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Early electric cars differed little in appearance from the horsecars they replaced. As a matter of fact, some companies simply electrified the horsecars previously used, and continued them in operation until they wore out. Such a car was Seashore's No. 724, built by the Metropolitan Railway shops for Boston's West End Street Railway in 1884. It was one of 16 cars lengthened and electrified for the new service in 1889. No. 724, the oldest known surviving piece of Boston rail transit equipment, was obtained by the museum in 1967. Incredibly, this ancient car, converted to work service in 1912, had been in regular use until almost the time of acquisition as a rail grinding car. It ran on streetcar lines to grind rough spots on the rails, and to grind rust off stored rails prior to installation.
History from Historic Cars: The National Collection at the Seashore Trolley Museum by Ben Minnich
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