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I have a fascination with interurbans like these. In the days of the interurban, Ohio and Indiana were the king states for these cars.

First_interurban_cars_on_the_Detroit,_Almont_and_Northern_Railroad,_Almont,_Michigan,_July_1,_1914.First Cars On The Detroit, Almont & Northern Railway, Almont , Michigan, July 1914niles cars norwalk interurban station 1909Niles Built Cars @ Norwalk Interurban Station 1909. Perhaps Lake Shore Electric Co.?????The first passenger interurban to Bellefontaine, Ohio on July 1, 1908First Passenger Interurban to Bellefontaine, Ohio on July 1, 1908

Union Traction [Indiana) interurban No. 407 in WabashUnion Traction Interurban No. 407 in Wabash, Indiana

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Images (4)
  • First_interurban_cars_on_the_Detroit,_Almont_and_Northern_Railroad,_Almont,_Michigan,_July_1,_1914.
  • niles cars norwalk interurban station 1909
  • The first passenger interurban to Bellefontaine, Ohio on July 1, 1908
  • Union Traction (Indiana) interurban No. 407 in Wabash
Last edited by Bobby Ogage
Bobby Ogage posted:

I have a fascination for the trolley lines that operated in Saratoga, New York. A few weeks ago I visited the old trolley depot which still stands in excellent condition, in use as the visitors center. Around the back of the building, the original canopies that the trolley cars entered still stand. After searching for a long time, I finally found a picture of the depot with trolley cars.

Trollys @ Saratoga Terminal1-0

The trolley cars in the pictures belong to the Hudson Valley Railway and the Schenectady Railway Co.

It appears the photos of the depot were taken from Franklin, between Congress Street and West Circular Drive. Cars from this depot went north to Wilton, Glen Falls and Lake George, southwest to Ballston Spa and Schenectady, south to the Albany Capital District and Troy. There were branch lines to the race track and Kandeross Park.

Perhaps a local railroader can shed some info about this trolley depot. Below are some of the cars that ran into the Saratoga Depot.

...

Bobby Ogage,

I dug up my Saratoga maps and brochures but couldn't locate my architecture books. Sadly, the brochures have no photos but here's some historical information paraphrased from an undated packet I picked up at the "Urban Cultural Park" a/k/a the Trolley Station -- maybe in the 1980's? 90's?

It was built in 1915 for the Hudson Valley Railway Co.  It is a stucco building in the Beaux Arts style and was designed by Ludlow  & Peabody, NYC.  (The leaflet goes on to describe the columns and ceilings.)

Bas-relief murals on the front show Sir William Johnson, who legend says was cured at High Rock Spring, and the surrender of General John Burgoyne in 1777.   By 1915, the Saratoga Springs trolley system "had already reached its zenith" with 35 trips daily from 1914-16.  A belt-line service existed on the east-side of the city and other routes went to Glens Falls and Schenectady. The most popular trip was to Kaydeross Park at Saratoga Lake. The trolley co had a restaurant, pool, merry-go-round, casino, and theater.  Local routes were abandoned after 1926 (rise in autos) but service to Schenectady run until 1941.

When you were visiting the building perhaps you saw the "chestnut benches, brass chandeliers and trolley platform area".  In 1941, NY State converted the building into a 'drink hall' where the state sold bottled mineral waters from a bar. I don't remember whether the murals are still there (yes?), but apparently the electric icebox behind the bar was still present when I visited.  Another brochure says that the drink hall continued into the 1950s.  That brochure also says that the building "Began as a trolley station in 1776".  Uh, right ...

One of the larger maps that I have shows what looks like a spur from the Delaware & Hudson from the line to the west of the city going very near the trolley station.

Tomlinson Run Railroad

Some color photos of trolley cars.

Atlanta, Georgia 1940Atlanta Georgia, 1940

M&SC #321 Boarding @ Montreal's McGill Street TerminalM&SC @ Montreal's McGill Street TerminalMemphis, Tennessee 1979Memphis, Tennessee 1979Philadelphia & Western Car @ Penn's Landing, 1990.Philadelphia & Western Car @ Penn's Landing, 1990

PhiledelpiaCurrent Picture of Car In Philadelphia, PaPittsburgh PA

Car In Philadelphia, PaThird Avenue Railway Car @ KennebunkThird Avenue Railway Car in Kennebunk Museum

Lets see your color photos of street cars and interurbans.

