Builder: Laconia Car Co.
Secondary Use: Railway maintenance
Type: City and Suburban Streetcars
Year: 1895
Retired from Service: 1967
Acquired by the Museum: 1967
Note: No. 235 requires heavy repairs.

West End St. Ry. 235

From Boston, Massachusetts

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History

The Laconia Car Company built No. 235 for the West End Street Railway in 1895 as part of a large fleet of single truck electric cars to expand service. It is a 20-foot box car. No. 235 is similar to Boston Elevated No. 1059 also built in 1895 and in the Seashore collection. The 20-foot cars generally ran on medium traffic routes since the West End also had a fleet of larger, 25-foot double truck cars for heavier routes. No. 235 was converted to a sand car in 1918 and then, in 1935, to a rail grinding car. The car remained in use when the Boston Elevated Railway Company leased and began operating the West End in 1897. No. 235 was still on the property when the Boston Elevated became part of the Metropolitan Transit Authority in 1947. George King, a private collector, acquired No. 235 in the 1950s. Seashore acquired No. 235 in 1967 when George King realized the car could never operate except at a museum with suitable facilities. The car is essentially complete, though modified as a rail grinder.

Technical Information

Seats: 26
Control: K-28N
Brakes: Hand
Compressor: None

Trucks

Number: 1
Manufacturer: Brill
Model: 21E

Motor

Number: 2
Manufacturer: General Electric
Model: 86

Weight and Dimensions

Length: 29’ 8.00"
Width: 7’ 8.00"
Height: 11’ 5.00"
Weight: 19077 lbs.