East Troy Electric Railroad Museum

Car 253: The Duluth streetcar

Type: Double-truck streetcar
Built: 1913, Twin City Rapid Transit Company, Snelling Shops
Acquired: Purchased 1981
Motors: Four 50hp
Seats: 48 Length: 45' Weight: 19 tons

When this streetcar was found, it had been serving as a cottage in northwest Wisconsin for many years. Once it was trucked to the old North Prairie Shop of the Wisconsin Trolley Museum, the long process of turning it back into a rail vehicle began. Trucks, motors, controls, and a compressor were only some of the parts necessary to bring it back to life. Extensive refurbishment of the interior was needed as well, including the addition of walkover cane seats and much sash work. Large and very heavy for a streetcar, as a result of its snowy North Country heritage, it rides well out in the rural part of the line, delighting thousands with its concrete vestibule floors and breezy spaciousness.

This look at its early history was provided by Russell Olsen of Bloomington, Minnesota:
Our 253 was originally built as Twin City Rapid Transit Company 1583.  It was rebuilt with a front exit in 1921, and then for one-man operation in 1933.  The steel plating on the sides and ends was installed in 1948.  The body was then sold to Transportation Sales Company, as were many of its sisters, in 1954, to be sold off for a variety of purposes.

During 1998-9, it was retrucked to provide greater reliability with fresher traction motors and tires.