A streetcar named retire

Springfield's old electric trolley car system that shuttled passengers back and forth from downstreet to Charlestown for many years until 1947 seems to be long gone but the two cars still exist, on public display in Connecticut.

www.ct-trolley.org

www.ct-trolley.org

users.vermontel.net

donsdepot.donrossgroup.net

Springfield Electric Ry. 16 1926 Wason Manufacturing Co. Springfield Electric Railway 16 #16 ready to carry passengers at the Connecticut Trolley Museum - Photo by Matthew D. Cosgro HISTORY BY WILLIAM E. WOOD, MARCH 2001 Car numbers 16 and 17 were two steel lightweight combination cars built by Wason Manufacturing Company of Springfield, Mass. in 1926 for the Springfield Electric Railway of Springfield, Vermont. The Springfield Electric provided service from the Boston & Maine Railroad station in Charlestown, New Hampshire with the industrial town of Springfield, Vermont, which on th way it crossed the Connecticut River using its toll bridge and a route along the twisting Black River, ending its trip in front of the Adnabrown Hotel. On the trip you would have crossed Route 5 at grade, passed a number of famous tool companies who made many of the machines used in the growing auto industry, a steeple-cab locomotive switching in raw materials like plate steel, brass stock and raw supplies for the foundry, as well as rough casting coming from out of state. The completed machines all crated in large wooden boxes on flat-cars and smaller items in box cars left the plants every day. Along the tracks you also would have passed a small brick building, between you and the river and just below a low dam, from which wires came out and connected to feeder lines along the trolley wire support poles. This was the water powered hydroelectric station providing electricity to the Springfield Electric Railway. The water wheel powered a DC generator, which after the rail line was converted to diesel locomotive operation was brought to the trolley museum. Car No. 16 in its later years was painted aluminum, seats removed, and most of the windows (except at the ends) replaced by plywood. Car No.17 was dismantled at the company barn. Connecticut Trolley Museum member Karl P. Hartman bought No. 16 in 1956 and moved it to East Windsor the same year. It has since been repainted from the aluminum color to its earlier Springfield Electric Railway colors, its windows have been replaced as have all its seats. Springfield Electric Railway 10 1901 Wason Manufacturing Co. Springfield Electric Railway 10 #10 at the Springfield Electric Ry. car house - Photo by Albert Creamer, Collection of William E. Wood TECHNICAL INFORMATION Seating: 28 Weight: Unknown Length: 42 feet Trucks: 2 - Brill 77E1 Controls: 2 - K35KK Motors: 4 - Westinghouse 514A Brakes: Standard Air Compressor: Westinghouse DH-16 HISTORY BY WILLIAM E. WOOD, JUNE 2001 Car No.10 is a 40' 10" wooden combination car built by the Wason Manufacturing Co. of Springfield, Massachusetts in 1901 for the Springfield Electric Railway of Springfield, Vermont. It operated from Adnabrown Hotel in the center of Springfield, to the Boston & Maine Railroad (B&M) station in Charlestown, New Hampshire, following the Black River to the Connecticut River, crossing the latter on a company toll bridge. As built in 1901, the body rode on a pair of Jackson and Sharp M.C.B. trucks, had dash mounted headlights, and short center "buffers" on each end, two poles and two K-12 controllers. In 1908 (Sept./Oct.) the Springfield Electric Railway had a major barn fire which destroyed many items of equipment and damaged No. 10 to the point that she was returned to her manufacturer to be rebuilt. The rebuild made changes, which are quite clear from before and after pictures, including steel bumpers on each end in place of the "buffers". The original flush mounted car body headlights were removed and replaced with brackets for Golden Glow portable headlights and plug outlets. The trucks were replaced with Taylor M.C.B trucks with four Westinghouse 12A motors. She was returned to Vermont in 1909. Car #10 carried mail and small freight to meet all B&M trains each day. This rail service played an important role in allowing many area young men and some women to leave and pursue higher education to make their way in the world, later to return on holidays or to just visit and "show off" new families. Many made their last return and final trip in caskets. During World War I the Springfield Electric Railway went into receivership and in 1921 was reorganized as the Springfield Terminal Railroad, which would later become part of the B&M. After World War II, the Springfield Terminal was to convert to diesel operation. However, on February 23, 1941, a charter trip was made by the Connecticut Valley Chapter, National Railway Historical Society, and founders of the Connecticut Electric Railway Association to ride car No. 10 over the system. Plans were then started to bring car No. 10 to the trolley museum and was added as the second car to the Museum roster in 1947. TECHNICAL INFORMATION Seating: 28 Weight: Length: 40 feet 10 inches Trucks: 2 - Taylor MCB Controls: 2 - K12 Motors: 4 - Westinghouse 12A Brakes: Standard Air Compressor: Christianson