Hauntingly beautiful images show trolley car graveyard tucked away in unnamed woodland location

By Jack Williams

Tucked away in these spooky woodlands, one man has amassed a huge collection of decaying trolley cars.

Once a novel mode of public transport in the likes early 20th Century New York, the hauntingly beautiful trolleys are now at one with nature – a scene that abandoned location photographer Matthew Christopher was able to discover in a location not disclosed to the public.

ABANDONED AMERICA / CATERS

Matthew, of Abandoned America, has shot the roughly 40 trolleys at various stages throughout the years – his images ranging from those that still have their original paint jobs to rusted vehicles covered in graffiti.

There’s a rather ghostly feel to the location, Matthew said, walking through the woodlands to, all of a sudden, discover row after row of decaying mode of transport.

The photographer first located the site outside a tiny Western Pennsylvania town around ten years ago, and since then, the collection has grown to included cars from as far as Philadelphia, Boston and Kansas City, dating back to 1919.

When he first visited the site, Matthew said, the trolleys were in beautiful condition; the location was “very peaceful and felt like a sort of secret garden, a magical spot hidden away from the world.”

Over the years, the photographer built a bond with the owner of the site, which still operates as a salvage yard occasionally.

ABANDONED AMERICA / CATERS

Due to the vandalism of the vehicles, however, the owner asked that the location and his name remain private to prevent more damage to them.

Matthew, whose books include “Abandoned America: The Age of Consequences” and “Abandoned America: Dismantling The Dream”, said: “I revisit the site several times a year and while it saddens me that people don’t treat the site with more respect and leave it as they found it, I think think it’s a fascinating place.

“I hope that the photographs I share show the respect I have for this amazing collection, and help others to understand why they are important.

ABANDONED AMERICA / CATERS

“These trolleys are vanishing and while new lines are installed in cities and have great success with visitors, they are a fond part of many people’s past.

“There’s something serene and surreal about a streetcar on a rail line overgrown with trees and weeds, and I imagine I’ll keep going back every year as long as they’re there to pay my respects.”

ABANDONED AMERICA / CATERS