Inside this issue: The Bellingham City Lines Pp. 1&6 Sycuan Makes Large Contribution to SDERA 2 Vienna Cars: The Move 2 Upcoming Events 2 SDERA at the North Park Street Fair 2 National City “Sundowner” A Huge Success! 3 Jim Papulas Re-Joins SDERA Board 3 Order from the Book- store and Help SDERA Grow 4 Excursion 2005—San Diego Trolley—Green Line Extension 5 TROLLEY LINES June 2005 Check us out at our web site: www.sdera.org San Diego Electric Railway Association • Jim Price, President • Mike Reading, Vice President • Chris Higgins, Secretary • Tom Matson, Treasurer • Directors: Gene Calman, Gary Johnson, Jim Papulas • Chris Higgins, Webmaster • George Geyer, Bookstore • Jim Price / Chris Higgins, News- letter Editor(s) (619) 699-8690 The Bellingham City Lines By Jeffrey Trimble This article explores the history of Bellingham trolley 357, which now resides at National City, California, and the trolley system from whence it came, in Bellingham, Washington. The Bellingham trolley and interurban system was an excellent way to get around the community of Bellingham, as well as to travel to one of the many small towns on the 29- mile route south to Mt. Vernon. Both systems were owned by the Puget Sound Power & Light Company. The interurban route lasted a relatively short time, from 1912 to 1930. According to Robert S. Wilson in his book Trolley Trails Through The West, Volume 4, “Another division of the (Puget Sound Power & Light Company ), once known as Puget Sound & International Railway, connected Bellingham with Mt. Vernon. This was a scenic line over most of its length, skirting closely along the shore of Puget Sound, some of the track even occupying trestle work on pilings beyond the waves that lap upon the sometimes sandy, sometimes rocky beach. Population in this area (was) scant, however, and the interurban ceased to function in the early 1930’s. Some of its long and heavy wooden cars were brought to Everett (that system had the same owner), only to be scrapped with cessation of the later line. The bodies of others might be seen for many years along the highway, some distance from Mt. Vernon, put to prosaic uses greatly at variance with their proudest days of public service.” One of the interurban car bodies, that of car 61, became W.A. Wrigley’s Hamburger Express on Northwest Avenue, near Birchwood Avenue in Bellingham, Washington, and was pictured as such in 1933. (Continued on Page 6) Photo by R.S. Wilson
Transcript
Inside this issue:
The Bellingham City Lines
Pp. 1&6
Sycuan Makes Large Contribution to SDERA
2
Vienna Cars: The Move 2
Upcoming Events 2
SDERA at the North Park Street Fair
2
National City “Sundowner” A Huge Success!
3
Jim Papulas Re-Joins SDERA Board
3
Order from the Book-store and Help SDERA Grow
4
Excursion 2005—San Diego Trolley—Green Line Extension
5
TROLLEY LINES
June 2005
Check us out at our web site:
www.sdera.org
San Diego Electric Railway Association
• Jim Price, President • Mike Reading, Vice President • Chris Higgins, Secretary • Tom Matson, Treasurer • Directors: Gene Calman, Gary
Johnson, Jim Papulas • Chris Higgins, Webmaster • George Geyer, Bookstore • Jim Price / Chris Higgins, News-
letter Editor(s)
(619) 699-8690
The Bellingham City Lines By Jeffrey Trimble
This article explores the history of Bellingham trolley 357, which now resides at National City, California, and the trolley system from whence it came, in Bellingham, Washington.
The Bellingham trolley and interurban system was an excellent way to get around the community of Bellingham, as well as to travel to one of the many small towns on the 29-mile route south to Mt. Vernon. Both systems were owned by the Puget Sound Power & Light Company. The interurban route lasted a relatively short time, from 1912 to 1930. According to Robert S. Wilson in his book Trolley Trails Through The West, Volume 4,
“Another division of the (Puget Sound Power & Light Company), once known as Puget Sound & International Railway, connected Bellingham with Mt. Vernon. This was a scenic line over most of its length, skirting closely along the shore of Puget Sound, some of the track even occupying trestle work on pilings beyond the waves that lap upon the sometimes sandy, sometimes rocky beach. Population in this area (was) scant, however, and the interurban ceased to function in the early 1930’s. Some of its long and heavy wooden cars were brought to Everett (that system had the same owner), only to be scrapped with cessation of the later line. The bodies of others might be seen for many years along the highway, some distance from Mt. Vernon, put to prosaic uses greatly at variance with their proudest days of public service.”
