Peninsular Railway 52




Facts and Figures


Current Number52
Railway RepresentedPeninsular Railway
BuilderAmerican Car Company
Built In1903
Builder's order id483
Currently in (State)California
--(Locality)Rio Vista
Totally out of svc date1934
(Initial retirement date)
Car Typeinterurban
-subtypecoach
-designation
Statusoperated often
More info
Gauge4'8.5"
Constructionwood
Roof typeRR
EndedDE
Length47'6"
Width8'3"
Height13'5"
Weight55000
#Seats52
#Wheels/Conf.8
Total HP180
TrucksBrill 27MCB3
BrakesSME (M18A)
CompressorWABCO DH16
ControlK-28J
MotorsGE 205 (2)
Voltage (if not 600DC)
NotesOriginally SJ-LGR #4 "Granger"; originally had Brill 27MCB1 trucks, WH 38B motors (4) and K-14 control

Car 52 in operation at WRM in 2017
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bayarearailfan/37722215901/

Car 52 in operation at WRM in 2014
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bayarearailfan/14844390633/

Car History by Frank Hicks


Peninsular Railway 52
The Peninsular Railway was a system of interurban lines radiating south and west from San Jose that was formed in 1909 by a merger of two roads, the Peninsular Railroad and the SJ-LG. The first large order of cars for the SJ-LG was a series of twelve wooden interurban cars numbered 2-13, with even numbered cars motorized and odd numbered cars trailers. This car, number 4, also bore the name "Granger" after one of the line's founders. In 1910, after PRy was taken over by the Southern Pacific, the cars were rebuilt with heavier equipment. Operations continued through the 1920's, but when the road that the main Campbell-Los Gatos line ran along was widened in 1930 the line had to be abandoned and the rest of the system followed a year later. The body of car 52 became a sewing room in a house near Cupertino, where it remained for forty years. In the early 1970's, when the house was demolished, the carbody was found and rescued by WRM. It was re-equipped using trucks and electrical components from scrapped Central California Traction flat motor 5, though this equipment had actually been originally designed for 1200 volt operation. Restoration to car 52's 1920's appearance was completed in 1976 and the car has been in operation at WRM ever since.


Ownership History


OwnerCar NumFromToPreservation?Loan?
San Jose-Los Gatos Railway (California, San Jose)41903 1905 NO NO
Peninsular Railway (California, San Jose)521905 1934 NO NO
Western Railway Museum (California, Rio Vista)521969 present YES NO


Additional Media

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Car 52 in the shop at WRM in 2013
YouTube
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE2vADTAj7w