Today we make a brief trip across to the United States of America as we take a look at the founding trolley car of the Seashore Trolley Museum.
Biddeford and Saco Railroad 31 is the Southampton 45 of the Seashore Trolley Museum being the first tram to be preserved as part of the collection. Built in 1900 by the J.G. Brill Company it features 12 benches. Powered by a trolley pole it has two J.G. Brill Company 22E trucks and a General Electric model 200 traction motor. It operated for almost 39 years in the state of Maine before it was preserved in 1939. Having been purchased by a group of eight enthusiasts they moved it to what would become the home of the Seashore Trolley Museum that same year.
This photo was taken during the 80th Anniversary of the Seashore Trolley Museum on 6th July 2019 and shows the trolley during the parade that marked the occasion. 31 rightly led the way during this special parade.
Photograph by Edward M. Koehler Jr.
Seashore Trolley Museum had great potential but I feel that it has lost its way during the past 40 years. It tried to become not just a trolley museum but all things to all people and has tried to preserve rapid transit cars and buses. I would prefer it if they had been more discerning about which vehicles were allowed but as the museum is mainly funded by donations from private individuals, they are seemingly allowed to direct policy. The upshot of all this is that only a very small percentage of its acquisitions are in a presentable condition.