While scrolling through Google Maps I found this picture of what appears to be an early trolley or horsecar body in Cathlamet WA. The picture is from 2016, nothing more current.

Anybody have info about it History; disposition?

Found this:
https://www.chinookobserver.com/life/ca ... 8feac.html

I seem to remember this being discussed somewhere before but I can't remember where. There is a phone number for a contact at the end of the article. The only time I was in Cathlamet was a quick visit to see the Willamette over 10 years ago.

That's an interesting article. First of all, "Frisco" isn't what I was expecting, LOL. San Francisco, not The Frisco Railroad.

I was also ready to dismiss that as yet another of the many rubber tired trolley buses that are common.

However, the article states the following:
"The trolley is one of the few of its era still in its original condition. It was converted from a cable car to a trolley with a gas engine and a truck chassis in 1969 so it could be driven on public streets and completely refurbished in 2004. "
So it's in totally original condition. Except for the fact it's no longer on rails, has no train wheels, was mounted on a truck chassis, and is powered by a gas engine. But, other than that? Totally original!

In any case, I do wonder about the history of that beast and how much is left. However, I also don't think it's the same thing at all, they look way different.

I gave this a closer look on Google Maps today. I got no answers. This "horsecar" looks to be a parade float type vehicle. Nicely done, looks like the body may be fairly modern and made from steel, possible square tubing but that's pushing the limits of the google image.

It does not appear to be the "completely original" cable car that's been chopped and dropped onto a truck body. Aside from the initial "Hey, we have a cable car" that thing seems to have vanished without a trace. I also can't seem to nail down a date, as the articles are dated 2017 or 2018, depending which one you look at, but then closer examination seems to indicate a Feb 2006 date.

So, do we have two mystery streetcars in Cathlamet? The horse car and the cable car? Or did they chop the back half off of the cable car and make it into this parade float thing? If not, where has the cable car gone. After much initial PR, I can find no further mention of it?

The car disappears starting in 2017 imagery.