New York State Railways 394

From Rochester, New York

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History

The Rochester Railway Company, formed in 1890, operated the streetcar system in Rochester, NY. J.C. Kuhlman Car Co. built a group of 95 semi-convertible cars (Nos. 355 – 449) in 1904-1906 for the Rochester Railway. Kuhlman had been acquired by J.G. Brill in 1904 but continued to build trolleys under the Kuhlman name. No. 394, built in 1906, is a generic Brill semi-convertible design unlike other Brill semi-convertibles at Seashore which were modified for specific operating companies. In 1909, the Rochester Railway became part of the New York State Railways system. New York State Railways owned four interurban railroads as well as several local streetcar operations in the state. New York State Railways was itself owned by the New York Central Railroad. In 1912, New York State Railways added air brakes to No. 394, and, in 1917, the car was converted from double-end to single-end. In 1923, No. 394 was converted from two-man to one-man operation. In 1936, NYSRys abandoned 10 streetcar routes and retired a group of wooden cars including No. 394. After retirement, the car bodies of New York State Railways Nos. 394 and 437 became cottages at Barnard’s Camp at Lamoka Lake, NY. About 1994, the owner, Grace Matwiejow, agreed to donate the two cars to Seashore in exchange for Seashore providing a replacement structure for Ms. Matwiejow. In 1997, Seashore gave No. 437 to the New York Museum of Transportation exchange for that museum’s help in removing No. 394 from the camp. No. 394 moved from Lamoka Lake to Kennebunkport in 2000. No. 394 joined three other Rochester trolleys at Seashore: New York State Railways Nos. 502 and 1213 and Rochester & Sodus Bay No. 113. Seashore subsequently scrapped No. 502. No. 394 came to Seashore without trucks, but the museum immediately placed it on correct trucks that had been acquired from Kobe, Japan in 1998.

Technical Information

Seats: 43
Control: K-12R
Brakes: Straight air
Compressor: CP-27

Trucks

Number: 2
Manufacturer: Brill
Model: 39E

Motor

Number: 4
Manufacturer: General Electric
Model: 275A

Weight and Dimensions

Length: 40’ 4.00"
Width: 8’
Height: 11’ 5.00"
Weight: 34500 lbs.