PlacesPages: Portland Street Railway Company "Council Crest Cars" #503 & #506

Council Crest Car #503 at Antique Powerland on August 4, 2007

Council Crest Cars #503 and #506 were built by The American Car Company of St. Louis, Missouri (a subsidiary of J.G. Brill & Company) in 1904 as part of a group of 10 cars built to serve the 2.5-mile streetcar line between downtown Portland and Council Crest Park, Portland's highest point, that opened in 1906. They were originally numbered 201-210, but were soon renumbered.

Council Crest Car #503 at Antique Powerland on August 4, 2007

Due to the steep grades of the Council Crest Line, these narrow-gauge cars were built with particularly low gearing and electric brakes and auxiliary hand brakes instead of typical air brakes. These features meant that the Council Crest cars remained on the Council Crest Line until Portland's streetcar service ended in 1950.

Interior of Car #503 at Antique Powerland on August 4, 2007

After retirement, #503 was donated to a Boy Scout troop in North Portland for use as a clubhouse. In the 1960s, it was acquired by the OERHS and restored at the trolley park in Glenwood, Oregon. It was placed on standard gauge trucks from Australia and restored to operation in 1976.

Interior of Car #503 at Antique Powerland on August 4, 2007

#503 was displayed in downtown Portland in 1980, operated on Market Street in San Francisco during the summers of 1983 and 1984, and was the first streetcar used on the Willamette Shore Trolley line in late 1987.

Council Crest Car #506 at Antique Powerland on August 4, 2007

As for #506, after retirement it was donated to the Oregon Historical Society, who had it put on display at Council Crest Park, where weather and vandalism took its toll until it was removed in 1972. It was moved to the Glenwood Trolley Park in 1976.

Council Crest Car #506 at Antique Powerland on August 4, 2007