PRESS RELEASE: Red Hook Trolleys

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PRESS RELEASE: Red Hook Trolleys

February 11, 2014Branford Electric Railway Association, Inc./Shore Line Trolley Museum
PRESS RELEASE regarding Red Hook Trolleys

The Shore Line Trolley Museum has been the recipient of 3 PCC type streetcars donated by the O’Connell Organization of Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY. These three cars were previously part of an attempt to set up a trolley line in the area several years ago that did not work out. The cars have been moved to an off-site location well outside the NYC metro area in one last attempt to save them.

Some time ago, our organization was contacted by the O’Connell Organization to assist in trying to find these cars new homes, similar to what we have done for other museums. Over a year has now been spent in doing so, with several museums, transit systems currently running or contemplating heritage operations (such as San Francisco and St. Louis), even trolley car brokers and rebuilders (Gomaco and Brookville), all declining them as intact vehicles due to their location and damage from salt water from Hurricane Sandy. As our own museum also suffered considerable damage from Sandy, we can fully understand the lack of interest.


In a last ditch effort to save these cars, they were removed from the waterfront location they have been at for these many years on Sunday, February 9, 2014, loaded during the day and leaving at Midnight per NYC DOT regulations. They will be stored and given one more try via the internet and other media to find them a home. If by the end of spring we are unsuccessful, the cars will have any salvageable components removed for use in the streetcar preservation community and the remainder disposed of. The cars are not and will not be located at our museum, but are at a safe site, away from vandals and thieves.


We would like to commend and thank the O’Connell Organization for their sincere efforts in trying to save these cars, including a substantial donation to pay for their movement to a temporary refuge. Most other firms would have not had the patience to have had these cars on site as long as these have been there, nor willing to pay the considerable haulage cost to give them a chance. The O’Connell Organization truly did the right thing. At this point it will be up to the museum community or interested others to step up and save these cars or to let them go.


The cars are: Former Shaker Heights car 70 (which also ran in Minnesota) and ex-Boston cars 3321 and 3299. Boston 3321 is noted as the last streetcar built by the Pullman Company.

Those seriously interested in preserving these cars can contact Bill Wall, President Emeritus, c/o Shore Line Trolley Museum, 17 River Street, East Haven, CT 06512 for further information.
 




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