Boston Elevated Railway 5645



Facts and Figures


Current Number5645
Railway RepresentedBoston Elevated Railway
BuilderLaconia Car Company
Built In1924
Builder's order id904
Currently in (State)Connecticut
--(Locality)East Windsor
Totally out of svc date1959
(Initial retirement date)
Car Typestreetcar
-subtypelightweight semi-convertible
-designationType 5A
Statusstored inoperable
More info
Gauge4'8.5"
Constructionsteel
Roof typeAR
EndedDE
Length42'6"
Width8'6"
Height10'8"
Weight31000
#Seats48
#Wheels/Conf.8
Total HP100
TrucksStandard C35P
BrakesSM3
CompressorWABCO DH16
ControlK-71A
MotorsWH 508A (4)
Voltage (if not 600DC)

Car 5645 in operation at CTM in 2015
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fototak/19424410785/

Car 5645 in operation at CTM in 2022
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/52369588911/
Car History by Jack Naugler


Boston Elevated Railway 5645
The Boston "Type 5" streetcar was originally designed as a light weight car that could operated by a one or two man crew. "Type 5's" operated on BER and successor MTA until 1959. Boston originally had 471 of this type of car, built by four different car builders between 1922 and 1927. Car 5645 was part of the third order for Type 5's, officially designated Type 5A. Cars 5630-5659 were ordered in November 1922 and 5645 went into service in July 1923. Car 5645, one of the last nine Type 5's, was retired when double ended PCC's were bought from Dallas to cover the three lines that had no turning loops. This is a typical "big city" car designed to move large numbers of people quickly, with its wide aisles, ramped floors and double doors. Although this type of car ran with one man crews for many years, they were never equipped with "dead man" controls typical of "safety cars" of this period. In its stead, Massachusetts laws required a passenger-operated Emergency Valve to be located in the passenger area, which performed the same functions (i.e. cutting the power, applying the brakes, and balancing the pressure on the door engines, so the doors could be opened manually). Car 5645 ran on the streets and, after 1950, into the subway. For subway service, the cars had Tomlinson couplers installed, so they could be towed if a breakdown occurred. Like many other cars at CTM, car 5645 was purchased by a member and donated to the museum. The only surviving Laconia-built Type 5, 5645 is currently on static display in CTM's Visitors Center.

Ownership History


OwnerCar NumFromToPreservation?Loan?
Boston Elevated Railway (Massachusetts, Boston)56451924 1947 NO NO
Boston Metropolitan Transit Authority (Massachusetts, Boston)56451947 1959 NO NO
Connecticut Trolley Museum (Connecticut, East Windsor)56451959 present YES NO

Additional Media

[No preview available]

Car 5645 in operation at CTM in 2022
YouTube
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZcSQ0fcepg