By Eric Wilson-Edge
It’s a beautiful day in Olympia. Most of the clouds have taken a day off. Sun beams down on my face. A breeze ruffles my hair as we cruise around the Capitol. People on the sidewalk give us curious looks. Some wave. We stop outside one of the innumerable state buildings. Gary Harrington steps out to admire the view. Even in the distance the Olympics are towering and snowcapped. Trees by the lake are beginning to bloom a showy white pompom.
Harrington lets me check out his ride, a cherry red electric trolley which has a top speed of 35 miles per hour. “I can only go in the city limits between Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater,” says Harrington. The retired state worker is the owner of Olympia Trolley Tours.
“I planned on doing something during retirement and that’s what this is for,” says Harrington. “Trolley Boy,” as he’s been dubbed, started out giving rides for free. “I was going to the senior center and giving people rides on Sunday,” says Harrington.
Business started picking up in the last year. Harrington does everything from parades to pub crawls to weddings but his passion is for tours. “It’s a one hour ride,” says Harrington. “I’ll start by the Olympia Farmers Market then show them the walkway, Percival Landing, the lake, downtown business and the fountain.” Gary isn’t too concerned with routes. If you want to see something different he’ll happily oblige.
I didn’t bring a measuring tape but I’m guessing the trolley is roughly 20 feet long. There are five bench seats, including the one where Gary sits. Thirteen people can fit comfortably. The trolley is quiet and has a range of about 50 miles in a day. Of course, battery life depends on traffic and how many people are aboard.
“It’s really nice because I don’t have to worry about gas at all,” says Harrington. “I get terrific mileage out of the batteries.” That doesn’t mean Harrington doesn’t come prepared. He carries an extension cord with him at all times and puts snow tires on the trolley during the cold season. “The first year I got stuck up on Capitol Way during the winter and so I said ‘that’s it.’”
Kids love the trolley. Part of the reason might be the two bells. One is handheld, the other is attached to the side of the vehicle. Gary lets the kids ring the bell to their hearts desire or until their parents have had enough. Not too long ago Harrington used his trolley to shuttle people back and forth from a parking lot to the track during a cancer walk. “I had one little boy who only said ‘oh boy, oh boy,’” says Harrington.
Gary would eventually like to take people on rides for free. He’s hoping enough businesses will advertise with him so he won’t have to charge. “As long as it pays for itself then I’m happy,” says Harrington.
The price for a typical tour is $10 an hour. A minimum of five people is required but Gary has taken as few as two.
If you’re interested in hoping on the trolley give Gary a call at 360-359-6478 or send an email to etours@comcast.net.
