, 2013 |publisher=[[Federal Transit Administration]]}}</ref><ref name="fta-descriptions">{{Cite web |date=July 8, 2010 |title=Urban Circulator/Bus and Bus Livability Project Descriptions |url=http://www.fta.dot.gov/news/news_events_11820.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803025335/http://www.fta.dot.gov/news/news_events_11820.html |archive-date=August 3, 2011 |access-date=July 20, 2010 |publisher=[[Federal Transit Administration]]}}</ref> Ultimately, the FTA provided about $34 million to the project.<ref name="not revive">{{Cite web |last=Petrin |first=Kae M. |date=January 24, 2020 |title=Bi-State Development Will Not Revive Loop Trolley, Transit Agency CEO Says |url=https://news.stlpublicradio.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2020-01-24/bi-state-development-will-not-revive-loop-trolley-transit-agency-ceo-says |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216063753/https://news.stlpublicradio.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2020-01-24/bi-state-development-will-not-revive-loop-trolley-transit-agency-ceo-says |archive-date=February 16, 2022 |access-date=August 6, 2022 |publisher=[[KWMU|St. Louis Public Radio (KWMU)]] |language=en}}</ref> Other funding came from the [[United States Department of Transportation|U.S. Department of Transportation]]'s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program and Surface Transportation Program, a [[Tax increment financing]], a [[New Markets Tax Credit Program|New Markets Tax Credit]], the St. Louis County Transportation Fund, [[The Great Rivers Greenway District|Great Rivers Greenway]], [[Washington University in St. Louis|Washington University]], Loop Trolley Transportation Development District sales taxes, and donations.<ref name="FAQ">{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=Loop Trolley FAQ |url=http://www.looptrolley.com/faq/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215103644/http://www.looptrolley.com:80/faq/ |archive-date=February 15, 2020 |access-date=December 1, 2021 |website=looptrolley.org |publisher=Loop Trolley Transportation Development District}}</ref>

Construction began in March 2015 with a budget of $51 million<ref name="FAQ" /> and anticipated annual ridership of 394,000 passengers.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Schlinkmann |first=Mark |date=July 3, 2019 |title=Loop Trolley ridership and fare revenue lag — it's raised just $22,283 in fares since Nov. 16 |language=en |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/loop-trolley-ridership-and-fare-revenue-lag-it-s-raised/article_c75e642c-c17e-5782-9bfc-9918657417e5.html |url-status=dead |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703033209/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/loop-trolley-ridership-and-fare-revenue-lag-it-s-raised/article_c75e642c-c17e-5782-9bfc-9918657417e5.html |archive-date=July 3, 2019}}</ref> The trackwork was half done by November 2015<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 12, 2016 |title=Major track work completed in Delmar Loop prior to holiday shopping season |url=http://www.looptrolley.com:80/loop-trolley-completes-major-track-work-in-delmar-loop-prior-to-holiday-shopping-season/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312035254/http://www.looptrolley.com:80/loop-trolley-completes-major-track-work-in-delmar-loop-prior-to-holiday-shopping-season/ |archive-date=March 12, 2016 |access-date=December 2, 2021 |publisher=Loop Trolley}}</ref> and was completed in November 2016.<ref name="kwmu-2016nov25">{{Cite news |last=Westerman |first=Hannah |date=November 25, 2016 |title=U City Loop trolley construction completed and testing to start in December |publisher=[[KWMU]] |url=http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/u-city-loop-trolley-construction-completed-and-testing-start-december |url-status=live |access-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201233304/http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/u-city-loop-trolley-construction-completed-and-testing-start-december |archive-date=December 1, 2018}}</ref> During construction, some shops and restaurants saw decreased foot traffic and sales. Some businesses moved; others closed permanently. One business owner called the Loop Trolley "a solution in need of a problem".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strickland |first=Raymond |date=December 15, 2017 |title=Business owners remain skeptical of Loop Trolley, amid big donation |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/business-owners-remain-skeptical-of-loop-trolley-amid-big-donation/63-499806407 |access-date=July 13, 2019 |publisher=[[KSDK]] |archive-date=May 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520012146/https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/business-owners-remain-skeptical-of-loop-trolley-amid-big-donation/63-499806407 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Barker |first=Jacob |date=August 10, 2018 |title=Delmar Loop novelty retailer Phoenix Rising to close |url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/delmar-loop-novelty-retailer-phoenix-rising-to-close/article_93c8eb06-79cb-53f7-b5bf-7fb8273d7424.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 13, 2019 |language=en |newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |archive-date=July 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713134814/https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/delmar-loop-novelty-retailer-phoenix-rising-to-close/article_93c8eb06-79cb-53f7-b5bf-7fb8273d7424.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Melody |date=November 1, 2018 |title=Delmar Loop Trolley takes toll on businesses after years of delays |url=https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/delmar-loop-trolley-takes-toll-businesses-after-years-delays |access-date=July 13, 2019 |publisher=[[KWMU]] |language=en |archive-date=July 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713134823/https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/delmar-loop-trolley-takes-toll-businesses-after-years-delays |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2017, trolley officials projected that the first year of operation would see farebox revenue of $394,433 with all-day, seven-day service.<ref name=":4" />

