Biddeford
& Saco Trolley Car No. 31 Celebrates 100th Birthday!
In March 1900, the Biddeford & Saco Railroad Company placed an order with the J.G. Brill Company of Philadelphia, PA for four 12-bench double-truck open cars. Trolley No. 31, was one of those four open cars delivered in early June 1900. The Biddeford Journal noted at the time that they were "painted carmine and yellow on their exteriors. The windows in the roof monitors were glazed with yellow Florentine glass; the seats and backs of the cross benches were fabricated of cherry and oak and trimmings were of solid bronze." These trolleys rode on Brill “Eureka” single-motor trucks and were equipped with General Electric motors, controllers and hand brakes. These bench cars, seating 60, were the largest open cars that could be operated on the Biddeford & Saco because of the restricted clearance at the Boston & Maine’s bridge across Beach Street. Pictures show that these opens could barely squeeze under the span, still in existence.
Open cars, like Trolley No. 31, were known as “breezers”. They were the “air conditioning" of their time. The open trolley ride to Old Orchard Beach on a hot summer day provided a cooling and refreshing experience. The Biddeford & Saco Railroad Company was the very last trolley line in New England to operate “breezers” in regular service.
In 1939, a worldwide movement began. July 4, 1939 marked the final run of Trolley Car No. 31 on the 8-miles of tracks through Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach for the Biddeford & Saco Railroad Company. Car No. 31 was headed for the scrap heap for a price of $150. On July 5, 1939 a small group of trolley enthusiasts stepped forth with a deposit of $108 towards the purchase price of $150. On July 14 the balance of $42 was paid. The enthusiasts took title and commenced to prepare No. 31 for delivery to a small plot of rented land on Log Cabin Road in Kennebunkport. These trolley enthusiasts had founded what would become the Seashore Trolley Museum.
Trolley No. 31 became the “Mother Car” of the Seashore Trolley Museum and, in fact, of all similar museums throughout the world! She is the crown jewel of the collection. The Seashore Trolley Museum was the first private organization to save transit equipment anywhere in the world, starting a movement which now includes dozens and dozens of organizations spread all over the globe.
The Museum is the oldest and largest in the world dedicated to the preservation and operation of urban and interurban transit vehicles from the United States and abroad.
The Seashore Trolley Museum is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization, and
contributions may be Federally tax-deductible. For more information about
supporting this community project contact: Phil Morse at 207-967-2712.
Or e mail him at: pmorse@gwi.net Or visit the
Museum on the web at: www.trolleymuseum.org
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