Boston Elevated Railway 5821

Built in:1924 by J.G. Brill Company (ord#22048)
Out-of-service/Retired:1954
Type of car:streetcar (lightweight semi-convertible) (Type 5B)
Current Owner:Seashore Trolley Museum(Kennebunkport, Maine)

Car History by Jack Naugler

Boston Elevated Railway 5821 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 5821 was part of the ninth order for Type 5's, officially designated Type 5B. Cars 5805-5829 were ordered in June 1924 and 5821 went into service in November 1924. This group of cars was the first to employ the new "Vision Front" vestibule design, utilizing narrow pressed steel window posts instead of wood. 5821 was retired in 1954, made surplus as many lines were converted to bus and trackless trolley operation. 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 5821 ran its entire life on the streets of Boston. It has been a mainstay of the Seashore operating fleet for many years.

Ownership History:Boston Elevated Railway #5821 1924-1947 / Boston Metropolitan Transit Authority #5821 1947-1954 / Seashore Trolley Museum(Kennebunkport, Maine) 1954-present

Facts and Figures

Status:operated occasionally		Gauge:4'8.5"
Construction:steel	Roof type:AR	Ended:DE
Length:45'0"	Width:8'6"	Weight:30650#
#Seats:48	#Wheels/Conf.:8 (B-B)	Total HP:100
Trucks:Standard C35P	Brakes:SM3	Compressor:CP-27
Motors:GE 264A (4)	Voltage (if not 600DC):

PHOTO PHOTO