The first of three streetcars being refurbished and modified for the line was delivered on February 16, 2017,<ref name="taut-2017apr">{{Cite news |date=April 2017 |title=Worldwide Review [regular news section] |page=152 |work=[[Tramways & Urban Transit]] |publisher=[[Light Rail Transit Association]] |location=UK |issn=1460-8324}}</ref> and the second on March&nbsp;30, 2017.<ref name="KTVI-2017mar30">{{Cite news |last=Regnier |first=Chris |date=March 30, 2017 |title=Second Loop Trolley car arrives in St. Louis |publisher=[[KTVI]] |url=http://fox2now.com/2017/03/30/second-loop-trolley-car-arrives-in-st-louis-thursday/ |access-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-date=December 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217014722/https://fox2now.com/2017/03/30/second-loop-trolley-car-arrives-in-st-louis-thursday/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 26, 2017, car No. 001 was towed along the line to check the tracks and clearances at station platforms, becoming the first streetcar to be moved along the Loop Trolley line, though not under its own power.<ref name="KTVI-2017mar26">{{Cite news |last=Hoskins |first=Kelley |date=March 26, 2017 |title=Trolley cars make debut for testing in Delmar Loop |publisher=[[KTVI]] |url=http://fox2now.com/2017/03/26/trolley-cars-make-debut-for-testing-in-delmar-loop/ |access-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-date=December 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217014900/https://fox2now.com/2017/03/26/trolley-cars-make-debut-for-testing-in-delmar-loop/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="PD-2017mar24">{{Cite news |last=Thorsen |first=Leah |date=March 24, 2017 |title=Loop Trolley testing to start early Sunday |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/loop-trolley-testing-to-start-early-sunday/article_aa05eeb2-f5a0-5c92-938d-9a100c6aa585.html |access-date=March 29, 2017 |archive-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326200246/http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/loop-trolley-testing-to-start-early-sunday/article_aa05eeb2-f5a0-5c92-938d-9a100c6aa585.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2018, Loop Trolley officials said the first year's operating budget would be $1.3 million, of which $850,000 would come through the sales tax.<ref name=":4" />

The line's opening was delayed several times as completion of a third trolley car fell behind schedule. Eventually, Loop Trolley officials decided to operate a temporarily reduced schedule with two trolleys until the third was delivered.

In November 2018, the Loop Trolley Company announced that the line would open on November&nbsp;15, 2018,<ref name="PD-2018nov12">{{Cite news |last=Schlinkmann |first=Mark |date=November 12, 2018 |title=Loop Trolley to begin rolling Thursday morning |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/loop-trolley-to-begin-rolling-thursday-morning/article_44ea6976-e6a8-5564-b8dd-e72a87ed9f83.html |access-date=November 12, 2018 |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113011810/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/loop-trolley-to-begin-rolling-thursday-morning/article_44ea6976-e6a8-5564-b8dd-e72a87ed9f83.html |url-status=live }}</ref> but snow delayed the opening one more day.<ref name="PD-2018nov16">{{Cite web |last=Schlinkmann |first=Mark |date=November 15, 2018 |title=Snow-go: Loop Trolley opening pushed back. Again |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/snow-go-loop-trolley-opening-pushed-back-again/article_d07167eb-1ec5-5f91-8c2f-fb0a04a17b33.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122171035/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/snow-go-loop-trolley-opening-pushed-back-again/article_d07167eb-1ec5-5f91-8c2f-fb0a04a17b33.html |archive-date=November 22, 2018 |access-date=August 6, 2022 |language=en |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}</ref>

