Twin City Rapid Transit Company Streetcar No. 1300
Photo by Bruce Adelsman
Description
Twin City Rapid Transit steetcar No. 1300 was part of an
order for 19 faster cars to be used on the St. Paul - Minneapolis
"interurban" line along University Avenue (See Russ
Olson's history of its various assignments). After the
end of streetcar operations in June 1954, it was donated
intact to the Minnesota Railfan's Association, a predecessor
of the Museum. Today, this "standard" car appears exactly
as it did in the early 1930s. No. 1300 was the first restored
streetcar operated on the Como- Harriet Streetcar Line in
1971.
No. 1300 was built at the company's Snelling Shops in April 1908, part of class I-1. In December, 1928, No. 1300 was rebuilt with a folding front exit door and triple rear gates. Its class was changed to I-8. In November 1931, it was again rebuilt, this time for one or two man operation with the addition of folding rear doors. Its class was changed to N.
No. 1300 was donated to the Minnesota Railfan's Association in June, 1954. In September 1954, it was moved by the Milwaukee Road to the Minneapolis-Moline plant in suburban Hopkins for storage. In August, 1962 it was again moved, to the Minnesota Transfer Railway roundhouse in St. Paul. Its first public operation occured on Minnesota Transfer Railway yard tracks in July, 1963. Power was supplied by an engine-generator set towed on a trailer. In August 1971, it was moved to restored trackage at Lake Harriet and operation of the Como-Harriet Streetcar Line began.
.Tour 1300
To take a virtual tour of TCRT No. 1300, click
here.
Measurements
Car 1300 is 46 feet long, 9 feet wide, and 11 1/2 feet high.
Materials
The streetcar's frame is made of steel. The body is made
out of wood, with canvas over the roof.
As-Built Technical Data
| Type | I-1 |
| Number of trucks | 2 |
| Truck type | Baldwin #5 |
| Wheel diameter | 34" |
| Wheel type | Steel |
| Number of traction motors | 4 |
| Traction motor type | G.E. 213 |
| Gear ratio | 15:71 |
| Controller type | K-37-A |
| Weight | 47,800 lbs. |
| Width | 9' 2.5" |
| Length | 46' 7.125" |
| Underframe | Steel |
| Trolley base | G.E. R.B. |
| Trolley wheel diameter | 4" |
Rebuild Changes
| Type | I-8 |
| Truck type | Twin City #9RB |
| Traction motor type | G.E. 203G |
| Gear ratio | 16:68 |
| Controller type | K-43-F2 |
| Weight | 46,140 lbs. |
| Length | 46' |
Information from "The Electric Railways of Minnesota", by Russell L. Olson. Published by the Minnesota Transportation Museum, 1976 (out of print)..
