Matthew D. Cosgro in 2020

Builder: Laconia Car Co.
Description: Semi-convertible
Secondary Use: None
Type: City and Suburban Streetcars
Year: 1918
Retired from Service: 1946
Acquired by the Museum: 1946
Note: No. 4387 is in very good condition.
Fund: 672

Eastern Mass. St. Ry. 4387

From Reading, Massachusetts

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History

Based on a sample car built in 1917, the Bay State ordered 200 semi-convertible cars from Laconia. These cars were similar in design to the 4100s (including No. 4175 also at Seashore) but were longer and featured extremely large triple sash side windows and a lower window sill allowing a wider opening. The100 cars in the 4200 series were equipped with K-controllers for city operation, while the 4300 series had automatic acceleration for the longer runs through the suburbs. These were fast cars and popular with the riding public, warm in the winter and cool in the summer. No. 4387 initially operated between Sullivan Square, Boston and Lowell, MA via Reading, MA. When Bay State Street Ry. reorganized in 1919 as the Eastern Massachusetts Street Ry, No. 4387 became part of the new company. Eastern Massachusetts Street Ry. operated trolley lines north and south of Boston and connected with the Boston Elevated Railway at several points. As the system contracted in the 1930s, the 4200s and 4300s were not sold off until 49 were sold to the Boston Elevated concurrent with its acquisition of the Chelsea - Revere Division lines in 1936. A few 4200s in Quincy, and 10 4300s in Stoneham survived into the 1940s. Some locals called these trolleys the "yellow peril." In 1946, No. 4387 was the last car to run on the line between Sullivan Square Station, Charlestown, MA to Stoneham, MA. NEERHS trustee Lester Stephenson, Sr. operated the car on its last run and helped negotiate the museum's purchase of the car. Lester Stephenson's father, Alexander Stephenson, had operated the first trolley on the Stoneham line 36 years before. When Seashore acquired No. 4387 in 1946, Seashore stored the car at the Salem Street carhouse in Medford, MA until moving it to Maine the next year. Seashore restored No. 4387 in the 1980s and has run it regularly since. A series of cosmetic repairs is currently being completed. No. 4387 ran in regular service for part of the 2015 season. The car's relatively large seating capacity (44 seats) is useful for handling bus tour groups at the museum.