=== Loop Trolley Company operation ===
Service began on November&nbsp;16, 2018.<ref name="KMOV-2018nov16">{{Cite web |date=November 16, 2018 |title=Loop Trolley opens to public, is unable to operate in Delmar Loop |url=https://www.kmov.com/news/loop-trolley-opens-to-public-is-unable-to-operate-in/article_59332e0e-e9ea-11e8-92fb-f7ae889d3b43.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119034328/https://www.kmov.com/news/loop-trolley-opens-to-public-is-unable-to-operate-in/article_59332e0e-e9ea-11e8-92fb-f7ae889d3b43.html |archive-date=November 19, 2018 |access-date=August 6, 2022 |publisher=[[KMOV]]}}</ref> The two replica-historic [[Tram|streetcar]]s initially ran four days a week: Thursdays, noon to 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 11 p.m.; and Sundays, noon to 8 p.m. Tickets cost $2 for a two-hour fare and $5 for an all-day fare. Cheaper tickets were available for passengers aged 5-12 or 65 or older, and for those with disabilities.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=November 25, 2018 |title=The Loop Trolley - Map & Schedule |url=http://www.looptrolley.com/map-schedule/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125115433/http://www.looptrolley.com/map-schedule/ |archive-date=November 25, 2018 |access-date=December 1, 2021}}</ref> Service was expected to expand to more hours, and seven days a week after a third trolley arrived.<ref name="KMOX-2018nov15">{{Cite news |last=Blume |first=Brett |date=November 15, 2018 |title=Loop Trolley Dedicated; Still Hasn't Made 1st Public Run |publisher=[[KMOX]] |url=https://kmox.radio.com/articles/loop-trolley-dedicated-still-hasnt-made-1st-public-run |url-status=dead |access-date=August 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111070349/https://kmox.radio.com/articles/loop-trolley-dedicated-still-hasnt-made-1st-public-run |archive-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref><ref name="PD-2018apr23" />

A failure to obtain an operating permit from University City limited service during its first week to the portion between the Missouri History Museum terminus and the [[Delmar Loop station|Delmar Loop MetroLink station]].<ref name="KMOV-2018nov16" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hunn |first=David |date=November 20, 2018 |title=Loop Trolley leaders scramble to get route fully opened |language=en |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/loop-trolley-leaders-scramble-to-get-route-fully-opened/article_177b09eb-2135-5384-8257-04e4dad524b7.html |access-date=November 24, 2018 |archive-date=November 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124022506/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/loop-trolley-leaders-scramble-to-get-route-fully-opened/article_177b09eb-2135-5384-8257-04e4dad524b7.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Before granting approval, city officials insisted that the Loop Trolley Transportation Development District install temporary protective barriers around an electric line tower and submit a $300,000 bond that would pay to dismantle the tracks if the trolley endeavor failed. LTTDD officials complied, and received their operating permit on November 21.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlinkmann |first=Mark |date=November 22, 2018 |title=The Loop Trolley will actually get to go to the Loop starting Friday |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/the-loop-trolley-will-actually-get-to-go-to-the-loop-starting-friday/article_20b7ca6f-2787-5612-9d4c-4f6c3bc798fb.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202045628/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/the-loop-trolley-will-actually-get-to-go-to-the-loop-starting-friday/article_20b7ca6f-2787-5612-9d4c-4f6c3bc798fb.html |archive-date=December 2, 2021 |access-date=December 2, 2021 |website=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch|STLtoday.com (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)]] |language=en}}</ref>

Trolleys began running along the entire line on November&nbsp;23.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Nicholson |first=Marvin |date=November 23, 2018 |title=The Loop Trolley starts running in Delmar Loop Friday at noon |language=en |publisher=[[KMOV]] |url=https://www.kmov.com/news/the-loop-trolley-starts-running-in-delmar-loop-friday-at/article_c3e611ac-ef2c-11e8-b657-77aaef4a1284.html |url-status=dead |access-date=August 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124162309/https://www.kmov.com/news/the-loop-trolley-starts-running-in-delmar-loop-friday-at/article_c3e611ac-ef2c-11e8-b657-77aaef4a1284.html |archive-date=November 24, 2018}}</ref><ref name="PD-2018nov23">{{Cite news |last=Suntrup |first=Jack |date=November 24, 2018 |title=Loop Trolley finally hisses and honks its way into the Loop |pages=A1, A6 |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/loop-trolley-finally-hisses-and-honks-its-way-into-the/article_ca9cb3ad-2ef6-5f39-9491-3b0cbe9766ad.html |url-status=dead |access-date=November 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126082358/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/loop-trolley-finally-hisses-and-honks-its-way-into-the/article_ca9cb3ad-2ef6-5f39-9491-3b0cbe9766ad.html |archive-date=November 26, 2018 |orig-year=online date November 23}}</ref> "The only trouble in evidence about 3 p.m. had nothing to do with the trolleys’ antique technology and everything to do with automated ticket machines that passengers struggled to learn," wrote the ''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]''.<ref name="PD-2018nov23" />

