Oldest Open Car

Biddeford & Saco Railroad Co. 31 (ME) at Seashore Trolley Museum

No. 31 of the Biddeford & Saco Railroad, is the museum's first streetcar and oldest open car. Built in 1900, this car has 12 benches and a seating capacity of 60 passengers, five persons to a bench. No. 31 rides on a pair of Brill's patented 22E "maximum traction" trucks. This design featured two large wheels mounted on the axle driven by the motor and two smaller "pony" wheels. The truck was designed to throw more weight on the motored axle so that maximum traction might be obtained without spinning the wheels. It also allowed the use of two motor control systems like those on four wheel cars, yet permitting larger carbodies with swivel trucks.