no trucks, but you can hitch it up and drive away

i seem to remember 'chicken coops' that were in sadder condition before being restored.

and no reserve....

http://cgi.ebay.com/FULL-SIZED-TROLLEY-CAR-HISTORIC-VINTAGE_W0QQitemZ330002838312QQihZ014QQcategoryZ487QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

sc 'doc' lewis

Did anybody else think the car looked like the prototype for the Toonerville Trolley?

Well, the Toonerville Trolley only had three windows per side...... but aside from that, spot on in every other physical detail: headlight placement and proportions, overall design and type.........

It's said that the Toonerville Trolley was inspired by trolleys in suburban Louisville, Kentucky, which is where Fontaine Fox was from. If anyone with a burning sense of desire wants to do some research..........

Yes, it certainly seems like an exploded Toonerville trolley except it doesn't have the sway-back body.

I would be happy (no astounded would be a better term) to stand corrected but I doubt that this is an original streetcar as claimed (somewhat) by the seller.

Thanks!

Fascinating...
From here those "originally trolley levers" leaning on a seat look very much like the grip and brake levers on a cable car, or the levers on an interlocking machine. The body has the right look. Is there somebody out there who can go get a good look at this thing and let us know what he ses?

GME

That trolley looks as authentic as a $3 bill.

I think it would make a dandy chicken coop!

Seriously, someone has gone to quite an effort to build this thing but I doubt it was ever a real trolley.

Later!
Mr. Ed

I agree. The windows appear to be residential units, almost resembling semi-convertible style windows. The end doors are household doors on swinging hinges - not typical of street railway practice.

And the levers... gosh, now we have a new way of starting and stopping a streetcar!

Dave Crow
BSM 646
PTM 976

And it looks like there is a 110-volt outlet on the wall next to that seat. I guess the passengers could plug in their laptops...

Has anyone asked about existing framework under the car? That would be the proof of the pudding so to speak.

Afterall the car would be hard to transfer to the trailer that she is on without a good portion of the frame intact.

Regards,

Rich Cizik

Then again, here could be the inspiration of the Toonerville Trolley, and this is a real trolley.

City of Manchester (Parlor Trolley) - Manchester Street Railway, built 1897 http://www.trolleymuseum.org/collection/newengland/manchester.html

Actually after looking at the two together, if you took the CoM and extended the interior area to the next post, moved the steps to the side and changed the front grillwork to a solid sheet, you would have something very similar to that eBay Trolley.

Regrds,

Rich Cizik

I just had delivered to my shop in Savannah a real single truck Birney body - well, calling the pile of rusty crap a carbody is a bit of a stretch (OK, a Weapons of Mass Destruction size lie) - on a similar converted boat trailer, so it can be done this way. This car looks so much better than what I have to work with I wouldn't discount it too quickly without more information, like a hands-on inspection by a qualified person. The electrical outlet and levers and seats and such could be changes made subsequent to retirement into chickencoophood of a real carbody by people who wanted to make it look like what they figured trolleys ought to look like based on ignorance of reality.

Surely there is somebody not too far away who can look it over and give us the real scoop?

dave

A bit of added info for those with an interest.

The car body is not, as expected, a "real" trolley car body. Replica body
supposedly built in the early 1970's. Having said that, it's supposed to be in excellent shape needing only relatively minor clean-up and repair to be useable. What defines useable,, that's another question.

The thing sold for just under $800,, I think someone has a new yard shed or play house for the kids coming !

Dave,
If I may ask,, what is the origin of the recently acquired Birney ?
Is there a project planned for restoration and/or operation ?

A field near Odessa, Texas. It will be a static display when finished.

dave