In July 2019, officials announced that the Trolley had taken in just $22,283 in fare revenue in its first six months of operation, roughly one-tenth of their 2015 projection. They noted that the 2015 estimate had been based on seven-day operations with three trolleys.<ref name=":4" />

On October 17, 2019, a "winter schedule" curtailed operating hours so that trolleys stopped running at 6 p.m.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2019 |title=The Loop Trolley - Map & Schedule |url=http://www.looptrolley.com/map-schedule/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216020200/http://www.looptrolley.com/map-schedule/ |archive-date=December 16, 2019 |access-date=December 1, 2021}}</ref>

On December 5, 2019, the operators of the Loop Trolley announced that the line would shut down on December 29 due to a lack of operating funds and low revenue. The sales tax raised about $860,000 in 2019,<ref name=":8" /> in line with expectations.<ref name=":4" /> But ridership was far lower than projected: the trolley sold 15,776 tickets in its first 11 months, far fewer than the amount needed to prevent a budget shortfall. Officials blamed the lack of ridership on the four-day schedule and the limited service caused by the lack of the third trolley.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kirn |first=Jacob |date=October 10, 2019 |title=The Loop Trolley is still attracting small crowds, running shortened schedule |work=St. Louis Business Journal |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2019/10/10/the-loop-trolley-is-still-attracting-small-crowds.html |access-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806012706/https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2019/10/10/the-loop-trolley-is-still-attracting-small-crowds.html |url-status=live }}</ref> No. 003 (ex-Seattle, ex-Melbourne), had still not been cleared to enter service when the line shut down.<ref name="taut-2020feb">{{Cite news |date=February 2020 |title=Worldwide Review [regular news section] |page=74 |work=[[Tramways & Urban Transit]] |publisher=Light Rail Transit Association |location=UK}}</ref>

=== Operation suspended ===
The trolley ceased operations on December 29, 2019.<ref name="last day KSDK">{{Cite web |last=Olmos |first=Dori |date=December 29, 2019 |title=It's the Loop Trolley's last day |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/loop-trolley-closing-final-day/63-195b5f80-e1d4-4081-931d-4e029a009c40 |access-date=December 31, 2019 |publisher=[[KSDK]] |archive-date=February 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227000737/https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/loop-trolley-closing-final-day/63-195b5f80-e1d4-4081-931d-4e029a009c40 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Bi-State Development Agency]], a regional transit operator, immediately began seeking ways to restart operations.<ref name="to shut down" /><ref name="last day KSDK" /> Agency officials proposed to take over operations for four years with the aim of making the Loop Trolley self-sustaining by 2024. But on January 24, 2020, a Bi-State committee voted to reject the proposal; opponents said they doubted it would work.

At the committee meeting, Mokhtee Ahmad, the Federal Transit Administration's regional administrator, said that if no one restarted the Loop Trolley, his agency might sue to recover about $25 million that it had provided for construction. The money would be owed by the Loop Trolley Transportation Development District and [[East-West Gateway Council of Governments]], a regional planning organization. Ahmad also "implied that any litigation to recover federal money could hurt St. Louis’ applications for future federal grants," [[KWMU|St. Louis Public Radio]] wrote.<ref name="not revive" />

Three months after service ceased, the Loop Trolley's website had not been updated to reflect the system's suspended status.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2020 |title=Home {{!}} Loop Trolley v3 |url=https://www.looptrolley.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313200001/https://www.looptrolley.com/ |archive-date=March 13, 2020 |access-date=December 1, 2021}}</ref> [[Joe Edwards (St. Louis)|Joe Edwards]], a Loop developer and chairman of the trolley taxing district, suggested in a newspaper interview and a letter to Ahmad that the arrival of the third trolley car combined with the revenue from the sales tax could enable the trolley to restart service in April.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kohler |first=Jeremy |date=March 11, 2020 |title=Loop Trolley could be back on track in April, promoter Joe Edwards says |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/loop-trolley-could-be-back-on-track-in-april-promoter/article_d40a0662-2004-5b5e-b85a-16d16b977488.html |url-status=dead |access-date=March 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311162542/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/loop-trolley-could-be-back-on-track-in-april-promoter/article_d40a0662-2004-5b5e-b85a-16d16b977488.html |archive-date=March 11, 2020}}</ref>

