Engine Trouble Stalls Woodstock Trolley

A trolley being tested for its popularity by the Woodstock Downtown Development Authority has been taken out of service.

The trolley's engine is sputtering and stalling out, said Kyle Bennett, assistant director of tourism and visitor center operations.

"If the issue can be fixed quickly, we will resume trolley service for the test schedule we had laid out," he added. "However if the issue can not be fixed quickly, we will be forced to cancel the rest of the trolley schedule for December."

The DDA last month entered into a lease agreement with Cherokee County, which owns the trolley, to test its popularity during the month of December.

Someone with the county visited Woodstock to look at the trolley to diagnose the problem, but Bennett noted the issue has yet to be resolved.

Once they determine what's causing the engine problems, Bennett said they will be able to figure out how much it would cost to repair the trolley.

Once that's hammered out, both the DDA and county will still have to determine who will be responsible for the repairs.

The county owns the trolley, which was transferred to them when the city of Canton discontinued its transit services.

County Manager Jerry Cooper said he believe the trolley, which it has been trying to sell, was manufactured in the mid 2000s. 

The DDA planned to use the trolley, which was free to residents to ride, on Fridays and Saturdays during the month of December and had several scheduled stops for residents. 

The trolley is a 25-passenger vehicle and is also complaint with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The DDA had to cover up the "city of Canton" writing on the its side. The total cost to use the trolly wasn't expected to exceed $2,000, which included fuel, money to pay a driver and other associated costs.

During the previous two weekends, the city saw hundreds of riders take advantage of the trolley.

Bennett said between 600 and 700 people ride the trolley this weekend.