The Dance of the Wildwood Tramcar – Switching Tramcars
The Wildwood Tramcar is more than just a mode of transportation—it’s a piece of living history and an iconic symbol of the Wildwood Boardwalk.
For decades, the Tramcar has been carrying visitors up and down the boardwalk, with its famous “Watch the Tramcar, Please!” announcement echoing in the background.
The Dance of the Wildwood Tramcar
But what happens when a tramcar runs out of battery power and needs to be switched out?
The story of the Wildwood Tramcar begins in the early 1940s. Originally used at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, the Tramcar found its way to Wildwood thanks to a man named Gilbert Ramagosa.
He purchased five of these battery-powered trams and brought them to the boardwalk in 1949. Since then, the Tramcar has become an integral part of Wildwood’s charm and character.
Over the years, the Tramcar has remained largely unchanged, retaining its vintage look while becoming a symbol of summer in Wildwood.
Today, it stands as one of the last remaining attractions from that era, linking the past with the present for countless visitors.
These trams are powered by a 36-volt DC battery, which was quite advanced at the time of their introduction. The battery is charged overnight, allowing the Tramcar to run smoothly throughout the day.
Despite being over 80 years old, the original design is still in use, demonstrating the durability and efficiency of the technology.
Navigating the busy boardwalk requires a skilled operator who controls the tram’s speed and ensures it can safely maneuver through crowds.
The Tramcar’s distinctive bell and the famous “Watch the Tramcar, Please!” announcement alert pedestrians to its presence, adding to the safety measures.
When a Tramcar’s battery begins to run low, a carefully orchestrated process takes place to ensure that service continues smoothly without disrupting the flow of boardwalk traffic. This efficient process, often referred to as the “dance of the tramcar,” ensures minimal downtime.
The tramcars call the pier at Juniper Avenue home. This pier has had many names over the years, from Hunt’s Pier to Dinosaur Beach.
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Depending on your age, you may call it something different. Today, it doesn’t really have a name.
Typically, a fully charged Tramcar is stationed in a designated area just off the boardwalk, ready to take over as soon as it’s needed.
These tramcars usually sit alone without the attached trailers or seating cars.
When the time comes, the waiting Tramcar pulls onto the boardwalk in front of the pier. The Tramcar in service is then detached from its trailers and pulled off the boardwalk.
The waiting Tramcar then backs up, hooks up to the trailers, and heads off. Interestingly, tramcars can go backward, though they rarely do so with passengers onboard.
The entire process takes just five minutes, and the transition is so smooth that most visitors sitting in the back don’t even notice the change.
The Wildwood Video Archive captured a quick video to show how this process is done. This behind-the-scenes look provides a fascinating glimpse into the logistics of keeping the Tramcar service running efficiently throughout the day.
Another little-known fact is that there’s a Tramcar maintenance jeep. If a Tramcar ever loses power and can’t move on its own, the maintenance jeep is called to the scene. It can either jumpstart the Tramcar or tow it back to the shop. Most of the time, though, you’ll see the jeep replacing tires or adding air to them.
Below is our video of how the Wildwood Boardwalk Tramcar dances. Before you watch please subscribe as we try to hit 100,000 subscribers