In August 2020, the website was changed to say: "To support regional efforts to eliminate COVID-19 during the ongoing pandemic, the Loop Trolley is currently out of service."<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2021 |title=Home {{!}} Loop Trolley |url=https://www.looptrolley.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509143007/https://www.looptrolley.com/ |archive-date=May 9, 2021 |access-date=December 1, 2021}}</ref> (The site continued to ascribe the suspension to the pandemic through July 24, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 24, 2022 |title=HOME {{!}} STL Loop Trolley |url=https://www.looptrolley.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724144908/https://www.looptrolley.com/ |archive-date=July 24, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022}}</ref>)

On October 27, 2021, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments rejected a plan to use $1.26 million in federal money plus $540,000 from a sales tax along the route to restart Loop Trolley service.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |date=October 27, 2021 |title=Loop Trolley remains dead in its tracks after a regional planning agency rejects funding plan |url=https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2021-10-27/with-funding-rejected-the-loop-trolley-remains-in-limbo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218195326/https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2021-10-27/with-funding-rejected-the-loop-trolley-remains-in-limbo |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |access-date=December 1, 2021 |publisher=[[KWMU|St. Louis Public Radio]] |language=en}}</ref>

=== Renewed operation ===

On February 25, 2022, the Bi-State Development Board voted to take over and restart operation of the Loop Trolley through June 2025.<ref name=":7" /> Board members said restarting trolley operations was preferable to repaying millions of dollars in federal grants spent to build it.<ref name=":7" />

[[Mayor of St. Louis|St. Louis Mayor]] [[Tishaura Jones|Tishuara Jones]], who had opposed the trolley restart but also preferred it to repaying the money, informed Ahmad of the decision in a February 25 letter. She acknowledged federal officials' request that service be restarted in June 2022, but said operation might be delayed to ensure safety.<ref name=":6" /> Jones wrote that “the determining factor for a prudent opening date” would be up to the [[Missouri Department of Transportation]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Schlinkmann |first=Mark |date=February 25, 2022 |title=St. Louis mayor says plans call for Loop Trolley to restart in summer |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/st-louis-mayor-says-plans-call-for-loop-trolley-to-restart-in-summer/article_bb40e896-28bc-5143-835d-043698f1b680.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226145200/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/st-louis-mayor-says-plans-call-for-loop-trolley-to-restart-in-summer/article_bb40e896-28bc-5143-835d-043698f1b680.html |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |access-date=August 6, 2022 |website=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |language=en}}</ref>

As of February 2022, the trolley operating fund included $881,321 collected via the local sales tax. Jones said the district estimates it will collect $773,787 in sales tax in 2022.<ref name=":8" /> The trolley authority also resubmitted a request to the East-West Gateway Council of Government for a $1.26 million grant, but no decision was expected until August.<ref name=":7" /> 

Service resumed on August 4, 2022, operating Thursdays through Sundays and until only October 30, instead of year-round as it had in the past.<ref name="PD-2022aug4" /> More than 8,000 rides were given during the nearly three-month operating season, according to Bi-State Development President and CEO Taulby Roach.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Elliott |date=November 26, 2023 |title=Bi-State may run Loop Trolley one year longer than planned |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/bi-state-may-run-loop-trolley-one-year-longer-than-planned/ar-AA1kzSub |access-date=2023-12-03 |publisher=[[KTVI]] |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204145023/https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/bi-state-may-run-loop-trolley-one-year-longer-than-planned/ar-AA1kzSub |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2023, service ran from April&nbsp;27<ref name="KTVI-2023apr27">{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Patrick |date=April 27, 2023 |title=Beep! Beep! St. Louis Loop Trolley is back in operation |publisher=[[KTVI]] |url=https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/beep-beep-st-louis-loop-trolley-is-back-in-operation/ |access-date=May 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509025303/https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/beep-beep-st-louis-loop-trolley-is-back-in-operation/ |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> through October 29.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Schlinkmann |first=Mark |date=2023-10-27 |title=Loop Trolley to shut down Sunday night until next spring |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/loop-trolley-to-shut-down-sunday-night-until-next-spring/article_44ed519e-750a-11ee-9eb9-07fdc260bf7a.html |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=STLtoday.com |language=en |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204145157/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/loop-trolley-to-shut-down-sunday-night-until-next-spring/article_44ed519e-750a-11ee-9eb9-07fdc260bf7a.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The six-month operating season saw more than 8,500 rides:<ref name=":2" /> an absolute increase over 2022 but a decline in average monthly ridership, from about 2,500 to fewer than 1,400.<ref name=":9" /> In November 2023, Roach said Bi-State was considering operating the trolley until 2026, one more year than the planned five.<ref name=":2" />  