Attachments

Images (7)
  • Atlanta, Georgia 1940
  • M&SC #321 Boarding @ Montreal's McGill Street Terminal
  • Memphis, Tennessee 1979
  • Philadelphia & Western Car @ Penn's Landing, 1990.
  • Philedelpia
  • Pittsburgh PA
  • Third Avenue Railway Car @ Kennebunk
Last edited by Bobby Ogage
WftTrains posted:
Bobby Ogage posted:

Some color photos of trolley cars.

Pittsburgh PACar In Pittsburgh, Pa

.

Hi Bobby:

Nice photos but are you sure that Route 79 green & white car #4043 is from “Pittsburgh, PA”?  If so, can you please provide more info on it?

Thanks,

Bill

Bill

He (Bobby) is incorrect.  That is a Philadelphia PA., 4000 series streetcar of the Phila. Transportation Company (see the PTC Logo on car side under 2nd window) on route 79 in the early to mid 1950's "simplified modernized" paint scheme.

 

Seems more people post and look at photos on this endless thread of all these various prototype trolleys than actually do any hands-on construction and modeling of trolleys - and posting their photos of such modeling efforts, in this subways-traction forum section !!

regards - Joe F

 

 

 

 

 

Last edited by Joseph Frank
Joseph Frank posted:
WftTrains posted:
Bobby Ogage posted:

Some color photos of trolley cars.

Pittsburgh PACar In Pittsburgh, Pa

.

Hi Bobby:

Nice photos but are you sure that Route 79 green & white car #4043 is from “Pittsburgh, PA”?  If so, can you please provide more info on it?

Thanks,

Bill

Bill

Bill, he is incorrect.  That is a Philadelphia PA., 4000 series streetcar of the Phila. Transportation Company (see the PTC Logo on car side under 2nd window) on route 79 in the early to mid 1950's "simplified modernized" paint scheme.

 

Seems more people post and look at photos on this endless thread of all these various prototype trolleys than actually do any hands-on construction and modeling of trolleys - and posting their photos of such modeling efforts, in this subways-traction forum section !!

regards - Joe F 

Joe: 

Thanks for confirming what I thought as that car didn’t look familiar at all to this Pittsburgh streetcar enthusiast. 

Bill

Here is some info on the Third Avenue car #631 from the Kennebunkport Seashore Trolley Museum:

"...A number of the relatively new cars were sent to the rescue of the ravaged Vienna System under the Marshall Plan for the rebuilding of wartorn Western Europe. They served well on what is today one of the world's largest operating streetcar systems. No. 631, built in 1939 and renumbered 4216 in Vienna, came home to America and Seashore after new cars built in Austria began service in 1980." 

Technical Information:

Manufacturer: Third Ave. Ry. Co.
Year: 1939
Item Type: City and Suburban Streetcar
Description: Lightweight

Operation: Double-endedSeats: 46

Control: K-35 (LB)

Trucks: 2 Brill 77EMotors: 4 Westinghouse 510A
Brakes: Self LappingCompressor: CP-27
Length: 42' 7"Width: 8' 4"Height: 11' 4"Weight: 37540 lbs.

 

Tom 

WftTrains posted:
Joseph Frank posted:
WftTrains posted:
Bobby Ogage posted:

Some color photos of trolley cars.

Pittsburgh PACar In Pittsburgh, Pa

.

Hi Bobby:

Nice photos but are you sure that Route 79 green & white car #4043 is from “Pittsburgh, PA”?  If so, can you please provide more info on it?

Thanks,

Bill

Bill

Bill, he is incorrect.  That is a Philadelphia PA., 4000 series streetcar of the Phila. Transportation Company (see the PTC Logo on car side under 2nd window) on route 79 in the early to mid 1950's "simplified modernized" paint scheme.

 

Seems more people post and look at photos on this endless thread of all these various prototype trolleys than actually do any hands-on construction and modeling of trolleys - and posting their photos of such modeling efforts, in this subways-traction forum section !!

regards - Joe F 

Joe: 

Thanks for confirming what I thought as that car didn’t look familiar at all to this Pittsburgh streetcar enthusiast. 

Bill

I fixed the caption to a Philadelphia car. Thanks for the correction.

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