One of the interurban car bodies, that of car 61, became W.A. Wrigley’s Hamburger Express on Northwest Avenue, near Birchwood Avenue in Bellingham, Washington, and was pictured as such in 1933.
San Diego Electric Railway Assocation was invited to have a booth at the North Park Street Fair on Sunday, May 15th. Gene Calman brought our VW Streetcar on Wheels and we displayed historic streetcar photos from our collection. Jim Papulas, Chris Higgins, and George Geyer manned our booth and answered questions from the public.
Our updated photo boards brought quite a few people in off the street to our booth but the “KYXY Cash Vault” next door didn’t hurt either! The newly printed photos showed areas that brought back lots of memories to long-time locals. (Look for the updated boards to be on the wall at the National City Depot in time for the next General Meeting.)
One visitor, however, didn’t remember needing to duck when getting into streetcars. “They seemed so much bigger when I was young!” He had missed the part where we explained that “Herbie” is a 3/5th scale of the original streetcar.
- Chris Higgins
SDERA TROLLEY LINES Page 2
Our “new” neighbor, the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation who will build a hotel at I-5 and Bay Marina Drive, has made a major contribution to SDERA. In response to a request from SDERA for a protective structure for our Birney streetcar body (the former Old Spaghetti Factory car), Sycuan is donating $2000 toward the purchase of such a structure! Jim Price met with Mr. Adam Day, at the suggestion of our new building tenant, Ivar Leetma of the MRW Group. Adam handles
community involvement projects for Sycuan. In turn, Ms. Anita Bye, the Sycuan Community Development Manager, sent an e-mail to us on May 25 indicating that they would give us the donation. Needless to say, we are thrilled!
Now comes the interesting part – what type of structure should we buy, do we want it to cover more than the Birney car, etc., etc? We really need someone to head up this project. Please contact Jim Price at [email protected].
SYCUAN MAKES LARGE CONTRIBUTION TO SDERA FOR PRESERVATION OF THE BIRNEY CAR!
The biggest item on our plate at the moment, both literally and figuratively, is the movement of the three former Viennese streetcars from the San Diego Trolley yard to the National City Depot. They were officially given to SDERA during a meeting of the Metropolitan Transit System Board on May 12, and SD Trolley would like us to remove the cars from their yard “as soon as practicable.”
We are starting to talk with trucking companies, but we could really use some help on this as we need to get this job done as inexpensively as possible – i.e. we need much donation of labor and equipment. If anyone is in this business or knows people who are, please contact Jim Price via e-mail at [email protected], or Mike Reading at (858) 277-5168.
Prior to the arrival of the Vienna cars, we will need to move track that sits in the NC Depot yard, scrap some track that’s “too far gone,” move snap track so that the Vienna cars and the Birney car can sit on track, and do considerable yard clean up. We will need help with all of this. Again, we need someone to step forward and be the Superintendent of this project!
NEWS FLASH! Harlan Hatz has just donated $1000 toward moving the Vienna cars to the NC Depot yard!! Thank you, Harlan. Will anyone else help?
- Jim Price
VIENNA CARS: THE MOVE
SDERA at the North Park Street Fair
Photo by Jim Papulas
Upcoming Events Saturday, June 11: Monthly Meeting, NC Depot, 7:30 p.m. Roland Smith and Tom Matson show a presentation on restored Birney streetcars in Bendigo, Australia. Monday, July 4: Coronado Parade. We are combining forces with the Coronado Lions Club – we will have our VW Streetcar-on-Wheels in the parade as a joint entry.
