As I was looking through today's "Post and Courier" (Charleston, SC), I was amazed at the similarity between an article in today's paper and Dave's post from last week about a possible interurban car incorporated into a house in the midlands of SC.

It turns out that there are two former Charleston trolley cars built into a residence in the West Ashley section of Charleston. Developers have purchased the house and intend to remove the trolleys for possible restoration and establishment of a new electric trolley service in Charleston.

I've also posted the URL to the "flimsies" section.

https://www.charleston.net/stories/?newsID=61657&section=localnews

Interesting -- I've added a link to this article to SC Rail History.

Anybody know what kind of cars they were? Charleston had some plane-Jane suff, but they also had some odd wireside open cars and some center-entrance motor-trailer sets.

Matt,

In the paper, there's a front-on photo of the house showing one of the cars, which looks remarkably similar to the photo posted of Dave's sighting, except that it's apparent this is actually a trolley car. There's also a period photo of one of Charleston's trolley cars later in the article, but I don't believe it's stated whether this matches the cars that were found.

I'll try to keep track of them and post some photos of the actual cars once they're removed from the building if I can.

Hugh

Hi Hugh:

I am also curious to see photos of the two cars in the "holy city." I couldn't see the photo on the website unless I missed something. Charleston had some interesting rolling stock besides the wireside opens that Matt mentioned. (Aside: In the late 1890s Twin City Rapid Transit quickly converted their open cars to rear entrance/exit [controlled by gates!] with wire sides and an aisle down the middle like the 14-bench opens the Consolidated operated.)

I am making an assumption that the two cars in question were not single truckers.

The Consolidated had 16 double truck (DT) center entrace steel cars built by Cincinnati in WWI to expand service to the navy yard. These were handsome cars but not practical for one-man service.

Charleston also had five DT two-motor cars that look a lot like a PRT Hog Island car. They had Brill or Cincinnati maximum traction trucks.

I would think that the two cars in question are not ST Birneys of which the Consolidated had 14.

The line on the Isle of Palms had some really neat looking Jackson and Sharpe DT cars but I doubt that they were floated across the river when that line was abandoned in 1927. But, you never know...

Keep us traction fans posted.

Thanks!

Hugh,

I don't want to 'steal your thunder' but am in Charleston for the weekend of the 13th January,

and will try and cruise by Apollo Road on Saturday and see the current state of play.

I'll charge up my camera beforehand.

I've sent you an email to this effect. I was after a 'project' for that weekend and looks like I may have found it.

Best wishes to all for the coming year.

John