This
year, we celebrate our museums
65th anniversary.
In that
65 years, we have grown
from a handful of guys
with a
triangle of land and a streetcar
to an organization
with
members in 11 countries, and
over 241 trolleys,
interurban
coaches, rapid transit
cars,
trackless
trolleys and bus.
Without
Biddeford and Saco Street
Railway
car No.
31, there would be no museum.
Last year, car 31 was graced with
a new coat
of red
paint, just in time for
its 65th year or preservation.
From
this angle, the car looks like
new!
Car
31 made its first revenue trip
in a long time-allthough it was just from
the
Well to Morrison Hill, it was
the first time it carried passengers in
a
while. The opportunity
provided a chance to re-create a scene
not
possible since the late 1930s.
Or, for the viewers with a more active imagination....
Back
when car 31 was just entering
its 30 year career, open cars
were
the way to travel. On
this sunny July day, 15 bench open #31
is en
route north, having left
Dock Square a mile or two behind. Today the
car is
on its first test run, showcasing
the ease of the newly-installed
air
brakes, hence the senior motorman
running the car while his
apprentice
looks on. With
senior members or the streetcar company
on
board, no chances must be taken.
The new air brakes mean less
work
stopping the car for the motormen, and also cars that stop faster
to avoid all-too-common collisions.
So....just
when was this taken ?.............
Car
31 , drawn with chalk and charcoal.
(The
magic of digital imagery!)
In that
65 years since that first
act of preservation,
the
Seashore trolley Museums collection
has grown considerably :
Boston
Streetcars : 22
New
England Streetcars : 22
United
States Streetcars : 38
Canadian
Streetcars : 6
Global
collection : 10
Interurban
: 23
Rapid
Transit cars : 27
Work
Equipment : 25
Snow
removal : 8
Locomotives/Baggage motors : 11
Trackless
Trolleys : 14
Bus : 35
Other Stuff : (Place large # here)
Grand Total : 261
Time to Move the Boxcar Photo Gallery