The 2024 season ran from April 25 to October 27, with service Thursdays through Sundays.<ref name="KMOV-2024apr">{{Cite web  |date=April 19, 2024 |title=Loop Trolley season begins next week |url=https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/04/19/loop-trolley-season-begins-next-week/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |publisher=[[KMOV]] |archive-date=April 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419230734/https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/04/19/loop-trolley-season-begins-next-week/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It gave an estimated 12,350 rides, about 44 percent more than the previous season. It also operated within its budget, Roach said in November 2024. He said Bi-State would work with the FTA and the Loop Trolley Transportation Development District "on an extension of this management contract so that we can continue to fulfill the obligation to the FTA and operate within reasonable expectations”.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zotos |first=Alexis |date=November 2024 |title=Loop Trolley ends season operating within budget and with 44 percent increase in ridership |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/loop-trolley-ends-season-operating-within-budget-and-with-44-percent-increase-in-ridership/ar-AA1tUhOY |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=KMOV St. Louis}}</ref>{{clear left}}

==Rolling stock==
Loop Trolley service was provided by two faux-vintage streetcars acquired used from [[Portland, Oregon]]. A third vintage streetcar from [[Seattle]]<ref name="seattle trolleys arrive">{{Cite web |date=June 9, 2016 |title=Seattle trolleys arrive in St. Louis for Loop Trolley |url=http://www.looptrolley.com/seattle-trolleys-arrive-in-st-louis-for-loop-trolley/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818115026/http://www.looptrolley.com/seattle-trolleys-arrive-in-st-louis-for-loop-trolley/ |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |access-date=August 6, 2022 |publisher=Loop Trolley Transportation Development District}}</ref> was expected to join the fleet in 2019.<ref name="KSDK-2018nov23">{{Cite news |last=Verner |first=Brittney |date=November 23, 2018 |title=The Loop Trolley finally starts operating full route |publisher=[[KSDK]] |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/the-loop-trolley-finally-starts-operating-full-route/63-617245320 |access-date=August 6, 2022 |archive-date=September 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923044400/https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/the-loop-trolley-finally-starts-operating-full-route/63-617245320 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Loop Trolley car interior - University City, Missouri (2018).jpg|thumb|right|Interior of one of the ex-Portland cars]]
In December 2013, the Loop Trolley district acquired from Portland transit agency [[TriMet]] two [[Gomaco Trolley Company|Gomaco]]-built [[J. G. Brill Company|Brill]]-replica streetcars which were then in operation on the [[Portland Vintage Trolley]] service,<ref name="railway age 2013">{{Cite news |last=Bowen |first=Douglas John |date=December 13, 2013 |title=TriMet sells heritage trolleys to St. Louis |work=[[Railway Age]] |url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/light-rail/trimet-sells-heritage-trolleys-to-st-louis/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216125034/https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/light-rail/trimet-sells-heritage-trolleys-to-st-louis/ |archive-date=December 16, 2018}}</ref> which use continued until mid-2014.<ref name="vt-ceased">{{Cite web |date=September 2014 |title=Vintage Trolley Has Ceased Operation |url=http://myplace.frontier.com/~trolley503/VTSchedule.html |access-date=December 16, 2018 |publisher=[[Portland Vintage Trolley]] website |archive-date=February 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201170503/http://myplace.frontier.com/~trolley503/VTSchedule.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Those two cars were designed to look like 1903 streetcars but were actually built in 1991 (car 511) and 1992 (car 512), and feature steel frames under their wooden bodies and more-modern propulsion equipment (including rebuilt 1940s [[truck (rail)|trucks]]). For St. Louis, they were modified for wheelchair accessibility, to meet [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990|ADA]] regulations, with the installation of [[wheelchair lift]]s (one per side).<ref name="taut-2016may">{{Cite news |date=May 2016 |title=Worldwide Review [regular news section] |page=193 |work=[[Tramways & Urban Transit]] |publisher=Light Rail Transit Association |location=UK}}</ref>  Gomaco was hired to carry out those and other modifications, and the work began at Gomaco's [[Ida Grove, Iowa]], plant in August 2015.<ref name=taut-2015nov/>