Page 3 JUNE 2005
Jim Papulas, long-time member of SDERA and former President, has re-joined the SDERA Board of Directors. He fills the seat vacated by Chuck Bencik who resigned in April for health reasons. We welcome Jim back to the Board, and we also sincerely thank Chuck for a year plus of very dedicated and vigorous service to this organization – as newsletter editor and secretary.
Chris Higgins is now the secretary,
and for the moment, he and Jim Price are sharing duties on editing and publishing the newsletter.
All SDERA members should be aware that of the current Board members, the only one who automatically continues into next year is Gene Calman who started a 2-year term this year. So, all of the other offices – President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two of the Board members at large – will be “up for grabs” for 2006.
A nominating committee will be formed soon. With all that we have going on – exhibits for the depot, our VW Streetcar-on-Wheels, the former Old Spaghetti Factory Birney car, the 3 Vienna streetcars, and numerous events – it is now time for people to step forward and take leadership positions in SDERA. Please contact any of the current Board members to express your interest.
- Jim Price
JIM PAPULAS RE-JOINS SDERA BOARD
The sun shone brightly on the NC Depot on the evening of Thursday, May 26, as more than 60 people arrived to attend an after-work social event. SDERA and National City Transit District co-hosted this event, and it was one of the largest Sundowners ever. Two NC City Council members, Ron Morrison and Rosalie Zarate , attended, as did Al Alvarado from Congressman Filner’s office.
We owe much thanks to:
John Webster, the director of NCTD, our co-host who brought their information trailer;
Mary J and her crew from Mary J’s café on Cleveland Avenue who provided the food – it was good!
Patti Finnegan from Niederfrank’s Ice Cream had a nice treat for all: Root Beer Floats!
Carolyn Kruse , the Executive Director of the NC Chamber of Commerce who helped considerably with promotion of the event.
In addition, big Thank You’s to SDERA members Gary Johnson, Gene Calman, Jim Papulas, George Geyer, Jim Price, Chuck Schroeder, Jim Anderson, Scotty Lewis, Pete Pearson, Mike Quigg, Jim Roamer, Naida Hindert, Sam Judd, Harlan Hatz, our tenants Robert Baxter and Missy Cheeseman, and possibly others who I’ve forgotten. It was the combination of these fine folks that made possible a cleaned up Birney car, a sparkling clean depot, set-up and tear-down of tables and other food service items, and hosting our visitors.
—Jim Price
NATIONAL CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE “SUNDOWNER” A HUGE SUCCESS!
Gary Johnson, Miss National City Samantha Stanimirovich, and SDERA Pres. Jim Price
CLOTHING SDERA polo shirt, heavy woven 100% cotton, white, short
SDERA T-shirt, cream, SDERy logo imprint on front, green/cream
trolley imprinted on back, $12.00 each
SDERA T-shirt, white, green/cream trolley imprinted on back,
$10.00
BOOKS The San Diego Trolley, by Gena Holle. History of the Red Trolleys, beginning 1990s. B&W and color pho-
tos, 104 pp. $24.95
Streetcar Scenes of the 1950s in Color, by LeRoy O. King, Jr. In color: 128 pp. of trolleys in 24 cities across the US. Great gift for the trolley fan.
$54.95
Santa Fe: The Railroad Gate-way to the California West, by Donald Duke. Vol One, 288 pp, Chi-cago-Los Angeles-San Diego, loaded
with B&W photos. $59.95
Tourist Trains (38th Annual Guide to Tourist Railroads and Muse-
ums). 482 pp., illustrated. $9.95
Southern Pacific in Transition, by Bill Shippen and Joe Shine. 160 pp., mostly color, tons & tons of freight locomotives, scenic pictures
and data, c. 1996(?) $49.95
Coast Lines Depots – Los Angeles Division, by Lee Gustafson & Phil Serpico. B&W photos. C. 1992, much illustrated, some depot
plans. 232 pp. $49.95 San Diego & Arizona – The Impossible Railroad, by Robert M.
