As a bit of history the museum can trace its history back to 12th March 1939 when an enthusiast’s trip was run over the Biddeford and Saco Railroad using a closed car. At about the same time it was announced that the line was going to purchase a small fleet of motorbuses and replace the trolley cars. The enthusiasts took notice of this announcement and began to talk among themselves. The last trolley car would run on the Biddeford and Saco as of 5th July 1939.

Eight Massachusetts based rail enthusiasts inquired about acquiring one of the retired trolley cars. The cars were in the process of being sold to a scrapper for $120.00 each, but the management would sell a car to the enthusiasts for the same price. Open car number 31 was the vehicle selected by the enthusiasts, the money was quickly raised and eight railway enthusiasts found themselves to be the new owners of a full size twelve bench open car.

A piece of land in nearby Kennebunkport, Maine was available for lease; this parcel was located on Log Cabin Road and was adjacent to the abandoned right of way of the Atlantic Shore Line interurban line. Car 31 was moved to the site for storage. The New England Electric Railway Historical Society was incorporated during 1941 to provide a non-profit corporate parent for the nascent museum. From these beginnings the Seashore Trolley Museum was born. The land on Log Cabin Road would be purchased; the former Atlantic Shore Line right of way would also acquired. Track was laid, carbarns erected, a visitor’s center built and more relics of the trolley age were transported to the site. Besides trolley cars the museum acquired rapid transit cars, electric trolley buses, motor buses, and even buildings from the Boston Elevated Railroad. Today there are over two hundred vehicles in the museum’s collection with daily operation of several over the demonstration railway.