Philadelphia & West Chester 62
Built in:1925 by J.G. Brill Company (ord#22045)
Out-of-service/Retired:1970
Type of car:interurban (center entrance)
Current Owner:Seashore Trolley Museum(Kennebunkport, Maine)
Car History by Frank Hicks
Philadelphia Suburban Transportation 62
This center-door suburban interurban car exemplifies the operations of the PST ("Red Arrow") broad-gauge division from the 1920's to the 1940's. The Philadelphia & West Chester bought 32 similar center-door cars between 1919 and 1926, with car 62 being part of the second of three series of cars. They were built for multiple-unit interurban service but geared for lower speeds befitting the suburban nature of the P&WC line. Though center-door cars provided the bulk of the service on the system for the twenty years after they were built, by the 1940's there were 34 lightweight cars of newer design on the property. With the abandonment of the West Chester branch in 1958 and the Ardmore line in 1966, the center-door cars were either scrapped or - like car 62 - relegated to reserve and charter duties. Car 62 was selected in 1970 for a special honor: Merritt Taylor, the president of Red Arrow, had the car completely restored in the Red Arrow shops to its as-built condition. It was then operated over the Red Arrow system, which was about to become part of SEPTA, briefly before it was regauged and donated to the Seashore Trolley Museum in Maine. There it has been maintained in operational condition.
Ownership History:Philadelphia & West Chester #62 1925-1936 / Philadelphia Suburban Transportation #62 1936-1970 / Seashore Trolley Museum(Kennebunkport, Maine) 1970-present
Facts and Figures
| Status:operated occasionally | Gauge:4'8.5" |
| Construction:steel | Roof type:AR | Ended:DE |
| Length:47'10" | Width:8'7" | Weight:59280# |
| #Seats:62 | #Wheels/Conf.:8 (B-B) | Total HP:140 |
| Trucks:Brill 27MCB2X | Brakes:SME (S-E6) | Compressor:CP-28 |
| Motors:GE 203L (4) | Voltage (if not 600DC): |
PHOTO