In January 2016, it was announced that the Loop Trolley district had purchased three ex-[[Melbourne]], Australia, [[W-class Melbourne tram|W2-type]] streetcars from [[Seattle]], which had operated on Seattle's [[Waterfront Streetcar]] line until it shut down in 2005.<ref name="king5-2016jan">{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Josh |date=January 14, 2016 |title=Seattle's old waterfront streetcars will live on - in different ways |url=http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/seattle/2016/01/14/seattles-old-waterfront-streetcars-live---different-ways/78825108/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125062226/http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/seattle/2016/01/14/seattles-old-waterfront-streetcars-live---different-ways/78825108/ |archive-date=January 25, 2016 |access-date=August 10, 2016 |publisher=[[KING-TV]]}}</ref>  Only one of the three was planned for immediate refurbishment, modification and use due to funding limitations.<ref name="taut-2016may" /> The necessary modifications included restoring doors on one side of the car, restoring steps to the doors (Seattle's line used high-platform stations which didn't necessitate steps), installing two wheelchair lifts, one on each side,<ref name="taut-2016may" /> and replacement of the car's [[trolley pole]]s with a [[Pantograph (rail)|pantograph]]. The three cars were moved from Seattle in early June 2016.<ref name="seattle trolleys arrive" /> Cars 482 and 518 were taken to St. Louis and put in indefinite storage for potential future restoration and use. Car 512 was taken to Gomaco in Iowa, which had been awarded a $676,750 contract to restore and modify the car.<ref name="taut-2016aug">{{Cite news |date=August 2016 |title=Worldwide Review [regular news section] |page=312 |work=[[Tramways & Urban Transit]] |publisher=Light Rail Transit Association |location=UK}}</ref>

The operational fleet was to comprise three cars in 2019:<ref name="KPLR-2018nov16">{{Cite news |last=Madden |first=Roche |date=November 16, 2018 |title=Long awaited Loop Trolley finally on the move |publisher=[[KPLR-TV]] |url=https://kplr11.com/2018/11/16/long-awaited-loop-trolley-finally-on-the-move/ |access-date=November 17, 2018 |archive-date=November 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117052320/https://kplr11.com/2018/11/16/long-awaited-loop-trolley-finally-on-the-move/ |url-status=live }}</ref> two ex-Portland Brill replica cars (Portland Nos. 511–512) and one ex-Seattle, ex-Melbourne car (Seattle No. 512).<ref name="seattle trolleys arrive" /><ref name="taut-2016aug" />  Ex-Portland cars 511–512 were renumbered 002 and 001, respectively,<ref name="taut-2017apr" /> and ex-Seattle, ex-Melbourne car 512 was renumbered 003.<ref name="taut-2017sep">{{Cite news |date=September 2017 |title=Worldwide Review [regular news section] |page=353 |work=[[Tramways & Urban Transit]] |publisher=Light Rail Transit Association |location=UK}}</ref> Car 001 is painted red and cream, Car 002 blue and cream, and Car 003 orange and cream.

