Narcissus - The Elegant Ride
One of the legendary high-speed luxury, wooden electric interurban coaches from the historic Portland-Lewiston Interurban Railroad, The Narcissus is the only one that still remains
By Seashore Trolley Museum
Laconia Car Co. built six coaches in 1912. Each named for flowers; Arbutus, Gladiolus, Narcissus, Clematis, Azalea, Magnolia. Maine was added in 1920
With a Whiz and a Roar (1910-10-26) by Lewiston Sun JournalSeashore Trolley Museum
With a whiz and a roar
When the Portland-Lewiston Interurban Railroad opened in July of 1914, the “Electric Road” lived up to the expectations set in this newspaper article about the new construction of the rail line, featured on page 10 of the Lewiston Evening Journal from October 26, 1910.
No Dust, Dirt, Nor Cinders (2023-02-09) by Seashore Trolley MuseumSeashore Trolley Museum
No dust, dirt, nor cinders
This porcelain advertisement from the ticket booth of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban station in Lewiston, ME touts the luxuries of electric coaches that could seat 52 passengers and achieve speeds of over 70 mph.
The Narcissus (2023-02-09) by Seashore Trolley MuseumSeashore Trolley Museum
Built by the Laconia (NH) Car Co. in 1912, Narcissus was a high-speed, wooden electric interurban, shown here in an advertisement by the Miller Trolley Shoe Co., whose technology (highlighted circle) conducted electricity for the car.
Inside the elegant ride
1912 interior of the Arbutus, sister car to the Narcissus. These cars had exquisite ornamental brass components, green plush Mohair-upholstered, reversible seats, forty ornate leaded stained glass windows, and center ceiling panels embellished with gold leaf fleur-de-lis.
Teddy Roosevelt aboard Narcissus (1914-08-18) by Gray Historical SocietySeashore Trolley Museum
An honored guest
Narcissus had the honor of having Theodore Roosevelt on board on August 18, 1914. It is the sole surviving high-speed wooden interurban from the legendary Portland-Lewiston Interurban, known as the "finest and fastest in all New England."
Two New Homes (1969-10-31) by Daniel ValleeSeashore Trolley Museum
A new home, times two
The Narcissus was loaded on a tractor trailer prior to leaving Sabattus Lake for its new home at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport on October 31, 1969. The new house in the background was built for the Vallee family in exchange for the Narcissus.
Much work to be done
The interior of the Narcissus. You can see the remaining interlocking rubber tiles in the foreground on the floor. They once served as the center aisle with green plush Mohair-upholstered, reversible seats located on both sides.
An elegant ceiling
The ceiling panels were originally painted Nile green before the gold leaf was applied. The Vallee family painted the ceiling white. Over the years, portions of the gold leaf worked its way to the surface. You can see the ornate gold leaf fleur-de-lis in the corner.
Original Stained Glass (2023-02-09) by Patricia Pierce EriksonSeashore Trolley Museum
Original stained glass
One of two, original clerestory leaded stained glass windows from the very end of each side of the number two passenger compartment.
A Variety of Stained Glass Windows for Narcissus (2023-02-09) by Phil MorseSeashore Trolley Museum
Examples of the various ornate leaded stained glass in their mahogany sash from the Narcissus. There is a total of forty leaded stained glass windows in the Narcissus.
Clerestory Windows (2023-02-09) by Phil MorseSeashore Trolley Museum
Looking from the right side of the clerestory above the passenger compartment of Narcissus in 2016. Restoration work on the clerestory window openings culminated with test fitting the restored stained glass windows (in their mahogany sashes) in their respective openings.
All Lit Up (2023-02-09) by Phil MorseSeashore Trolley Museum
Narcissus at night
Narcissus, with interior back-lit stained glass windows during a temporary installation of stained glass during a fundraising event in 2016.
The Goal (2023-02-09) by Ernie EatonSeashore Trolley Museum
A virtual rendering of the interurban
The Solidworks virtual 3-D CAD digital model of Narcissus becomes more complete as restoration shop project manager for the Narcissus, Ernie Eaton, uploads digital files of additional components to the Solidworks program. Restoration efforts of the Narcissus are on-going.
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