Delaware Coach Co. 654

In 1939, the transit system in Wilmington, DE, owned by Delaware Electric Power Company, converted its entire streetcar operation to trolley buses. Delaware Electric selected trolley buses primarily because of their quiet operation, and also because of their fast acceleration. At the time, outlying areas were served by motor buses which continued. J.G. Brill supplied 52 model 40SMT trolley buses (Nos. 601 – 652) from its nearby factory in Philadelphia. That year, the company also bought three trolley buses from Mack Truck (Nos. 653 -655). The size and features of the three Mack vehicles were virtually the same as for the 52 Brill coaches. While the Mack Company was a major bus manufacturer, it was a relatively minor builder of trolley buses. Mack built a total of 292 units between 1934 and 1943. In 1940, Delaware Electric acquired another five trolley buses from Brill (Nos. 656 – 660) similar to the first batch. In 1941, the system was renamed Delaware Coach Company, and it purchased 12 more Brill trolley coaches in 1941-42. Wilmington’s trolley buses carried a curvy streamline paint scheme. Delaware Coach did not buy more trolley buses after the war, but it overhauled the vehicles in 1950. In 1956, American Transportation Enterprises acquired control of Delaware Coach and began to cut costs. This led to elimination of trolley bus operation in 1957. After retirement, many of Wilmington’s trolley coaches, including the three Macks, went to the Lewis Raphelson junkyard in that city. In 1972, some Seashore members became interested in acquiring a Mack bus or trolley bus for the museum. They learned of the Wilmington trolley buses still at the junkyard. Seashore Trustee, Mike Lennon, visited the junkyard and selected No. 654 as the best of the lot. He purchased the coach and then donated it to Seashore. In 1974, Lennon and other volunteers went to Wilmington and transported No. 654 back to Kennebunkport. Previously, in 1969, Seashore had acquired Johnstown trolley coach No. 713 which was originally Delaware Coach No. 664 – one of Wilmington’s Brill coaches. At that time, Seashore also acquired another Wilmington Brill trolley coach, No. 623, from the Raphelson junkyard to serve as a parts source for the Johnstown coach. After acquiring No. 654, Seashore acquired several Mack motor buses.