At the time of the line's opening, Car 003 was still at Gomaco's Iowa plant, with its renovation and modification more than a year behind schedule, partly due to delays in getting parts from Germany.<ref name="KPLR-2018nov16" /><ref name="PD-2018apr23" /> Car 003 was delivered to the Loop Trolley's maintenance facility on January 29, 2019.<ref name="KMOV-2019jan29">{{Cite news |last=Baumer |first=Stephanie |date=January 29, 2019 |title=3rd Delmar Loop Trolley car delivered Tuesday |publisher=[[KMOV]] |url=https://www.kmov.com/news/rd-delmar-loop-trolley-car-delivered-tuesday/article_a3500de2-23bd-11e9-815f-53c75abaa3ef.html |url-status=dead |access-date=August 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130111712/https://www.kmov.com/news/rd-delmar-loop-trolley-car-delivered-tuesday/article_a3500de2-23bd-11e9-815f-53c75abaa3ef.html |archive-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref> In 2024, Car 003 was returned to Gomaco along with Car 482 and Car 518.<ref name="reduce">{{cite web |title=Living St. Louis {{!}} January 20, 2025 |url=https://www.ninepbs.org/blogs/living-st-louis/january-20-2025/ |website=Nine PBS |access-date=24 January 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!No.
!Image
!Type
!Former No.
!Former operator
!Acquired
!Current Status
!Refs.
|-style="background-color:#CCC; 
| 1351 || [[File:Streetcar 1351 (ex-Milan 1906) on display in St. Louis in 2011.jpg|150px]] || rowspan="2" | [[Peter Witt streetcar]] || 1906 || rowspan="2" | [[Azienda Trasporti Milanesi]] || rowspan="2" | August 2005 || Returned to Gomaco || <ref>{{cite web |title=Gomaco Trolley Company: Reconditioned Peter Witt Trolley |url=https://www.gomacotrolley.com/Resources/pages/peterwitt.html |website=www.gomacotrolley.com |access-date=24 January 2025 |ref=pwstl}}</ref>
|-style="background-color:#CCC; 
| 1352 || [[File:Streetcar 1352 (ex-Milan 1811) on display in St. Louis in 2011.jpg|150px]] || 1811 || Renumbered back to 1811 and acquired by [[Midwest Electric Railway]] || <ref name="oldt">{{cite web |title=Historic Milan Trolley rolls into Mt. Pleasant |url=https://www.southeastiowaunion.com/se-iowa-union-mount-pleasant/historic-milan-trolley-rolls-into-mt-pleasant/ |website=www.southeastiowaunion.com |access-date=7 February 2025}}</ref>
|-style="background-color:#CCC; 
| 482 || [[File:Seattle Waterfront Streetcar at Occidental Park.jpg|150px]] || rowspan="2" | [[W-class Melbourne tram|W2-type tram]] || || rowspan="2" | [[Waterfront Streetcar]] || rowspan="2" | June 2016 || rowspan="2" | Acquired by Gomaco ||  rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite web |title=Seattle trolleys arrive in St. Louis for Loop Trolley |url=https://www.looptrolley.com/seattle-trolleys-arrive-in-st-louis-for-loop-trolley/ |website=The Loop Trolley}}</ref><ref name="reduce"/>
|-style="background-color:#CCC; 
| 518 || [[File:Heritage streetcar in Seattle, 2006 07 14 -a.jpg|150px]] || 
|-
| 001 || [[File:Loop Trolley car 001 being unloaded from trailer, 2-16-2017.jpg|150px]] || rowspan="2" | Replica Council Crest trolley || 512 || rowspan="2" | [[Portland Vintage Trolley]] || February 16, 2017 || rowspan="2" | In operation || rowspan="2" | <ref name="gmstl">{{cite web |title=Gomaco Trolley Company: Gomaco Trolleys In St. Louis, Missouri |url=https://www.gomacotrolley.com/Resources/pages/stlouis_trolleys.html |website=www.gomacotrolley.com |access-date=24 January 2025}}</ref>
|-
| 002 || [[File:Loop Trolley 2022.jpg|150px]] || 511 || March 30, 2017
|-style="background-color:#CCC; 
| 003 || [[File:Seattle streetcar at Broad Street Station.jpg|150px]] || [[W-class Melbourne tram|W2-type tram]] || 512 || [[Waterfront Streetcar]] || January 29, 2019 || Returned to Gomaco || <ref name="KMOV-2019jan29"/><ref name="reduce"/>
|}

==Maintenance facility==
The Loop Trolley's administrative headquarters and maintenance facility are located at 5875 Delmar Boulevard,<ref name="PD-2017mar24" /> in a building that had been Delmar High School until 1980.<ref name="taut-2017apr" />

==See also==
*[[Streetcars in North America]]
*[[St. Charles City Streetcar]]
*[[Metrolink (St. Louis)|St. Louis Metrolink]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Loop Trolley (St. Louis)}}
*{{official|www.looptrolley.com}}

{{Bi-State Transit}}
{{St. Louis MetroLink}}
{{Missouri public transit}}
{{Heritage Streetcars}}
{{USLightRail}}

[[Category:Metro Transit (St. Louis)]]
[[Category:Delmar Loop Trolley| ]]
[[Category:Streetcars in Greater St. Louis]]
[[Category:Rail in St. Louis]]
[[Category:Heritage streetcar systems]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 2018]]
[[Category:600 V DC railway electrification]]