Hanft. 140 pp, $99.95
VIDEOS California Electric Trilogy (Key System, Sacramento Northern,
Pacific Electric). Pentrex #CAL3, 38 min. $29.95
Muni’s F Line. 2001 Survey of San Francisco Streetcar collection,
80 min, + previews, [Highball Productions], $29.95 Los Angeles Streetcars, the Final Years. W & S Lines, Yellow Cars of the 1950s. Pentrex LA-
Transit. 35 min. $29.95
Pacific Electric – Remembering the Red Cars. Vol. 1. 70 min. Catenary Video 10-PE.
$39.50
Santa Fe Vintage Diesels. New Mexico, Kansas & Illinois in the 1960s and 1970s. 50 min. Pentrex
#FFS01. $19.95
Santa Fe: The Diesel Locomotive. Its servic-ing, maintenance & repair. Sacramento, Barstow andWinslow Santa Fe shops servicing in the 1950s. Pentrex #SFDIESEL. 25 min.
$19.95
Order from the Bookstore and help SDERA grow!
California Sales Tax: 7.75% Mail this form, with your check (if preferred) to:
SDERA Bookstore
PO Box 89068
San Diego, CA 92138-9068
SDERA TROLLEY LINES Page 4
Excursion 2005 San Diego Trolley—Green Line Extension
June 25th with the San Diego Electric Railway Association
Tickets will be available for pick-up at the event. Cut and return bottom of this form!
Return by June 18 to SDERA, P.O. Box 89068, San Diego, CA 92138-9068
Schedule 10:00 Registration near SW corner Trolley Bldg—12th & Imperial Transfer Station 10:30 Shop Tour of SD Trolley Maintenance Facility @ 12th & Imperial 11:30 Trolley departs for Mission Valley East Line 12:30 San Diego State Station, Pictures, & Lunch on your own near SDSU. 1:30 Resume Trolley Tour 3:30 Excursion Ends back at the 12th & Imperial Station
The Mission Valley East extension to the San Diego Trolley is scheduled to open to the public on July 9th from Mission San Diego station in Mission Valley to Grossmont station in La Mesa. This line goes up the steep incline along Interstate 8 into a tunnel at San Diego State University, passes Alvarado Hospital south of Lake Murray and meets the existing Orange Line near Grossmont Center. Our excursion will include a tour of the shops in downtown and a ride on the line on June 25th using the new S-70 cars. There will also be photo opportunities not possible once regular service is started two weeks later.
2005 Railroadiana at National City Depot coming this August. Watch for
details coming soon!
How did Bellingham trolley 357 get to San Diego? The answer comes from Paul Class of Oregon.
“The 357 as you may know, is a St. Louis Car Company product and was originally built for the Brocton & Plymouth Street Railway in Massachusetts but was diverted to Bellingham. No numbers were changed. The year was 1917. Stone and Webster Management sold the body off in 1938 or 39, about the time the North Coast lines were shutting down. We obtained the body from a location along the east side of Lake Whatcom where it was used as a vacation home. We restored it at our Glenwood Railway shops in Oregon before taking it to San Diego. Gus Dussin, President of the Old Spaghetti Factories, never wanted the car to be completely restored and only wanted them to be functional for his restaurant service.”
Lake Whatcom is a rather large lake, just a few miles southeast of Bellingham, Washington.
Today, the only known Bellingham trolleys still in existence are the 357 and the 360, which is still at the Spaghetti Factory in Seattle.
We’re on the Web:
www.sdera.org
San Diego Electric Railway Association
PO Box 89068
San Diego, CA 92138
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
San Diego, CA
Permit No. 2606
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
SDERA is at the historic National City Depot, off I -5 at Mile of Cars Way — take Bay Marina Drive West to Marina Way, then right.
Open every Sat. and Sun., 12 noon — 4 PM.
Depot phone: call (619) 474-4400
The Bellingham City Lines—From Page 1
Photo by R.S. Wilson—from Trolley Trails Through The West, Volume 4
