Baltimore Streetcar Museum updates

From our friend David Wilson at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum come some updates of projects currently underway there. First up is United Railways & Electric 1164, pictured above, a classic 1902 Brill-built open car complete with Maximum Traction trucks. This car is in the shop for roof work, including not only new canvas but some new and refurbished wood parts and copper sheathing where appropriate. Amazingly, David reports that there aren't any "extra" tack holes under the canvas, suggesting that what's being removed may be the original 1902 canvas. This car was removed from regular service very early, in 1922, at which point it was put into (presumably indoor) storage. As such it likely saw only 20 summers of use. That a car like this still exists at all is a virtual miracle.

Joining car 1164 in the shop is Baltimore Consolidated 1050, a single-truck closed car built in 1898 by Brownell. This car was retired for platform rebuilding a few years ago and this has been an on-again, off-again project that has now been resumed in earnest. The car is having both platforms rehabbed along with a general exterior restoration. Photo by David Wilson.

And last is Newark PCC 26, shown here in a 2014 photo. This car has been the subject of some recent fundraising and the payoff is now in progress, as the car has been transported to a body and paint shop in Columbia, PA. The plan is for it to remain there for a few months while its exterior is restored and then for it to return to BSM. This method of restoration is fairly unusual in traction preservation; usually the painters come to the car rather than the other way around. The results promise to be impressive.