Backshophoss wrote:Normally that remaining streach of street track is where passengers board the cars
Again, I'm not an official spokesman, have no management role, etc.
Correct. The railroad-station-style building at 17 River St. (last building on the left, also known as Sprague Station) contains the ticket office, gift shop, and several rooms full of exhibits about various aspects of trolley car development and operation. On display are some original Sprague motors with explanations of how they work. Sprague is rightfully known as "the Father of Electric Traction" - equipment prior to his designs was more complicated and less efficient (c.f. the Van De Poele motor). Sprague Station is named in honor of Frank Julian Sprague, with a generous gift from the Sprague family (some of whom come to visit the museum to this day).
The house across the street (14) is also part of the museum complex. It houses things that were causing Sprague Station to start to bulge out at the edges - an office for the director, a large archive of material relating to transit - slides, maps, detailed engineering drawings, books, etc. - a meeting room for Board meetings, teleconferences with other museums & similar, presentations to potential donors, training of operators, and so on.
Owning both sides of the street means that we don't have to worry about getting a flatbed trailer full of railroad ties delivered and having them sitting on the lawn in front of somebody's house. During operating days, orange cones will be placed across the street just past the end of the tracks, allowing people to park (or turn around) in the large parking lot behind Sprague station. This does not block any access for other residents on the street, and from what I can tell, we have a very good relationship with just about everybody in the area. From what I'm told by old-timers, this has really been an area that's been worked on (cultivating good relationships with the neighbors) and it is good for everyone.
Here's the view from Sprague Station (17 River St.) with 2 trolley cars waiting to pick up passengers. Car 500 is in plain sight, while hidden off to the right is Car 1602. In the gap between them you can see across the road to 14 River St.