Interurban Car #1304 at Antique Powerland on August 4, 2007
Interurban car #1304 was built in 1911 by the British Columbia Electric Railways in their New Westminster Shops. It was built as a private car for the Governor General of Canada, the Duke of Connaught, to use during a 1912 visit to British Columbia and was originally named Duke of Connaught in his honor. After his visit, the car was converted into a coach for use on the Fraser Valley line between Vancouver and Chilliwack, British Columbia. In 1945, the car caught fire while part of a 3-car train and burned to the floorboards, however it was insured by Lloyds of London, who paid to have it rebuilt at New Westminster in 1946. This rebuild made it essentially a new car, and makes this the last wooden interurban built in North America. The car weighs 40 tons, produces 400 horsepower and can reach a top speed of 80 miles per hour. The interior is partitioned into two sections: a smaller men's smoking section and a larger non-smoking section for women and families.
Interurban Car #1304 at Antique Powerland on August 4, 2007
The car was retired in 1954, and was sold to the Willamette Valley Electric Railway Association for $1.00. The car was moved on its own wheels to the roundhouse in Union Pacific's Albina Yard, where it was restored by WVERA volunteers. It was moved to the Glenwood Trolley Park in 1958. This car is owned by the New England Electric Railway Historical Society and was on long-term loan to the OERHS until April 2009, when it was returned to British Columbia for restoration to operation.
Interurban Car #1304 at Antique Powerland on August 4, 2007
Links to Historical Photographs:
#1304 in service in Canada (Dave's Electric Railroads)
#1304 & #1187, Glenwood Trolley Park, 1986 (nycsubway.org)
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