Detroit Street Railway 3865




Facts and Figures


Current Number3865
Railway RepresentedDetroit Street Railway
BuilderSt. Louis Car Company
Built In1931
Builder's order id1540
Currently in (State)Illinois
--(Locality)Union
Totally out of svc date1954
(Initial retirement date)
Car Typestreetcar
-subtypePeter Witt
-designation
Statusstored inoperable
More infohttp://www.irm.org/player/dsr3865
Gauge4'8.5"
Constructionsteel
Roof typeAR
EndedSE
Length48'6"
Width8'6"
Height10'2"
Weight37200
#Seats52
#Wheels/Conf.8
Total HP140
TrucksSt Louis M66
BrakesSME (M28)
CompressorCP-27
ControlK-35VV
MotorsGE 265 (4)
Voltage (if not 600DC)

Car 3865 during switching at IRM in 2021
Hicks Car Works
photo: https://hickscarworks.blogspot.com/2021/10/switch-move-saturday.html

Car 3865 during switching at IRM in 2016
Hicks Car Works
photo: https://hickscarworks.blogspot.com/2016/05/rarities-on-move.html

Car History by Frank Hicks


Detroit Street Railway 3865
This "Peter Witt" type streetcar was part of Detroit's last order for conventional streetcars. It operated virtually until the end of Detroit streetcar service in 1954, after which it was acquired by the Detroit Historical Society. DHS owned the car only briefly, for they discovered that it would not fit into their building! They then traded the car to the Henry Ford Museum for an assortment of oddities including spinning wheels and a cigar store indian. The car sat outside at the Ford museum site in Dearborn for years before a rebuilding effort commenced in the 1970's. The sides were replaced and the exterior was restored, but the interior and electrical components were never reassembled. The car was put on display until the Ford Museum deaccessed it in 1998. The car was bought by IRM, which put it on display.


Ownership History


OwnerCar NumFromToPreservation?Loan?
Detroit Street Railway (Michigan, Detroit)38651931 1954 NO NO
Henry Ford Museum (Michigan, Dearborn)38651954 1998 YES NO
Illinois Railway Museum (Illinois, Union)38651998 present YES NO


Additional Media