in Fort Wayne IN from Bill Volkmer Collection at newdavesrailpix.com

Builder: St. Louis Car Co.
Description: Lightweight
Secondary Use: Shed
Type: City and Suburban Streetcars
Year: 1925
Retired from Service: 1955
Acquired by the Museum: 1988
Fund: 512

Indiana Service 552

From Fort Wayne, Indiana

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History

Operating History: St. Louis Car Co. built this car, originally No. 552, for the Indiana Service Corp. in 1925. This car was one of a fleet of 55 double-truck, lightweight cars and 50 matching single-truck cars that provided most of the streetcar service in Fort Wayne, IN. These were well-designed and well-equipped lightweight cars custom-designed for a prosperous smaller city system. Indiana Service also operated interurban lines in the Fort Wayne region which were transferred to the Indiana Railroad in 1930. In 1940, Indiana Service began converting its streetcar operation to trackless trolley and bus operation. Streetcar service in Fort Wayne ended in 1947. Around the end of World War II, Atlantic City Transportation Company purchased six cars, including No. 552, from Indiana Service. Atlantic City Transportation renumbered No. 552 to No. 299. Atlantic City Transportation operated a single streetcar line extending from The Inlet on the city’s north side, along Atlantic Avenue in the city and to Ventnor, Margate and Longport. (A separate company, Atlantic City and Shore Railroad, ran an interurban line between Atlantic City and Ocean City.) Atlantic City Transportation provided most of its service with a fleet of 25 streamlined, single-ended Brilliners (termed the “Miss America Fleet”). No. 299 and the other Fort Wayne cars spent most of their time in the carhouse, but they were needed when parades and other special events blocked a portion of the route. In these cases, the company used double-ended cars, such as No. 299, for service on the outer ends of the route. No. 299 remained on the roster until streetcar service ended in 1955. Atlantic City Transportation continued to use No. 299 as a storeroom for company records until 1958. Museum Ownership: In 1958, a nursery in Williamstown, NJ purchased No. 299 for use as a tool shed. In 1988, the nursery owner, Joseph Voschin, donated No. 299 to Seashore. Seashore intends to restore this car to represent its period in Fort Wayne.

Technical Information

Seats: 44
Control: K-35
Brakes: Straight air
Compressor: CP-27

Trucks

Number: 2
Manufacturer: St. Louis
Model: 64AM

Motor

Number: 4
Manufacturer: General Electric
Model: 264A

Weight and Dimensions

Length: 39’ 11.00"
Width: 8’ 6.00"
Height: 10’ 9.00"
Weight: 31000 lbs.

Additional Images

Sister car 554 in Fort Wayne from STM Curatorial Collection

As 299 in Atlantic City NJ on 7/23/47 STM Curatorial Collection