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photo by Luke Horton
Natchez residents Sydney Eidt, at right, and Rebecca Myers take a evening ride on the newly renovated trolley.
Natchez trolley rides streets again
Published Tuesday, March 18, 2008
NATCHEZ — It’s been years since a trolley was spotted on the streets of downtown Natchez. But Monday morning, a completely refurbished trolley hit the streets and patrons were in for a surprise — the ride was free.
In an effort to get people back on the trolley, the Natchez Transit System decided to offer free rides for the trolley’s first week back in service.
“It’s a publicity thing,” transit assistant Delores McCullen said. “We’re letting people know that it’s back downtown again. We want people riding again.”
Photo by Luke Horton
Tourists Rob Terwillegar and Linda Saulpaugh take in the Natchez sites from city’s refurbished trolley.
Not only was the trolley ticket free, patrons were also treated to refinished seats, floors and new windows. The entire vehicle has been refurbished and NTS is proud to have it back on the streets.
“Pretty much everything is new on the trolley,” McCullen said. “It was in need of a face lift. It had gotten old; the wood was rotting and we wanted to make it nice before we put it back in service.”
For New York residents Rob Terwillegar and Linda Saulpaugh, the free trolley ride was the perfect beginning of their trip in Natchez. The two friends arrived in town Sunday and were looking forward to seeing the Natchez sites.
“We were so surprised to learn the trolley was free,” Saulpaugh said. “This is so great. We pulled out our dollar bills, but they told us, ‘no, it’s free.’”
Linda Hart of Omaha, Neb., felt the same way.
“The trolley ride is wonderful,” she said. “It’s great for the city to do this. It really adds a lot and shows the city’s Southern hospitality.”
Trolley driver and Natchez native Lawrence Clemons said he loves showing tourists his city. Clemons has been driving for NTS for about two months and requested the trolley gig when he found out it was available.
“I get a chance to show people what makes Natchez special, what makes it different,” he said. “It’s a great job.”
While tourists may be the trolley’s target audience, locals have been enjoying it as well. Sydney Eidt and Rebecca Myers boarded the trolley Monday evening for a fun trip around town.
“We’re just out riding,” Eidt said. “We got bored and we’re looking for something to do. We used to ride it all the time years ago.”
The trolley will continue its free trips through Friday. Currently, the trolley’s route remains downtown, but NTS is planning to expand the route in the future.
Comments
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 2:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is good, but I wonder how long this will last, and who is paying for it!
Posted by ford30 (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 3:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well you just read it the natchez transit system is paying for it ... and it last for a week .. why don't you read and you would know .... why is everyone so negative...
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 5:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
can natchez afford this
Posted by getitright (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think this is great! Let's be positive about some things shall we.... (choose you battles, kind of thinking) Natchez is a tourism town and most tourist towns have this type of system.... Oh Happy Days!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i thought they sold this to vidalia?? didn't i read an atricle saying they sold the trolley??
Posted by cynthiafleming (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is great news!!! I love the trolley and think it is a nostalgic way to show off our city.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think its another great thing for tourism . We really do have some good people here .
Posted by DrunkenMonkey (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
buttercup--
You're thinking of this story: http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2007...
If you re-read it, the trolley that Vidalia bought was one that was no longer in use, and Natchez City Clerk Donnie Holloway said Natchez would soon have their own trolley running the streets once again. I assume that the trolley in today's story is the one Holloway was talking about.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am SOOO happy to see the life come back to these! Just adds to the downtown charm of Natchez.
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yippee! Something positive for Natchez and look at the negatives roll! Get a life. This is good news and wonderful for our city. Who cares where the money is coming from for one instance. Do we have to be so petty? I am glad it is back and rolling the streets again. This does give us a competitive age as the folks from out of town will ride it again and again and the best advertising we have is word of mouth. SO, if you ain't happy about it - Shut up!! Have a fun day.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm glad to see a trolley back on the streets, I'll be glad to pay for a ride ASAP
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it's a good idea. Although I've always been one that says we need more industry (and I still think that), tourism is also a great asset of Natchez. Since it is such a great asset, we must do things to enhance our image as a tourism town. This is a great step in that direction. The trolley gives you a since of going back in time and immersing yourself into the history of Natchez which is what tourists like. I just hope we can become known as a tourist and industrial town. Since all the tourism is mostly centered toward down town, I hope more industry can come in down river. This town would be on fire economically if we can enhance both sectors of the economy(industry and tourism), but I digress. I think the trolley is awesome and I can't wait to ride it.
Posted by dottie (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is really great news. How long has Natchez been
without the trolley? I have been away from the city
a very long time.
Posted by thetruthhurts (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What have you people been saying since I have been gone???? Jeez, alot of the other articles comments have been disabled...... lol
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey thetruthhurts!!!! Nothing has changed here, but it is odd that the comment section shut down on some stories quickly. Hmmmm.
Any answers Kevin????
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 6:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is nice. This is a nice town. What a nice trolley.
Posted by dixiecrat (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 7:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, having the trolley back is great -- I only wish the article told where to go to hop on for a free ride -- do we have regular bus stops/routes/schedules around the downtown area?
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 8:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can someone give the posters a short history of the Natchez Transit System?
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 9:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Natchez Senior Citizens Center and the Transit System are wonderful. Thanks for giving us something to smile about. Great job.
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 9:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dixiecrat -
Trolley runs a route from the visitor center down Canal to under the Hill to Franklin then to Stanton Hall back to Franklin turn onto Rankin to Main and back to the Visitor Center - Should take about 30 minutes - not sure what the starting and stopping times of the trolley are.
It also collects visitors when the boats are in.
The Trolley started when the visitor center was built in 1998 - the Visitor Center (Inter-modal Center) is really part of a Park and Ride scheme tourists are supposed to park at the center then ride downtown to reduce congestion and the parking problem. Sadly the reality was no one promoted this and the trolley did not run reliably for tourists to trust it for a return trip.
The trolley stopped running over five years ago.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 10:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds very good! I can't see why that it will not succeed! In fact, I would like to see a second one? It has to work and help downtown Natchez!
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on March 19, 2008 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the trolley looks great...but where did they find spinners that size for the wheels.....i guess that was buck west idea
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 19, 2008 at 7:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The trolley also goes down Franklin and stops almost in front of Hal Garners antique shop. That trolley has been around alot longer than 10 years! It did not start when the visitors center popped up. I used to jump on it all the time years ago.
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