Seattle, WA/Car # 702 in 1940 picture

Sloan · **Posted:** Sun Oct 09, 2011 7:33 am

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/p ... orp09.html

Alas, according to Frank Hicks' roster of preserved electric cars, only a Birney body survives from Seattle's streetcar days.

Sloan

Frank Hicks · **Posted:** Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:39 pm

Sloan wrote:

Alas, according to Frank Hicks' roster of preserved electric cars, only a Birney body survives from Seattle's streetcar days.

It's possible that a car similar to car 702 in the photo is still preserved near Seattle. There are two car bodies that are privately owned and stored at the Ballard Terminal engine facility off of 45th Street NW; one is a Birney and one is a "turtleback" design like car 702. I haven't been able to ID either one, hence they're not on the Preserved Cars list yet. Any info would be appreciated!

FLO · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:07 am **Posts:** 328

Today I went out looking for surviving trolley cars in Seattle.

1. Hidden behind this fence are the two old car bodies at the Ballard Terminal RR. I could only see the top of one from the street.

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2. Also on the property, this single truck trolley. From the advertising on the front, I'm guessing it's a Portuguese car.

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Courtesy google -

FLO · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:07 am **Posts:** 328

3. Not a Seattle trolley, but a restored interurban just north of Seattle (in Lynnwood).
At one time a diner, so I imagine the trucks are not original?

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FLO · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:07 am **Posts:** 328

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Chris Salmonson · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:00 pm

If you look hard enough, you can find some more Interurbans in Seattle. These ones are stored inside, in a climate controlled environment too!

Frank Hicks · **Posted:** Sun Dec 18, 2011 12:14 am

Interesting photos, thanks for posting! I hadn't realized there was a Portuguese single-trucker at the Ballard Terminal location in addition to the turtleback and the Birney. You're right that those trucks under car 55 in Lynnwood are not original, though they look about right. Originally it had MCB trucks; I'm not sure where its current arch bar set originated. It's really a nice cosmetic restoration.

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3010

I never bothered to take a detailed look at the trolleys at Ballard, but the occasional glance while working there showed that the condition of the roof is pretty consistent with the condition of rest of the the car (logically enought). It's a classic "chicken coop" situation. Pretty tired looking, windows boarded up, etc.

Whether or not it could ever be restored would take a lot more research than I put into it. At some point, it may only be useful as a "pattern" for a restoration that's more of a rebuild. Being stored outdoors in Seattle isn't doing it any favors.

FLO · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:07 am **Posts:** 328

Bobharbison wrote:

the occasional glance ... showed that the condition of the roof is pretty consistent with the condition of rest of the the car.

Roof details -

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Also, the single-truck trolley above may be a sister to ones in Porta, Portugal.
(photo Wikipedia commons)

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