Builder: Laconia Car Co.
Description: Semi-convertible
Secondary Use: Camp
Type: City and Suburban Streetcars
Year: 1914
Retired from Service: 1929
Acquired by the Museum: 1976
Note: At present, the mechanical equipment is being assembled to make the car operational.
Fund: 528

Bay State St. Ry. 4175

From Revere, Massachusetts

Back to Search

History

With multiple divisions operating north and south of Boston, the Bay State Street Ry. served three states entering New Hampshire at Nashua and penetrating Rhode Island as far as Newport. When the company was reorganized as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Ry. in 1919, it had to divest some unprofitable operations and Newport was among these. No. 4175 was one of a class of 50 cars delivered from Laconia Car to the Bay State Street Ry. in late 1913 and early 1914. No. 4175 initially ran on a route from Scollay Square, Boston to the Beachmont section of Revere, MA. In 1917, the car moved to Newport, RI., operating between Newport, RI and Fall River, MA. No. 4175 was one of several of the Bay State’s semi-convertible cars included when the Newport Street Railway took over operations. Its exact car number in this period is unknown. Trolley service in Newport ended in 1926, and the semi-convertibles were sold to the Coast Cities Ry. Co. of New Jersey, where they ran for a few more years. In 1929, this car, Coast Cities 703, was sold for use as a summer cottage in Point Pleasant, NJ. Seashore acquired this car in 1976. Although the basic body was sound, the platform knees had rotted out from contact with the ground, and the ends had to be braced with a rail when the body was moved to Maine. Extensive restoration has taken place. Seashore is restoring this car to its 1914 Bay State Street Railway configuration and appearance. The Lowell Historic Preservation Commission used this car as a prototype for a replica at the Lowell National Historic Park.

Technical Information

Seats: 40
Control: K-35
Brakes: Straight Air
Compressor: CP-27

Trucks

Number: 2
Manufacturer: Brill
Model: 76E1

Motor

Number: 2
Manufacturer: General Electric
Model: 263A

Weight and Dimensions

Length: 39’ 8.00"
Width: 8’ 3.00"
Weight: 43800 lbs.

Additional Images

O.R. Cummings Collection in North Long Beach NJ in 09/19/1928