Kevin T. Farrell Collection

Builder: Osgood Bradley Car Co.
Description: Lightweight
Secondary Use: None
Type: City and Suburban Streetcars
Year: 1927
Retired from Service: 1950
Acquired by the Museum: 1950
Note: As of 2017, the reconstruction work remains dormant.
Fund: 676

Eastern Mass. St. Ry. 7005

From Massachusetts

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History

Eastern Massachusetts Street Ry. operated trolley lines north and south of Boston and connected with the Boston Elevated Ry. at several points. In the 1920s, the Eastern Massachusetts Street Ry., despite being faced with financial difficulties, made every effort to attract riders. The system offered tour guidebooks, all-day discount fares and made its cars as attractive and comfortable as possible. No. 7005 was part of the last group of cars acquired before the Eastern Mass. decided to convert the system to buses. These cars, of which there were 50, took the idea of comfort to a new level, offering thermostatically controlled heat, lamps with frosted diffusers, concealed piping, step lights and deep upholstered seats. These were among the finest city cars operated in New England and were easily marketed to other operators as the system shrunk. At various times, No. 7005 was based at Lowell, MA, Salem, MA and Revere, MA. In 1936, after buying the Chelsea - Revere Division from Eastern Mass., the Boston Elevated Ry. bought 15 of the 7000 series cars from the Eastern Mass. The fifteen cars bore numbers in the same series as the El’s trailer cars, so they were renumbered into the 4400s to follow other Eastern Mass. cars in the 4200 and 4300 series. No. 7005 became Boston Elevated No. 4400. The cars were by far the most attractive and comfortable on the El and were popular with operators and riders. In 1947, the Metropolitan Transit Authority took over the operations of the Boston Elevated Ry. The 7000s survived into 1950, but were retired after a large group of Type 5s were moved from Dorchester to Revere. No. 4400 (ex-7005) was the last former Eastern Mass. streetcar still running in New England. In 1950, car 4400 (originally 7005) was the first MTA car acquired by Seashore. Seashore acquired No. 7005 from Minichello Brothers (a scrap dealer) who had acquired it from the MTA one month before. The MTA stored No. 7005 at the Bennett Street carhouse in Cambridge until the car was moved to Maine in 1952. A major rebuilding was started about 2000, but has stalled due to lack of funding.

Technical Information

Seats: 44
Control: K-35KK (LB)
Brakes: SM-2
Compressor: DH-16

Trucks

Number: 2
Manufacturer: Brill
Model: 177E-1X

Motor

Number: 4
Manufacturer: General Electric
Model: 265

Weight and Dimensions

Length: 43’ 9.00"
Width: 8’ 4.00"
Height: 11’ 1.00"
Weight: 38900 lbs.

Additional Images