A NEW ELECTRIC TROLLEY SYSTEM
FOR THE GROVE AT FARMERS MARKET, LOS ANGELES, CA

In mid-July of 1999 Entertainment Engineering, Inc. was contacted by technical consultants working with Caruso Affiliated Holdings, a Los Angeles based developer of unique euro-historic style outdoor shopping plazas. Caruso A.H. were in the proccess of developing The Grove, a new shopping and entertainment complex adjacent to the historic old Farmers Market in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles. They were interested in including a turn-of-the-century themed electric Trolley system running through both The Grove and the Farmers Market properties serving as not only an enjoyable entertainment and an addition to the atmosphere, but also to transport customers to and from the parking lots on opposite sides of the development. After some preliminary discussions Caruso requested that EEI submit a Proposal to design and engineer a trolley system, and prepare a bid package to submit to selected manufacturers.

EEI immediately assembled our technical team and performed preliminary research into the availability of refurbished and newly built trolleys and trolley components, controls and power systems, trucks, tracks, and switches. With an eye toward the unique nature of the trolley that the developer was envisioning (double-deck, wireless electrical power, etc.) EEI verified through our research that we could design and deliver to our customer a totally unique and state-of the-art turnkey trolley system. Our proposal, delivered on August 5, 1999, included an eight phase Work Plan & Schedule detailing our scope of work from the Schematic Design phase through Contract Documents, Bidding to qualified vendors, Construction Management, Installation test and adjust, Training, and Operations and maintenance.

George McGinnis was contracted by EEI to Art Direct the trolley design, and we began immediately to design and analyze a modern steel structure for the chassis, columns, and upper deck which would be "hidden" within George`s beautiful turn-of-the-century wood and brass theming. The chassis must also accomodate trucks chosen for the minimum track radius allowable at the site, the power delivery and propulsion system chosen, and take into account ADA, ASTM,and other code requirements.The developer wanted there to be no visible catenary or overhead "trolley wires" and had decided on inductive charging of onboard battery racks. EEI spent many months in this infant field of power transmission searching for a group that had a commercially available system applicable to our project. We selected Wampfler, a german company which has pioneered the field, to supply the equipment. With this technology, called contactless inductive power transfer, the trolley is able to recharge it`s batteries as it stops to load and unload passengers via a charging coil embedded between the rails, thus giving this battery powered vehicle virtually unlimited mileage .

After more than a year of research, design, structural and systems engineering, and collaboration with numerous suppliers and vendors EEI delivered on March 27, 2001 an eight volume Bid Document Package intended for our client`s use in engaging qualified fabricators/manufacturers to bid on creating the final product. This Bid Package comprised our recommended method of manufacturing a complete turnkey Trolley System from the maintenence barn to the Conductor`s brass bell.

    The Volumes in the Bid Document are entitled:
    1. Architecture and Infrastructure
    2. Art Direction and Research
    3. Production Specification
    4. Mechanical Systems Specification
    5. Structural Systems
    6. Electrical Systems
    7. Battery Systems
    8. Inductive Charging System

The contract to fabricate the Farmers Market Trolley was awarded to a fabrication firm with which EEI has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship. Consequently they contracted us to provide final structural engineering and analysis along with structural and shop drawings of the final chassis configurations as changes were implemented. As per our Format for Procurement, at this phase we invite the fabricator to critique and attempt to improve upon our preliminary designs and submit them for our review. After performing some of their own research the fabricator proposed replacing the newly manufactured steerable trucks we had proposed, with refurbished non-steerable PCC trucks from trolleys produced between 1930-60, the advantage being less initial expense and easier servicability. This change required interference studies and changes to the length and width of the chassis, but we agreed with the advantages to the program and reengineered the steel framing to accomodate. The fabrication team made a few other minor deviations from our bid spec such as battery storage and vendor selection, however these were good calls which we approved and they have done an outstanding job of fabricating what will be recognized as the first New Technology Historic Trolley. Since that time TIG has established our own Manufacturing Division, TIG/m. TIG/m is fully staffed with qualified/certified technicians and craftsmen and is dedicated to the fabrication of all of our PRT, APM, Tram, and Trolley designs to TIG's exacting standards and specifications.

 

EEI / TIG CUSTOM TROLLEY SYSTEMS

With the creation of the Farmers Market Trolley Bid Document EEI / TIG has produced a general New Technology Trolley Spec which can be customized for any client`s needs based on a variety of unique features. EEI / TIG, in conjunction with our Manufacturing Division TIG/m, has the ability to design, engineer, fabricate, and deliver custom turnkey trolley systems worldwide. Our designers can create a theme to satisfy any customer`s fancy, our engineers will drive that theme on any rail gauge, to any reasonable speed, safely and reliably. TIG/m delivers long-lasting, solid, classic craftsmanship and guaranteed electro-mechanical systems. Our team will install and test and adjust your trolley system, train your Trolley Operators, and provide Maintenance Documentation or perform Operations and Maintenance on a contract basis as desired.

Some of the options EEI / TIG Custom Trolleys can offer:

Click on this image to play a Video.

Take a ride on the Farmers Market Trolley at The Grove !

We guarantee you`ll want one for your project !

Click on this image for a review of the Farmers Market Trolley 

If you are excited by the state-of-the-art motive power aspects of the Farmers Market Trolley
but are looking for something other than "steel rail" vehicles, please navigate to 
TIG Vehicle Design Concepts
for an unlimited array of people moving possibilities.