Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Capital Traction Single-Trucker Runs

Thanks to Wesley Paulson for sending along the above photo of Capital Traction 522 running at the National Capital Trolley Museum for the first time following the restoration of its body and exterior, as well as replacement of its work car-era Brill 21E truck with an authentic Lord Baltimore truck (which I didn't realize is a replica constructed in recent years by Lyons Industries - an impressive feat!). There's also video of the car running here. The operational restoration was made possible in part by volunteers from the Baltimore Streetcar Museum who helped with rewiring and brake work. Car 522 is quite historic, of course; it's one of the oldest existing cars from the Washington system and it's the oldest currently in operation. That Lord Baltimore truck is a rarity, too - there are only five cars in existence with this type, including three cars at BSM and Capital Traction 303 (of the same type as car 522) in the Smithsonian. Congratulations to NCTM on this major step forward!

In less happy news, thanks to Andy Nold for passing along the news that the body of El Paso Electric Railway 111 has been scrapped. This car, which was in extremely rough condition, was the last survivor from El Paso Electric Railway (the predecessor of El Paso City Lines) and the only non-PCC streetcar from El Paso known to still exist. A "Stone & Webster" type turtleback-roof car, it was built in 1912 for El Paso as a trailer but later transferred to Northern Texas Traction and motorized [corrected]. It had been stored in Azle, Texas, under the auspices of the now-defunct Northern Texas Historic Transportation group.

EDIT: The two below photos of car 111 were taken by Andy Nold. He writes, "...the car was in great shape. Only known 12-window Stone and Webster turtleback in existence. The photos are after the new owner of the land beat it up with a backhoe."

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