Builder: Laconia Car Co.
Secondary Use: Railway maintenance
Type: City and Suburban Streetcars
Year: 1895
Retired from Service: 1941
Acquired by the Museum: 1941

Manchester St. Ry. 60

From Manchester, New Hampshire

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History

The Manchester Street Railway (successor to the Manchester Horse Railway) converted from horse to electric operation in 1895 as well as converting from 3-foot gauge to standard gauge track. The company served Manchester and other nearby New Hampshire cities. An affiliate, the Manchester & Nashua Street Railway, ran to Nashua. The Manchester Street Railway came under the control of Public Service Company of New Hampshire in 1926. PSNH absorbed the street railway in 1937. Streetcar service in Manchester ended in 1940. For the initial conversion from horse to electric power in 1895, Laconia Car Co. built 18 closed, single truck streetcars: Nos. 40-45 and Nos. 66-77. These cars had 20-foot bodies, longitudinal plush upholstered seats and open vestibules. To comply with a state law, the Manchester Street Railway enclosed the vestibules in 1899. In 1905, the Manchester Street Railway renumbered these cars, with No. 77 becoming No 60. After withdrawing No. 60 from passenger service, the Manchester Street Railway kept No. 60 as a maintenance car for sanding the rails. . In related transactions with Public Service of New Hampshire Seashore acquired Manchester & Nashua No. 38 in 1940 and the body of No. 60 in 1941. These were the second and third pieces to be added to the collection. Seashore placed No. 60 on a motorless Brill 21E truck acquired from Portland about the same time. The appropriate motors are on hand.

Technical Information

Seats: 26
Control: K-2
Brakes: Hand
Compressor: None

Trucks

Number: 1
Manufacturer: Brill
Model: 21E

Motor

Number: 2
Manufacturer: Westinghouse
Model: 3

Weight and Dimensions

Length: 29’ 6.00"